UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — PARLIAMENT QUESTION: NUCLEAR ENERGY SECTOR

Q1. With reference to the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Act, 2025, consider the following: 1. It repeals both the Atomic Energy Act, 1962 and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010. 2. It confers statutory status on the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board. 3. It opens uranium enrichment and heavy water production to private licensees. 4. It permits private companies to build, own and operate nuclear power plants under a Central Government licence. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. It repeals both the Atomic Energy Act, 1962 and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010.
  2. It confers statutory status on the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board.
  3. It opens uranium enrichment and heavy water production to private licensees.
  4. It permits private companies to build, own and operate nuclear power plants under a Central Government licence.
  • A. 1, 2 and 4
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q2. Under the Second Schedule of the SHANTI Act, 2025, the maximum operator liability of Rs 3,000 crore applies to which one of the following?

  • A. Large nuclear power reactors above 3,600 MW thermal capacity
  • B. Spent-fuel reprocessing plants
  • C. Research reactors below 10 MW
  • D. Transportation of nuclear material

Q3. With reference to the Nuclear Energy Mission, consider the following: 1. It targets 100 GW of nuclear power capacity by 2047. 2. It was announced in the Union Budget 2025-26. 3. It provides a dedicated outlay of Rs 20,000 crore for the development of Small Modular Reactors. 4. It aims to have at least five indigenously designed Small Modular Reactors operational by 2047. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. It targets 100 GW of nuclear power capacity by 2047.
  2. It was announced in the Union Budget 2025-26.
  3. It provides a dedicated outlay of Rs 20,000 crore for the development of Small Modular Reactors.
  4. It aims to have at least five indigenously designed Small Modular Reactors operational by 2047.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1, 3 and 4
  • C. 2 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q4. The Nuclear Energy Mission announced in the Union Budget 2025-26 is operationalised primarily through which one of the following?

  • A. Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
  • B. Department of Atomic Energy
  • C. Ministry of Power
  • D. Central Electricity Authority

Q5. Consider the following pairs of a milestone in India's atomic energy law and its year: 1. First Atomic Energy Act - 1948 2. Establishment of the Department of Atomic Energy - 1954 3. Constitution of the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board - 1983 4. Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act - 2008 Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?

  1. First Atomic Energy Act - 1948
  2. Establishment of the Department of Atomic Energy - 1954
  3. Constitution of the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board - 1983
  4. Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act - 2008
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 2, 3 and 4
  • C. 1 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q6. With reference to the historical framework of India's atomic energy sector, consider the following: 1. The Atomic Energy Act, 1962 placed nuclear activities under a Central Government monopoly. 2. The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board was set up under the Atomic Energy Act, 1962. 3. The Department of Atomic Energy functions under the direct charge of the Prime Minister. 4. The Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010 was enacted before the India-US 123 Agreement was signed. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. The Atomic Energy Act, 1962 placed nuclear activities under a Central Government monopoly.
  2. The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board was set up under the Atomic Energy Act, 1962.
  3. The Department of Atomic Energy functions under the direct charge of the Prime Minister.
  4. The Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010 was enacted before the India-US 123 Agreement was signed.
  • A. 4 only
  • B. 2 and 4 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 3 only

Q7. The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board was constituted in 1983 in exercise of the powers conferred under which one of the following?

  • A. Atomic Energy Act, 1948
  • B. Atomic Energy Act, 1962
  • C. Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
  • D. SHANTI Act, 2025

Q8. Consider the following statements comparing the status of the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board before and after the SHANTI Act, 2025: 1. Before the SHANTI Act, the AERB was an executive body created by a government order rather than by statute. 2. Under the SHANTI Act, 2025, the AERB is granted statutory status as the nuclear safety regulator. 3. Prior to the SHANTI Act, the AERB derived its safety-authorisation powers from the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Before the SHANTI Act, the AERB was an executive body created by a government order rather than by statute.
  2. Under the SHANTI Act, 2025, the AERB is granted statutory status as the nuclear safety regulator.
  3. Prior to the SHANTI Act, the AERB derived its safety-authorisation powers from the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q9. With reference to the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010, consider the following: 1. It channels primary liability for nuclear damage to the operator of the installation. 2. Its Section 17 gives the operator a right of recourse against the supplier in specified circumstances. 3. It was enacted in the aftermath of the India-US civil nuclear agreement. 4. It continues to remain in force alongside the SHANTI Act, 2025. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. It channels primary liability for nuclear damage to the operator of the installation.
  2. Its Section 17 gives the operator a right of recourse against the supplier in specified circumstances.
  3. It was enacted in the aftermath of the India-US civil nuclear agreement.
  4. It continues to remain in force alongside the SHANTI Act, 2025.
  • A. 4 only
  • B. 1 and 4 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 3 only

Q10. Consider the following statements comparing the nuclear liability regime under the CLNDA, 2010 with that under the SHANTI Act, 2025: 1. Unlike the CLNDA, 2010, the SHANTI Act removes the supplier's liability and channels liability to the operator. 2. Both the CLNDA, 2010 and the SHANTI Act, 2025 retain an overall incident cap of 300 million SDR for Government of India liability. 3. The SHANTI Act, 2025, unlike the CLNDA, imposes no upper limit whatsoever on operator liability. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Unlike the CLNDA, 2010, the SHANTI Act removes the supplier's liability and channels liability to the operator.
  2. Both the CLNDA, 2010 and the SHANTI Act, 2025 retain an overall incident cap of 300 million SDR for Government of India liability.
  3. The SHANTI Act, 2025, unlike the CLNDA, imposes no upper limit whatsoever on operator liability.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q11. Under the SHANTI Act, 2025, a private entity seeking to set up and operate a nuclear power plant must obtain which one of the following?

  • A. A licence from the Central Government together with a safety authorisation from the AERB
  • B. A licence from the AERB alone
  • C. A clearance from the Nuclear Suppliers Group and the IAEA
  • D. A no-objection certificate from the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited

Q12. With reference to India's civil nuclear cooperation, consider the following: 1. The India-US 123 Agreement was signed in 2008. 2. India obtained a waiver from the Nuclear Suppliers Group in 2008 enabling civil nuclear commerce. 3. India is a party to the Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage (CSC). 4. India is a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which was the basis for the NSG waiver. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. The India-US 123 Agreement was signed in 2008.
  2. India obtained a waiver from the Nuclear Suppliers Group in 2008 enabling civil nuclear commerce.
  3. India is a party to the Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage (CSC).
  4. India is a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which was the basis for the NSG waiver.
  • A. 4 only
  • B. 3 and 4 only
  • C. 1 and 2 only
  • D. 2 only