UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — PARLIAMENT QUESTION: EXPANSION OF NUCLEAR ENERGY

Q1. Under the SHANTI Act, 2025, which one of the following is the sole entity designated as the 'Central Government' that retains exclusive control over sensitive activities such as enrichment of nuclear material, production of heavy water and management of spent fuel?

  • A. Department of Atomic Energy (DAE)
  • B. Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB)
  • C. Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL)
  • D. Atomic Energy Commission (AEC)

Q2. Under the SHANTI Act, 2025, safety authorisation for a privately built-and-operated nuclear power plant is granted by which one of the following bodies?

  • A. Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB)
  • B. Department of Atomic Energy (DAE)
  • C. Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL)
  • D. Atomic Energy Commission (AEC)

Q3. With reference to the SHANTI Act, 2025, consider the following legislation: 1. Atomic Energy Act, 1962 2. Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010 3. Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 4. Electricity Act, 2003 Which of the above is/are correctly identified as legislation repealed and consolidated by the SHANTI Act, 2025?

  1. Atomic Energy Act, 1962
  2. Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010
  3. Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
  4. Electricity Act, 2003
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 3
  • C. 2 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 3 and 4

Q4. Which one of the following was the first Indian statute to introduce a dedicated civil liability regime for compensating victims of a nuclear incident?

  • A. Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010
  • B. Atomic Energy Act, 1962
  • C. Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991
  • D. SHANTI Act, 2025

Q5. The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) functioned as a non-statutory (executive) body from its constitution until it was granted statutory status under the SHANTI Act, 2025. For approximately how many years did it operate without statutory status?

  • A. 42 years
  • B. 33 years
  • C. 50 years
  • D. 28 years

Q6. In the context of the SHANTI Act, 2025, granting the AERB 'statutory status' most precisely means that:

  • A. its powers and independence now derive from an Act of Parliament rather than an executive notification, making it an autonomous regulator
  • B. it has been made a constitutional body akin to the Election Commission
  • C. it has been converted into an attached office/department under the DAE
  • D. it has been merged with the Atomic Energy Commission to form a single apex authority

Q7. With reference to India's Nuclear Energy Mission, consider the following statements: 1. The Mission targets 100 GW of nuclear capacity by 2047, compared with about 8.78 GW at present. 2. It sets intermediate targets of 47 GW by 2037 and 67 GW by 2042. 3. The 2031-32 target of about 22 GW is nearly three times India's 2014 nuclear capacity of about 4.78 GW. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Mission targets 100 GW of nuclear capacity by 2047, compared with about 8.78 GW at present.
  2. It sets intermediate targets of 47 GW by 2037 and 67 GW by 2042.
  3. The 2031-32 target of about 22 GW is nearly three times India's 2014 nuclear capacity of about 4.78 GW.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q8. Under the Nuclear Energy Mission announced in the Union Budget 2025-26, at least how many indigenously designed Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) are targeted to be operational by 2033?

  • A. 5
  • B. 3
  • C. 10
  • D. 22

Q9. In Parliament, questions relating to the Department of Atomic Energy and the Nuclear Energy Mission are answered by the Minister of State attached to which one of the following?

  • A. Prime Minister's Office (PMO), as the DAE functions under the direct charge of the Prime Minister
  • B. Ministry of Power
  • C. Ministry of Science and Technology
  • D. Ministry of New and Renewable Energy

Q10. Under the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010, the 'operator's right of recourse' (Section 17) most precisely refers to:

  • A. the operator's right, after paying compensation, to recover the amount from the supplier where the incident resulted from defective equipment/material or sub-standard services
  • B. the supplier's right to claim reimbursement from the Central Government for compensation it has paid
  • C. a victim's statutory right to directly sue the equipment supplier for nuclear damage
  • D. the operator's right to seek unlimited compensation from the international CSC fund