UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — PARLIAMENT QUESTION: NUCLEAR FUEL PROGRAMME

Q1. With reference to India's Three Stage Nuclear Power Programme, consider the following statements: 1. Stage 1 uses natural uranium in Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors, whereas Stage 2 uses plutonium recovered from the spent fuel of those reactors in Fast Breeder Reactors. 2. Both Stage 2 and Stage 3 depend exclusively on fissile material that is directly mined within India. 3. Large-scale utilisation of thorium in Stage 3 is planned to begin only after adequate installed capacity of Fast Breeder Reactors has been achieved. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Stage 1 uses natural uranium in Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors, whereas Stage 2 uses plutonium recovered from the spent fuel of those reactors in Fast Breeder Reactors.
  2. Both Stage 2 and Stage 3 depend exclusively on fissile material that is directly mined within India.
  3. Large-scale utilisation of thorium in Stage 3 is planned to begin only after adequate installed capacity of Fast Breeder Reactors has been achieved.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q2. Who is regarded as the architect who first conceived India's Three Stage Nuclear Power Programme?

  • A. Vikram A. Sarabhai
  • B. Homi Jehangir Bhabha
  • C. Raja Ramanna
  • D. Anil Kakodkar

Q3. Regarding India's rationale for adopting a closed nuclear fuel cycle, consider the following statements: 1. India holds only a small share of global uranium reserves but one of the largest shares of the world's thorium reserves. 2. A closed fuel cycle recovers and recycles fissile and fertile material from spent nuclear fuel rather than disposing of it as waste. 3. Thorium is a fissile material that can directly sustain a chain reaction, allowing India to bypass the fast breeder stage. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. India holds only a small share of global uranium reserves but one of the largest shares of the world's thorium reserves.
  2. A closed fuel cycle recovers and recycles fissile and fertile material from spent nuclear fuel rather than disposing of it as waste.
  3. Thorium is a fissile material that can directly sustain a chain reaction, allowing India to bypass the fast breeder stage.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q4. The Department of Atomic Energy, which executes India's closed fuel cycle and three-stage programme, functions directly under which authority?

  • A. Ministry of Power
  • B. The Prime Minister of India
  • C. Ministry of Science and Technology
  • D. Cabinet Committee on Security

Q5. With reference to the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR), consider the following statements: 1. Unlike conventional thermal reactors, the PFBR uses natural uranium fuel and light water as coolant. 2. It attained first criticality in April 2026, making India the second country after Russia to operate a commercial-scale fast breeder reactor. 3. It was designed by the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research and is built and operated by BHAVINI. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Unlike conventional thermal reactors, the PFBR uses natural uranium fuel and light water as coolant.
  2. It attained first criticality in April 2026, making India the second country after Russia to operate a commercial-scale fast breeder reactor.
  3. It was designed by the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research and is built and operated by BHAVINI.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q6. With the PFBR attaining first criticality in 2026, India became only the second country in the world to operate a commercial-scale fast breeder reactor, after which country?

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

Q7. Regarding the use of thorium fuel in India's Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR) programme, consider the following statements: 1. The KAMINI research reactor at Kalpakkam is a Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor running on natural uranium. 2. Thorium oxide (thoria) pellets have been used in the initial cores of operating Indian PHWRs. 3. Irradiated thoria from these reactors has undergone post-irradiation examination at BARC. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The KAMINI research reactor at Kalpakkam is a Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor running on natural uranium.
  2. Thorium oxide (thoria) pellets have been used in the initial cores of operating Indian PHWRs.
  3. Irradiated thoria from these reactors has undergone post-irradiation examination at BARC.
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q8. In the context of Indian PHWRs, 'thoria pellets used in the initial core' are best described as—

  • A. Plutonium oxide pellets fabricated by BHAVINI to breed uranium-233
  • B. Uranium-233 fuel pellets used in the KAMINI research reactor
  • C. Thorium oxide pellets placed in the initial core of operating PHWRs, later subjected to post-irradiation examination at BARC
  • D. Depleted uranium control-absorber pellets loaded in fast breeder reactors

Q9. Post-irradiation examination of irradiated thoria and development of thorium reprocessing and fuel-fabrication technology are carried out primarily at which organisation?

  • A. NPCIL
  • B. Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC)
  • C. IGCAR
  • D. BHAVINI

Q10. Which of the following best describes the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre's (BARC) role in the fast breeder fuel cycle?

  • A. It is the sole builder and operator of all fast breeder reactors in India
  • B. It exclusively mines the entire quantity of uranium used across the programme
  • C. It alone designs and operates every Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor in the country
  • D. It developed the back-end fuel cycle and fuel fabrication capability for using plutonium from PHWR spent fuel

Q11. Regarding the Department of Atomic Energy's parliamentary responses on the nuclear fuel programme in 2025-26, consider the following statements: 1. The DAE answered Rajya Sabha questions including 'Leveraging India's Thorium Reserves' and 'Closed Fuel Cycle Technology'. 2. The government has set a target of about 100 GW of nuclear power capacity by 2047, with NPCIL expected to contribute around 54 GW. 3. Under the Nuclear Mission, India plans to deploy five Small Modular Reactors by 2033, all of which are to be designed and built by NPCIL. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The DAE answered Rajya Sabha questions including 'Leveraging India's Thorium Reserves' and 'Closed Fuel Cycle Technology'.
  2. The government has set a target of about 100 GW of nuclear power capacity by 2047, with NPCIL expected to contribute around 54 GW.
  3. Under the Nuclear Mission, India plans to deploy five Small Modular Reactors by 2033, all of which are to be designed and built by NPCIL.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q12. Operation of India's fleet of commercial Pressurised Heavy Water power reactors is primarily the responsibility of which organisation under the Department of Atomic Energy?

  • A. BARC
  • B. IGCAR
  • C. NPCIL
  • D. BHAVINI