UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — PARLIAMENT QUESTION: IMPACT OF INDO–US NUCLEAR AGREEMENT

Q1. The implementation of India's civil nuclear power programme flowing from the 2008 agreement is carried out under which one of the following departments/ministries of the Government of India?

• A. Ministry of Power
• B. Department of Atomic Energy
• C. Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
• D. Ministry of External Affairs

Q2. The 2008 waiver that permitted member states to resume nuclear commerce with India was granted by which one of the following bodies?

• A. IAEA Board of Governors
• B. Nuclear Suppliers Group
• C. Missile Technology Control Regime
• D. Zangger Committee

Q3. In the context of India's nuclear status after 2008, the description of the NSG exemption granted to India as a 'clean, country-specific waiver' most precisely means that:

• A. India was admitted as a full member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group with voting rights
• B. India was exempted from the NSG's full-scope safeguards requirement, allowing nuclear trade despite India being a non-NPT state
• C. India was permitted to export enrichment and reprocessing technology to other non-NPT states
• D. India was recognised as a nuclear-weapon state under the Non-Proliferation Treaty

Q4. With reference to India's nuclear power position as reported to Parliament, which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. Sixteen reactors (excluding RAPS-1) with a total capacity of 6,380 MW are under IAEA safeguards and fuelled by imported fuel.
2. India's present installed nuclear power capacity (excluding RAPS-1) is about 8,780 MW.
3. All of India's nuclear power reactors are placed under IAEA safeguards.
4. Nuclear power generation rose from 16,956 MU in 2007-08 to 56,681 MU in 2024-25.

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

Q5. The Indian civil nuclear reactors opened up after the 2008 deal are placed under safeguards administered by which one of the following organisations?

• A. Nuclear Suppliers Group
• B. International Atomic Energy Agency
• C. Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization
• D. Wassenaar Arrangement

Q6. Under the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010, the maximum liability of an operator for a single nuclear incident (for reactors of 10 MW thermal power or above) is capped at:

• A. ₹300 crore
• B. ₹500 crore
• C. ₹1,500 crore
• D. ₹3,000 crore

Q7. In the context of India's nuclear liability regime, the Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage (CSC) is best described as:

• A. A 1997 international convention establishing a worldwide regime to supplement national compensation available to victims of nuclear accidents
• B. A bilateral India–US arrangement fixing the exchange rate of Special Drawing Rights for nuclear claims
• C. An IAEA safeguards protocol governing the accounting of imported nuclear fuel
• D. A treaty banning the transfer of enrichment and reprocessing technology to non-NPT states

Q8. The ₹20,000 crore research-and-development outlay under the Nuclear Energy Mission (Union Budget 2025-26) is centred primarily on which one of the following reactor technologies?

• A. Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors
• B. Fast Breeder Reactors
• C. Small Modular Reactors
• D. Advanced Heavy Water Reactor (thorium)

Q9. The radiological and nuclear safety regulation of nuclear installations in India is carried out by which one of the following?

• A. Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited
• B. Atomic Energy Regulatory Board
• C. Bhabha Atomic Research Centre
• D. Atomic Energy Commission

Q10. Under the India–US reprocessing arrangement concluded within the 123 Agreement framework, India obtained advance consent to reprocess US-obligated spent fuel at which one of the following?

• A. The existing Tarapur reprocessing plant, without any new safeguards
• B. A new, dedicated national reprocessing facility to be established under IAEA safeguards
• C. A jointly owned and operated India–US reprocessing facility
• D. Any of India's military reprocessing facilities of its choosing

Q11. With reference to India's nuclear power capacity and its targets, which of the following statements is NOT correct?

1. India's present installed nuclear capacity (excluding RAPS-1) is about 8.78 GW.
2. NPCIL's projects under implementation aim to raise capacity to about 22 GW by 2031-32.
3. The Nuclear Energy Mission sets a target of 100 GW by 2047.
4. The Nuclear Energy Mission sets a target of 500 GW of nuclear capacity by 2031-32.

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