UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — PM to visit Rajasthan on 21st April

Q1. The HPCL Rajasthan Refinery Limited (HRRL) that developed the Pachpadra refinery-cum-petrochemical complex is a joint venture. How many distinct entities hold equity in this joint venture?

  • A. Two
  • B. Three
  • C. Four
  • D. Five

Q2. With reference to the ownership and administrative status of HPCL Rajasthan Refinery Limited (HRRL), which one of the following statements is correct?

  • A. HRRL is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Government of Rajasthan
  • B. HPCL, the majority stakeholder in HRRL, is a Maharatna CPSE under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas
  • C. HRRL is controlled solely by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas with no state government participation
  • D. The Government of Rajasthan holds the majority equity stake in HRRL

Q3. The greenfield refinery-cum-petrochemical complex at Pachpadra is being executed by which one of the following companies?

  • A. Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL)
  • B. Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL)
  • C. HPCL Rajasthan Refinery Limited (HRRL)
  • D. ONGC Petro-additions Limited (OPaL)

Q4. The Pachpadra complex is repeatedly described as India's first 'greenfield' integrated refinery. In this context, a 'greenfield' project most precisely refers to a project that is:

  • A. Built entirely from scratch on a new, previously undeveloped site
  • B. An expansion of capacity within an existing operational refinery
  • C. Any refinery located in an ecologically protected 'green' zone
  • D. A refinery that exclusively produces environment-friendly green hydrogen

Q5. The HRRL Pachpadra complex is most distinctively characterised as which one of the following?

  • A. India's largest oil refinery by crude processing capacity
  • B. India's first greenfield integrated refinery-cum-petrochemical complex
  • C. India's first coastal refinery designed for crude imports
  • D. India's first fully public-sector refinery

Q6. With reference to the recent CCEA-approved cost revision for HRRL as compared with its earlier sanction, consider the following statements: 1. The project cost was revised upward from ₹43,129 crore to ₹79,459 crore. 2. The CCEA approved an additional equity infusion of ₹8,962 crore by HPCL. 3. Under the revision, the Government of Rajasthan's equity share was raised from 26% to 40%. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The project cost was revised upward from ₹43,129 crore to ₹79,459 crore.
  2. The CCEA approved an additional equity infusion of ₹8,962 crore by HPCL.
  3. Under the revision, the Government of Rajasthan's equity share was raised from 26% to 40%.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q7. Regarding the CCEA approval for HRRL, consider the following matched pairs: 1. Entity infusing the additional approved equity — HPCL 2. Total HPCL equity in HRRL after the revision — ₹19,600 crore 3. Scheduled Commercial Operation Date — 1 July 2026 4. Authority chairing the CCEA that cleared the revision — Union Finance Minister Which of the above pairs is/are NOT correctly matched?

  1. Entity infusing the additional approved equity — HPCL
  2. Total HPCL equity in HRRL after the revision — ₹19,600 crore
  3. Scheduled Commercial Operation Date — 1 July 2026
  4. Authority chairing the CCEA that cleared the revision — Union Finance Minister
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 only
  • C. 3 only
  • D. 4 only

Q8. The foundation stone for the Pachpadra refinery was laid in 2013, while PM Modi formally commenced project work in January 2018. How many years elapsed between the laying of the foundation stone and the formal commencement of project work?

  • A. Three years
  • B. Five years
  • C. Eight years
  • D. Thirteen years

Q9. Consider the following event-year pairings related to the Pachpadra refinery project: 1. 2013 — Laying of the project's foundation stone 2. 2018 — PM Modi's formal commencement of project work 3. 2020 — CCEA approval of the ₹79,459 crore revised cost 4. 2023 — Creation of Balotra district from Barmer Which of the above are correctly identified?

  1. 2013 — Laying of the project's foundation stone
  2. 2018 — PM Modi's formal commencement of project work
  3. 2020 — CCEA approval of the ₹79,459 crore revised cost
  4. 2023 — Creation of Balotra district from Barmer
  • A. 1, 2 and 4 only
  • B. 1, 3 and 4 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q10. Indian refineries, including Pachpadra, have their size expressed in 'MMTPA'. In this context, MMTPA most precisely denotes:

  • A. Million Metric Tonnes Per Annum — the annual crude processing/throughput capacity
  • B. Maximum Monthly Total Product Availability of finished fuels
  • C. Mean Marginal Tax on Petroleum Assets levied on refiners
  • D. Million Metres of Pipeline Transported Annually

Q11. The Pachpadra project is highlighted as an 'integrated refinery-cum-petrochemical complex'. In this context, such an integrated complex most precisely means a facility that:

  • A. Produces both transport fuels and petrochemical products from crude within a single interlinked site
  • B. Combines a crude refinery with an adjacent thermal power plant on one site
  • C. Integrates refining operations of two or more separate oil companies
  • D. Blends imported petrochemicals with domestically refined fuels for export