UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) marks major milestone in India's journey towards self- reliant Energy Security: Dr. Jitendra Singh at VAKTAVYA 2026

Q1. In Dr. Homi Bhabha's three-stage nuclear power programme, which one of the following reactor types constitutes the FIRST stage?

  • A. Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors using natural uranium
  • B. Sodium-cooled Fast Breeder Reactors using plutonium-MOX
  • C. Thorium-Uranium-233 based reactors
  • D. Boiling Water Reactors using enriched uranium

Q2. India's civilian atomic energy activities, including the reactors of the three-stage nuclear power programme, derive their statutory basis primarily from which one of the following?

  • A. The Atomic Energy Act, 1962
  • B. The Electricity Act, 2003
  • C. The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957
  • D. The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986

Q3. The Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam is India's first indigenously designed fast breeder reactor of which one of the following electrical capacities?

  • A. 500 MWe
  • B. 220 MWe
  • C. 40 MWt
  • D. 1000 MWe

Q4. In the context of the PFBR, the term 'fast breeder reactor' is best described as a reactor which:

  • A. Uses fast, unmoderated neutrons and produces more fissile material than it consumes
  • B. Uses slow thermal neutrons moderated by heavy water and consumes more fuel than it breeds
  • C. Rapidly reaches full power and is designed only for research, not power generation
  • D. Breeds tritium for fusion applications using a lithium blanket

Q5. Consider the following statements regarding the institutions associated with the PFBR: 1. BHAVINI is the Department of Atomic Energy public-sector enterprise set up to build and operate the PFBR. 2. IGCAR is the R&D centre that designed and developed the PFBR technology. 3. The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) is a subsidiary body controlled by BHAVINI. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. BHAVINI is the Department of Atomic Energy public-sector enterprise set up to build and operate the PFBR.
  2. IGCAR is the R&D centre that designed and developed the PFBR technology.
  3. The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) is a subsidiary body controlled by BHAVINI.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q6. With reference to the institutions in India's fast breeder programme, consider the following entity–role pairings: 1. BHAVINI — builder and future operator of the PFBR 2. IGCAR — R&D unit of DAE that developed the PFBR technology 3. AERB — nuclear safety and licensing regulator 4. NPCIL — the agency that designed, developed and owns the PFBR Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. BHAVINI — builder and future operator of the PFBR
  2. IGCAR — R&D unit of DAE that developed the PFBR technology
  3. AERB — nuclear safety and licensing regulator
  4. NPCIL — the agency that designed, developed and owns the PFBR
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1 and 4 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q7. Once fully operational, India will become only the second country in the world — after which one of the following — to operate a commercial-level fast breeder reactor?

  • A. Russia
  • B. France
  • C. United States
  • D. China

Q8. When the PFBR attained 'first criticality' on 6 April 2026, the term 'criticality' referred to the state in which:

  • A. A self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction is achieved, with neutron production balancing losses
  • B. The reactor reaches its full rated electrical output of 500 MWe
  • C. The liquid sodium coolant reaches its boiling point in the pool
  • D. The reactor's breeding ratio first exceeds one

Q9. With reference to the Fast Breeder Test Reactor (FBTR) that served as the precursor to the PFBR, consider the following statements: 1. It is located at Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu. 2. It is a sodium-cooled fast reactor. 3. It has been operational since the mid-1980s. 4. It is a pool-type reactor with a capacity of 500 MWe. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. It is located at Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu.
  2. It is a sodium-cooled fast reactor.
  3. It has been operational since the mid-1980s.
  4. It is a pool-type reactor with a capacity of 500 MWe.
  • A. 4 only
  • B. 1 and 4 only
  • C. 3 and 4 only
  • D. 2 only

Q10. In the PFBR's commissioning sequence, the milestone 'commencement of core loading' (witnessed in 2024) refers to:

  • A. The loading of nuclear fuel assemblies into the reactor core
  • B. The pouring of liquid sodium coolant into the reactor pool
  • C. The first self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction in the reactor
  • D. The synchronisation of the reactor to the electricity grid