UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — After Russia, India to be the second country in the world operating a commercial-level Fast Breeder Reactor; an indigenously designed Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) achieving first criticality is a significant mil...

Q1. In the context of India's Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam, the term 'MOX fuel' refers to which one of the following?

  • A. A mixed oxide of uranium and plutonium
  • B. A mixed oxide of uranium and thorium
  • C. A mixed oxide of plutonium and thorium
  • D. A mixed carbide of uranium and plutonium

Q2. Which one of the following is India's first indigenously designed 500 MWe commercial-scale Fast Breeder Reactor to attain first criticality?

  • A. Fast Breeder Test Reactor (FBTR), Kalpakkam
  • B. Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR), Kalpakkam
  • C. KAMINI Reactor, Kalpakkam
  • D. Dhruva Reactor, Trombay

Q3. Match List I (Milestone in India's Fast Breeder Reactor Programme) with List II (Year) and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists:

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

Q4. With reference to India's three-stage nuclear power programme, match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists:

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

Q5. India's three-stage nuclear power programme, of which the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor at Kalpakkam marks the entry into the second stage, was originally conceived by which one of the following scientists?

  • A. Dr. Vikram Sarabhai
  • B. Dr. Homi Jehangir Bhabha
  • C. Dr. Raja Ramanna
  • D. Dr. Satish Dhawan

Q6. India's indigenous nuclear power programme, as envisioned by its founding architect to optimally utilise the country's limited uranium and large thorium reserves, is structured in how many sequential stages?

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

Q7. The indigenous design and technology development of the 500 MWe Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam was carried out by which one of the following organisations?

  • A. Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC)
  • B. Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR)
  • C. Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Limited (BHAVINI)
  • D. Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL)

Q8. How many Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) function under the administrative control of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE)?

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

Q9. With reference to the Indian nuclear establishment, which one of the following is the apex regulatory authority empowered to grant permission for the first approach to criticality of a nuclear reactor?

  • A. Atomic Energy Commission (AEC)
  • B. Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB)
  • C. Department of Atomic Energy (DAE)
  • D. Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL)

Q10. Match List I with List II regarding milestones of India's Fast Breeder Reactor programme and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists:

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

Q11. As of 2026, which one of the following is the only country in the world operating a commercial-level Fast Breeder Reactor, ahead of India which has just achieved first criticality of its Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor?

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

Q12. With reference to the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam that achieved first criticality in April 2026, which of the following statements is/are NOT correct?

  1. It is a 500 MWe reactor that uses Uranium-Plutonium Mixed Oxide (MOX) as fuel.
  2. It was indigenously designed by the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR).
  3. Permission for its first approach to criticality was granted by the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB).
  4. It is owned and operated by the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL).
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 2 only
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 2 and 4 only

Q13. Under the graded liability structure introduced by the SHANTI Act, 2025, what is the maximum (upper-end) cap on operator liability for a nuclear installation as specified in the Second Schedule?

  • A. ₹500 crore
  • B. ₹1500 crore
  • C. ₹3000 crore
  • D. ₹5000 crore

Q14. Under the SHANTI Act, 2025, the safety authorization required for a private entity to set up and operate a nuclear facility (in addition to the licence granted by the Central Government) is issued by which one of the following bodies?

  • A. Department of Atomic Energy (DAE)
  • B. Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB)
  • C. Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL)
  • D. Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Limited (BHAVINI)

Q15. Match List I (Legislation / Policy milestone in India's civil nuclear sector) with List II (Year of enactment / announcement) and select the correct answer using the code given below:

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

Q16. Which one of the following organisations is the designer of India's indigenously built 500 MWe Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam?

  • A. Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC)
  • B. Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL)
  • C. Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR)
  • D. Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Limited (BHAVINI)

Q17. With reference to the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam, which of the following statements is/are correct?

  1. The reactor uses Uranium-Plutonium Mixed Oxide (MOX) as its core fuel.
  2. Fast neutrons convert Uranium-238 in the blanket into fissile Plutonium-239.
  3. Thorium-232 placed in the blanket is transmuted into fissile Uranium-233.
  4. The reactor is cooled by pressurised heavy water.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2, 3 and 4 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 3 and 4 only

Q18. India's nuclear power programme, of which Fast Breeder Reactors form the central bridge linking uranium-based reactors to the thorium fuel cycle, is structured into how many sequential stages?

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

Q19. As per the Department of Atomic Energy, what is the approximate in-situ monazite resource (in million tonnes) established in India's beach and inland placer sands?

  • A. About 3 million tonnes
  • B. About 8 million tonnes
  • C. About 13 million tonnes
  • D. About 26 million tonnes

Q20. Match List I (Atomic-energy / monazite facility) with List II (State in which it is located) and select the correct answer:

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

Q21. The richest beach placer deposits of monazite — the principal thorium-bearing mineral in India — occur along the coast of which one of the following states?

  • A. Andhra Pradesh
  • B. Kerala
  • C. Odisha
  • D. Gujarat

Q22. Match List I (Milestone in India's civil nuclear cooperation) with List II (Date/Month-Year) and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists:

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

Q23. Under India's Separation Plan announced in 2006 for the implementation of civil-military separation of its nuclear programme, how many of India's 22 indigenously built civilian power reactors were identified to be placed under IAEA safeguards in a phased manner?

  • A. 8 reactors
  • B. 14 reactors
  • C. 16 reactors
  • D. All 22 reactors

Q24. Match List I (Instrument / Milestone in India's international civil nuclear engagement) with List II (Negotiating counterpart or originating entity) and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists:

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