UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — NITI Aayog Releases Study Reports on Scenarios Towards Viksit Bharat and Net Zero
Q1. NITI Aayog's 2026 report set 'Scenarios Towards Viksit Bharat and Net Zero' is best characterised as which one of the following?
- A. India's first government-led, multi-sectoral, integrated modelling study of pathways to Viksit Bharat 2047 and Net Zero 2070
- B. India's first Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategy submitted to the UNFCCC
- C. India's first Biennial Update Report submitted to the UNFCCC
- D. India's first Nationally Determined Contribution communicated to the UNFCCC
Q2. With reference to NITI Aayog's study 'Scenarios Towards Viksit Bharat and Net Zero', consider the following as the critical levers identified for reaching Net Zero:
1. Electrification of energy end-uses
2. Greening of the energy supply
3. Mission LiFE and behavioural change
4. Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?
- Electrification of energy end-uses
- Greening of the energy supply
- Mission LiFE and behavioural change
- Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism
- A. 1, 2 and 3
- B. 1 and 4
- C. 2, 3 and 4
- D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Q3. NITI Aayog, which released the Viksit Bharat and Net Zero study, was established in which year and through which instrument?
- A. 2015, through a resolution of the Union Cabinet
- B. 2014, through an Act of Parliament
- C. 2015, through a constitutional amendment
- D. 2016, through a Presidential order
Q4. Consider the following statements regarding NITI Aayog:
1. The Prime Minister is the ex-officio Chairperson of NITI Aayog.
2. NITI Aayog was created by replacing the erstwhile Planning Commission.
3. NITI Aayog is empowered to allocate financial resources to the States.
4. NITI Aayog functions as a platform to promote cooperative federalism.
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?
- The Prime Minister is the ex-officio Chairperson of NITI Aayog.
- NITI Aayog was created by replacing the erstwhile Planning Commission.
- NITI Aayog is empowered to allocate financial resources to the States.
- NITI Aayog functions as a platform to promote cooperative federalism.
- A. 1, 2 and 4
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Q5. India's commitment to achieve Net Zero emissions by 2070, announced as part of the 'Panchamrit', was first made at which of the following forums?
- A. COP26, Glasgow (2021)
- B. COP27, Sharm el-Sheikh (2022)
- C. COP21, Paris (2015)
- D. COP28, Dubai (2023)
Q6. In the context of India's climate action, the term 'Panchamrit' announced at COP26 refers to which one of the following?
- A. A set of five climate-action targets committed by India for 2030 and 2070
- B. India's five-year renewable-energy financing plan tabled at COP26
- C. The five core economic sectors covered under India's LT-LEDS
- D. A five-nation coalition for cross-border solar energy cooperation
Q7. In the study's framework of Net Zero levers, the phrase 'greening of energy' most precisely refers to which one of the following?
- A. Decarbonising the energy supply by shifting electricity generation towards non-fossil (clean) sources
- B. Shifting all end-use energy demand to electricity irrespective of how that electricity is generated
- C. Expanding forest and green cover to offset industrial greenhouse-gas emissions
- D. Recovering embodied energy and materials from the municipal waste stream
Q8. Consider the following statements comparing NITI Aayog's 2026 study with India's Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategy (LT-LEDS):
1. Unlike the LT-LEDS submitted at COP27, the NITI Aayog study is an integrated modelling exercise combining growth and decarbonisation scenarios.
2. Both the LT-LEDS and the NITI Aayog study frame 2070 as the target year for Net Zero.
3. Unlike the LT-LEDS, the NITI Aayog study was submitted to the UNFCCC as India's official mitigation commitment.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- Unlike the LT-LEDS submitted at COP27, the NITI Aayog study is an integrated modelling exercise combining growth and decarbonisation scenarios.
- Both the LT-LEDS and the NITI Aayog study frame 2070 as the target year for Net Zero.
- Unlike the LT-LEDS, the NITI Aayog study was submitted to the UNFCCC as India's official mitigation commitment.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q9. Which of the following institutions has been tasked with preparing the overarching 'Vision for Viksit Bharat @2047' and coordinating the national vision exercise?
- A. NITI Aayog
- B. Ministry of Finance
- C. The Planning Commission
- D. Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation
Q10. Consider the following statements about the 'Viksit Bharat @2047' vision:
1. The target year 2047 marks the 100th year of India's independence.
2. Attaining Viksit Bharat by 2047 is estimated to require roughly an eight-fold increase in per capita income.
3. The 'Viksit Bharat @2047: Voice of Youth' initiative was launched by the Prime Minister in December 2023.
4. Viksit Bharat @2047 was announced as a formal mitigation commitment under the Paris Agreement.
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?
- The target year 2047 marks the 100th year of India's independence.
- Attaining Viksit Bharat by 2047 is estimated to require roughly an eight-fold increase in per capita income.
- The 'Viksit Bharat @2047: Voice of Youth' initiative was launched by the Prime Minister in December 2023.
- Viksit Bharat @2047 was announced as a formal mitigation commitment under the Paris Agreement.
- A. 1, 2 and 3
- B. 1 and 4
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Q11. India's updated Nationally Determined Contribution, submitted to the UNFCCC in 2022, is coordinated and communicated on India's behalf by which nodal ministry?
- A. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
- B. Ministry of External Affairs
- C. Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
- D. Ministry of Power
Q12. The National Critical Mineral Mission, central to securing minerals for India's energy transition, is implemented under which Union Ministry?
- A. Ministry of Mines
- B. Ministry of Coal
- C. Ministry of Heavy Industries
- D. Ministry of New and Renewable Energy