UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — PLI-ACC SCHEME

Q1. With reference to the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) Battery Storage, consider the following: 1. It is administered by the Ministry of Heavy Industries. 2. It targets 50 GWh of domestic ACC manufacturing capacity. 3. It has a total budgetary outlay of ₹18,100 crore. 4. Its budgetary outlay is shared on a 50:50 basis between the Centre and battery-consuming States. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. It is administered by the Ministry of Heavy Industries.
  2. It targets 50 GWh of domestic ACC manufacturing capacity.
  3. It has a total budgetary outlay of ₹18,100 crore.
  4. Its budgetary outlay is shared on a 50:50 basis between the Centre and battery-consuming States.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 3
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q2. The Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme 'National Programme on Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) Battery Storage' is administered solely by which one of the following?

  • A. Ministry of Heavy Industries
  • B. Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
  • C. Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
  • D. Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade

Q3. Consider the following statements comparing the original approval of the PLI-ACC programme with its later re-tender: 1. The programme approved in 2021 targeted only 50 GWh of regular ACC, with no provision for any niche ACC capacity. 2. The 2024 re-tender for the residual 10 GWh capacity carried a maximum budgetary outlay of ₹3,620 crore. 3. The 2024 re-tender used a Quality and Cost Based Selection (QCBS) mechanism. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The programme approved in 2021 targeted only 50 GWh of regular ACC, with no provision for any niche ACC capacity.
  2. The 2024 re-tender for the residual 10 GWh capacity carried a maximum budgetary outlay of ₹3,620 crore.
  3. The 2024 re-tender used a Quality and Cost Based Selection (QCBS) mechanism.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q4. The Ministry of Heavy Industries floated the global re-tender for the residual 10 GWh Advanced Chemistry Cell capacity under the PLI-ACC scheme in which year?

  • A. 2021
  • B. 2022
  • C. 2023
  • D. 2024

Q5. As per the position reported by the Ministry of Heavy Industries, how many GWh out of the 50 GWh targeted under the PLI-ACC scheme have been awarded to beneficiary firms?

  • A. 30 GWh
  • B. 40 GWh
  • C. 45 GWh
  • D. 50 GWh

Q6. In the context of the PLI-ACC scheme, which one of the following best describes a 'beneficiary firm'?

  • A. A firm selected through competitive bidding that signs a Programme Agreement to set up ACC manufacturing and receives sales-linked incentives disbursed over five years
  • B. Any firm that has announced plans to set up ACC capacity in India, whether or not it has signed a Programme Agreement
  • C. A State-government undertaking that allots land for giga-scale battery factories
  • D. A firm that imports finished ACC cells for domestic assembly under a value-addition waiver

Q7. The 'National Programme on Advanced Chemistry Cell Battery Storage', which set out the technology-agnostic definition of ACCs, was approved by which one of the following authorities?

  • A. The Union Cabinet
  • B. The NITI Aayog Governing Council
  • C. The Ministry of Heavy Industries acting on its own
  • D. The Cabinet Committee on Security

Q8. Which one of the following public sector entities was appointed as the Independent Engineer for monitoring and verification under the PLI-ACC scheme?

  • A. Engineers India Limited
  • B. NTPC Limited
  • C. Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited
  • D. Central Electronics Limited

Q9. With reference to the award of the residual 10 GWh ACC capacity under the PLI-ACC scheme, consider the following: 1. The 10 GWh capacity was awarded to Reliance New Energy Battery Limited. 2. The Programme Agreement for the 10 GWh capacity was signed with Ola Cell Technologies. 3. The re-tender had a maximum budgetary outlay of ₹3,620 crore. 4. The bidders were evaluated through a Quality and Cost Based Selection (QCBS) process. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. The 10 GWh capacity was awarded to Reliance New Energy Battery Limited.
  2. The Programme Agreement for the 10 GWh capacity was signed with Ola Cell Technologies.
  3. The re-tender had a maximum budgetary outlay of ₹3,620 crore.
  4. The bidders were evaluated through a Quality and Cost Based Selection (QCBS) process.
  • A. 1, 3 and 4
  • B. 1, 2 and 3
  • C. 2 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q10. The Programme Agreement awarding the residual 10 GWh ACC capacity to Reliance New Energy Battery Limited was signed exclusively by which one of the following?

  • A. Ministry of Heavy Industries
  • B. Ministry of Power
  • C. Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
  • D. NITI Aayog

Q11. Consider the following pairings of a Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme with its administering ministry/department: 1. PLI for Advanced Chemistry Cell Battery Storage — Ministry of Heavy Industries 2. PLI for Large Scale Electronics Manufacturing — Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology 3. PLI for White Goods (Air Conditioners and LED Lights) — Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade 4. PLI for Pharmaceuticals — Ministry of Textiles Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?

  1. PLI for Advanced Chemistry Cell Battery Storage — Ministry of Heavy Industries
  2. PLI for Large Scale Electronics Manufacturing — Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
  3. PLI for White Goods (Air Conditioners and LED Lights) — Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade
  4. PLI for Pharmaceuticals — Ministry of Textiles
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 3
  • C. 1, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q12. In the latest official update on the PLI-ACC scheme (figures as of 31 December 2025), the figure of ₹3,237 crore denotes which one of the following?

  • A. The cumulative investment reported by the beneficiary firms under the scheme
  • B. The entire budgetary outlay earmarked for the scheme
  • C. The total incentive already fully disbursed to all beneficiaries
  • D. The sub-outlay sanctioned for the re-tendered 10 GWh tranche