UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — India's First Hydrogen-Powered Train: Advancing Green Rail Mobility

Q1. In India's first indigenous hydrogen train, which one of the following is the primary energy source that generates the electricity used for traction?

  • A. Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell
  • B. Lithium Iron Phosphate battery bank
  • C. Solid Oxide Fuel Cell
  • D. Overhead electric traction line

Q2. The Jind-Sonipat section on which India's first hydrogen-powered train operates falls under the jurisdiction of which one of the following railway zones?

  • A. Northern Railway
  • B. North Western Railway
  • C. North Central Railway
  • D. Western Railway

Q3. In the 10-car configuration of India's first hydrogen train, the term 'Hydrogen Driving Power Cars' most precisely refers to which one of the following?

  • A. The two end cars, each carrying a 1200 kW hydrogen fuel cell propulsion system along with hydrogen storage and LFP batteries
  • B. Two coaches carrying only compressed hydrogen cylinders with no traction equipment
  • C. Two locomotives drawing power from an overhead electric supply that haul the trailer coaches
  • D. Two retained diesel-electric power cars used as backup traction

Q4. Under the pilot floated by the Indian Railways Organisation of Alternative Fuels (IROAF), how many DEMU rakes were to be initially converted to hydrogen fuel cell technology on the Sonipat-Jind section?

  • A. 2
  • B. 10
  • C. 35
  • D. 89

Q5. The Indian Railways Organisation of Alternative Fuels (IROAF), which invited bids for the hydrogen fuel cell train, is best described as which one of the following?

  • A. The green fuel vertical of Indian Railways, tasked with advancing alternative-energy and net-zero-carbon initiatives
  • B. An autonomous regulator under the Ministry of Petroleum that licenses fuels used on the rail network
  • C. A public-sector rolling-stock manufacturer that produces locomotives and coaches
  • D. A statutory body constituted under the Railways Act to fix passenger and freight tariffs

Q6. Under the 'Hydrogen for Heritage' initiative, how many hydrogen trains does Indian Railways envisage running on heritage and hill routes?

  • A. 35
  • B. 10
  • C. 75
  • D. 80

Q7. Which one of the following superlative distinctions is officially claimed for India's first indigenous hydrogen train on the Broad Gauge platform?

  • A. The world's longest (10-coach) and most powerful (2400 kW) hydrogen train-set
  • B. The world's fastest hydrogen train, operating at 140 kmph
  • C. The world's first hydrogen train to use solid oxide fuel cells
  • D. The world's first narrow-gauge hydrogen heritage train