UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — PARLIAMENT QUESTION: EXPANSION OF NUCLEAR POWER CAPACITY

Q1. In the Department of Atomic Energy's statement placing India's installed nuclear power capacity at 8,780 MW, the reactor tally is given as 24 units after excluding one particular reactor. Which one of the following is that excluded reactor?

  • A. RAPS-1
  • B. TAPS-1
  • C. MAPS-1
  • D. KAPS-1

Q2. Consider the following statements regarding the growth of India's installed nuclear power capacity: 1. Installed capacity rose from about 4,780 MW in 2014 to 8,180 MW by January 2025. 2. The increase from the January 2025 figure to the 2026 figure of 8,780 MW came entirely from the commissioning of the 500 MWe Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor. 3. The 2026 installed capacity of 8,780 MW is spread across 24 operating reactors, excluding RAPS-1. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Installed capacity rose from about 4,780 MW in 2014 to 8,180 MW by January 2025.
  2. The increase from the January 2025 figure to the 2026 figure of 8,780 MW came entirely from the commissioning of the 500 MWe Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor.
  3. The 2026 installed capacity of 8,780 MW is spread across 24 operating reactors, excluding RAPS-1.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q3. With reference to the reactors 'under implementation' reported by the Department of Atomic Energy, consider the following: 1. The set comprises reactors under construction together with reactors at the pre-project stage. 2. All reactors in this set are targeted for progressive commissioning by 2031-32. 3. KAPP-5&6, RAPP-9&10 and NAPP-3&4 are counted within this 'under implementation' set. 4. The total capacity of reactors under implementation is 13,100 MW. Which of the statements given above are correctly identified?

  1. The set comprises reactors under construction together with reactors at the pre-project stage.
  2. All reactors in this set are targeted for progressive commissioning by 2031-32.
  3. KAPP-5&6, RAPP-9&10 and NAPP-3&4 are counted within this 'under implementation' set.
  4. The total capacity of reactors under implementation is 13,100 MW.
  • A. 1, 2 and 4
  • B. 2, 3 and 4
  • C. 1 and 3
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q4. Consider the following statements comparing the reactors 'under implementation' with the additional projects planned under the Nuclear Energy Mission roadmap: 1. Reactors under implementation total 13,100 MW, while the three additional projects KAPP-5&6, RAPP-9&10 and NAPP-3&4 together add 4,200 MW. 2. Within the reactors under implementation, more units are at the pre-project stage than are under active construction. 3. The reactors under implementation and the three additional projects share the same completion horizon of 2035. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Reactors under implementation total 13,100 MW, while the three additional projects KAPP-5&6, RAPP-9&10 and NAPP-3&4 together add 4,200 MW.
  2. Within the reactors under implementation, more units are at the pre-project stage than are under active construction.
  3. The reactors under implementation and the three additional projects share the same completion horizon of 2035.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q5. Under the Nuclear Energy Mission announced in the Union Budget 2025-26, the ₹20,000 crore outlay is earmarked primarily for which one of the following?

  • A. Research and development of Small Modular Reactors
  • B. Import of large light water reactors from Russia
  • C. Completion of the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor at Kalpakkam
  • D. Mining and processing of India's thorium reserves

Q6. Consider the following statements about the Nuclear Energy Mission announced in the Union Budget 2025-26: 1. It sets a target of 100 GW of nuclear power capacity by 2047. 2. It aims for at least five indigenously designed Small Modular Reactors to be operational by 2033. 3. The ₹20,000 crore outlay is directed at commissioning five imported large reactors by 2033. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. It sets a target of 100 GW of nuclear power capacity by 2047.
  2. It aims for at least five indigenously designed Small Modular Reactors to be operational by 2033.
  3. The ₹20,000 crore outlay is directed at commissioning five imported large reactors by 2033.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q7. Consider the following statements about the stages of India's three-stage nuclear power programme: 1. Stage 1 uses natural uranium in Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors, producing plutonium as a by-product. 2. Stage 2 uses plutonium-239 in fast breeder reactors, which also breed Uranium-233 from thorium. 3. Stage 3 relies on plutonium-239 recovered from reprocessed thorium in heavy water reactors. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Stage 1 uses natural uranium in Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors, producing plutonium as a by-product.
  2. Stage 2 uses plutonium-239 in fast breeder reactors, which also breed Uranium-233 from thorium.
  3. Stage 3 relies on plutonium-239 recovered from reprocessed thorium in heavy water reactors.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q8. The vision of a closed-fuel-cycle three-stage nuclear power programme, designed to progressively multiply India's domestic fissile resources, was conceived by which one of the following?

  • A. Homi J. Bhabha
  • B. Vikram Sarabhai
  • C. Raja Ramanna
  • D. Meghnad Saha

Q9. With reference to the institutional architecture of India's nuclear power sector, consider the following: 1. NPCIL is the operating utility for India's commercial nuclear power reactors. 2. BHAVINI, incorporated in 2003, is the public-sector undertaking responsible for fast breeder reactors. 3. ASHVINI is a joint venture between NPCIL and NTPC. 4. AERB is a joint venture set up to build imported light water reactors. Which of the statements given above are correctly identified?

  1. NPCIL is the operating utility for India's commercial nuclear power reactors.
  2. BHAVINI, incorporated in 2003, is the public-sector undertaking responsible for fast breeder reactors.
  3. ASHVINI is a joint venture between NPCIL and NTPC.
  4. AERB is a joint venture set up to build imported light water reactors.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 2 and 4
  • C. 1 and 3
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q10. The 500 MWe Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor at Kalpakkam is executed and operated exclusively by which one of the following?

  • A. BHAVINI
  • B. NPCIL
  • C. BARC
  • D. NTPC

Q11. In the SHANTI Bill, 2025, the term 'graded liability framework' refers to which one of the following?

  • A. Operator liability limits varying by the type and characteristics of the nuclear installation, ranging from ₹100 crore to ₹3000 crore
  • B. A phased schedule that gradually transfers all liability from the operator to the equipment supplier
  • C. A ceiling on total government compensation that reduces each year until it is eliminated
  • D. A framework grading reactors by safety rating to set their electricity tariffs