UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Thermal (coal and lignite) Installed Capacity Requirement Estimated at 3,07,000 MW by 2024-35

Q1. With reference to the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) under the Electricity Act, 2003, consider the following statements. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

1. It is constituted under Section 70 of the Electricity Act, 2003.
2. It formulates short-term and perspective plans for development of the electricity system and prepares the National Electricity Plan.
3. It shall consist of not more than fourteen Members, including the Chairperson.
4. It is the sole authority empowered to determine the tariff for central (inter-State) generating stations.

• A. 1 and 3 only
• B. 1, 2 and 3
• C. 2, 3 and 4
• D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q2. Distinguishing the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) from the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC), consider the following statements. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. The CEA is essentially a planning and technical-standards body, whereas the CERC is a regulatory (tariff-setting and adjudicatory) body.
2. Unlike the CEA, the CERC traces its origin to the Electricity Regulatory Commissions Act, 1998, before being continued under the Electricity Act, 2003.
3. The functions of both the CEA and the CERC are enumerated within one and the same section of the Electricity Act, 2003.

• A. 1 only
• B. 1 and 2 only
• C. 2 and 3 only
• D. 1, 2 and 3

Q3. In the National Electricity Plan (NEP) 2022-32 notified by the CEA, which one of the following sources is projected to have the largest installed capacity in the total capacity mix by 2031-32?

• A. Coal
• B. Solar
• C. Wind
• D. Large Hydro

Q4. With reference to the conventional capacity projected for 2031-32 under the National Electricity Plan 2022-32, consider the following source–capacity pairings. Which of the above is/are NOT correctly matched?

1. Coal — 2,59,643 MW
2. Gas — 24,824 MW
3. Nuclear — 19,680 MW
4. Total conventional (non-renewable) capacity — 3,64,566 MW

• A. 1 and 2
• B. 3 only
• C. 4 only
• D. 2 and 4

Q5. The generation-expansion planning studies which project coal's share in India's total installed capacity to decline to about 28.7% by March 2032 are carried out by which one of the following?

• A. Central Electricity Regulatory Commission
• B. Central Electricity Authority
• C. NITI Aayog
• D. Grid Controller of India Limited (Grid-India)

Q6. Regarding the projected decline of coal in India's power sector as per CEA studies, consider the following statements. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

1. Coal's share in total installed capacity is projected to fall to about 38.4% by March 2027.
2. Coal's share in total installed capacity is projected to fall to about 28.7% by March 2032.
3. Coal-based generation is projected to fall to about 49.9% of the generation mix by 2031-32.
4. Coal-based generation is projected to fall below 30% of the generation mix by 2031-32.

• A. 1 and 2 only
• B. 1, 2 and 3
• C. 2, 3 and 4
• D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q7. With reference to the Ministry of Power's thermal (coal and lignite) capacity assessment for 2034-35, consider the following statements. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

1. The thermal (coal and lignite) capacity requirement by 2034-35 is estimated at about 3,07,000 MW.
2. The installed thermal (coal and lignite) capacity as on 31.03.2023 was 2,11,855 MW.
3. An additional minimum of 97,000 MW of coal and lignite based capacity has been envisaged.
4. About 39,545 MW of thermal capacity had already been commissioned between April 2023 and January 2026.

• A. 1 only
• B. 4 only
• C. 3 and 4
• D. 2 and 4

Q8. In the Ministry of Power's thermal capacity plan for 2034-35, the term 'candidate capacity' (about 24,020 MW) most precisely refers to which one of the following?

• A. Coal and lignite based capacity that is only at various stages of planning and not yet under construction
• B. Capacity that has already been commissioned since April 2023
• C. Stressed thermal projects being revived under insolvency proceedings
• D. Capacity for which construction contracts have been awarded and construction has already begun

Q9. India's 'Panchamrit' climate commitments announced at the COP26 summit (Glasgow, 2021), of which the 500 GW non-fossil capacity target is one, consisted of how many commitments in total?

• A. Three
• B. Four
• C. Five
• D. Seven

Q10. India's pledge to achieve 500 GW of non-fossil fuel based electricity installed capacity by 2030 was announced at which one of the following forums?

• A. COP21, Paris, 2015
• B. COP26, Glasgow, 2021
• C. COP28, Dubai, 2023
• D. G20 New Delhi Summit, 2023

Q11. With reference to the Draft National Electricity Policy (NEP), 2026 and its resource adequacy framework, consider the following statements. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

1. The Draft National Electricity Policy, 2026 has been released for public consultation with stakeholders.
2. DISCOMs and State Load Despatch Centres are to prepare Resource Adequacy plans at the utility and State levels.
3. The Central Electricity Authority prepares the Resource Adequacy plan at the national level.
4. Resource Adequacy studies up to 2031-32 have so far been completed by the CEA for all the States and Union Territories.

• A. 1 only
• B. 4 only
• C. 3 and 4
• D. 2 and 4

Q12. Consider the following pairings of India's central power-sector institutions with their principal functions. Which of the above is/are NOT correctly matched?

1. Central Electricity Authority — generation-expansion planning and laying down technical standards.
2. Central Electricity Regulatory Commission — determination of tariff for central generating stations and inter-State transmission.
3. Grid Controller of India Limited (Grid-India) — round-the-clock integrated operation of the national grid.
4. Ministry of Power — adjudication of tariff disputes between generating companies and licensees.

• A. 1 only
• B. 4 only
• C. 3 and 4
• D. 2 and 4