UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — PARLIAMENT QUESTION: GENERATION OF NUCLEAR ENERGY
Q1. With reference to the legislative framework underpinning India's goal of 100 GW nuclear capacity by 2047, which one of the following statements is correct?
- A. The SHANTI Bill, 2025 repeals both the Atomic Energy Act, 1962 and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010.
- B. The SHANTI Bill, 2025 merely amends the Atomic Energy Act, 1962 and leaves the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010 entirely untouched.
- C. The SHANTI Bill, 2025 transfers uranium enrichment and spent fuel management wholly to private operators licensed for the purpose.
- D. The SHANTI Bill, 2025 completely withdraws the statutory recognition earlier available to the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board.
Q2. Consider the following statements regarding the capacity trajectory declared for India's nuclear power programme:
1. An intermediate milestone of about 22.38 GW of installed nuclear capacity is set for 2031-32.
2. Of the 100 GWe targeted for 2047, about 54 GW of additional capacity is envisaged from the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited.
3. Of the 100 GWe targeted for 2047, about 46 GW is envisaged from entities other than the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited.
4. The 100 GWe goal for 2047 is aligned with India's declared net zero emissions target year of 2050.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- An intermediate milestone of about 22.38 GW of installed nuclear capacity is set for 2031-32.
- Of the 100 GWe targeted for 2047, about 54 GW of additional capacity is envisaged from the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited.
- Of the 100 GWe targeted for 2047, about 46 GW is envisaged from entities other than the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited.
- The 100 GWe goal for 2047 is aligned with India's declared net zero emissions target year of 2050.
- A. 1, 2 and 3
- B. 2 and 4
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Q3. The Nuclear Energy Mission for Viksit Bharat, announced in the Union Budget 2025-26 with an outlay of ₹20,000 crore for research and development of Small Modular Reactors, is operationalised by which one of the following?
- A. The Department of Atomic Energy, functioning under the direct charge of the Prime Minister
- B. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, through its National Institute of Solar Energy
- C. The Ministry of Power, acting through the Central Electricity Authority
- D. The Department of Science and Technology, through its Clean Energy Research Initiative
Q4. Consider the following descriptions of small reactor designs being developed under India's Nuclear Energy Mission:
1. Bharat Small Modular Reactor (BSMR-200) — 220 MWe, based on pressurised water reactor technology.
2. SMR-55 — 55 MWe, based on pressurised water reactor technology.
3. High Temperature Gas Cooled Reactor (HTGCR) — of capacity up to 5 MWth.
4. VVER-1000 — a 1,000 MWe indigenously designed small modular reactor cleared for series deployment.
Which of the above is/are NOT correct?
- Bharat Small Modular Reactor (BSMR-200) — 220 MWe, based on pressurised water reactor technology.
- SMR-55 — 55 MWe, based on pressurised water reactor technology.
- High Temperature Gas Cooled Reactor (HTGCR) — of capacity up to 5 MWth.
- VVER-1000 — a 1,000 MWe indigenously designed small modular reactor cleared for series deployment.
- A. 1 and 3
- B. 2 and 4
- C. 3 only
- D. 4 only
Q5. Consider the following pairs relating to India's small reactor programme:
1. BSMR-200 — site approved at Tarapur, Maharashtra
2. SMR-55 — site approved at Tarapur, Maharashtra
3. High Temperature Gas Cooled Reactor — to be set up at the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam
4. High Temperature Gas Cooled Reactor — intended for hydrogen production using the copper-chlorine thermochemical cycle
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?
- BSMR-200 — site approved at Tarapur, Maharashtra
- SMR-55 — site approved at Tarapur, Maharashtra
- High Temperature Gas Cooled Reactor — to be set up at the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam
- High Temperature Gas Cooled Reactor — intended for hydrogen production using the copper-chlorine thermochemical cycle
- A. 1 and 3
- B. 1, 2 and 4
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 3 and 4
Q6. Consider the following statements comparing India's small modular reactors with its large reactors:
1. The large indigenous reactor being deployed in the current fleet expansion is the 700 MWe Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor, whereas BSMR-200 and SMR-55 are based on pressurised water reactor technology.
2. Unlike the indigenous large units, the first two units at Kudankulam were set up in technical cooperation with Atomstroyexport of the Russian Federation and are light water reactors of the VVER type.
3. Among the proposed large light water reactor projects, Jaitapur is to be taken up in collaboration with the USA and Kovvada in collaboration with France.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- The large indigenous reactor being deployed in the current fleet expansion is the 700 MWe Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor, whereas BSMR-200 and SMR-55 are based on pressurised water reactor technology.
- Unlike the indigenous large units, the first two units at Kudankulam were set up in technical cooperation with Atomstroyexport of the Russian Federation and are light water reactors of the VVER type.
- Among the proposed large light water reactor projects, Jaitapur is to be taken up in collaboration with the USA and Kovvada in collaboration with France.
- A. 1 only
- B. 1 and 2 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q7. Consider the following organisations and their described status within the Department of Atomic Energy:
1. Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai — a research centre of the Department
2. Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited, Mumbai — a public sector undertaking of the Department
3. Central Electricity Authority, New Delhi — a research centre of the Department
4. Heavy Water Board, Mumbai — a public sector undertaking of the Department
Which of the above is/are NOT correct?
- Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai — a research centre of the Department
- Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited, Mumbai — a public sector undertaking of the Department
- Central Electricity Authority, New Delhi — a research centre of the Department
- Heavy Water Board, Mumbai — a public sector undertaking of the Department
- A. 1 and 3
- B. 3 and 4
- C. 2 and 4 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q8. The Department of Atomic Energy is responsible for executing the policies laid down by which one of the following, which enjoys full administrative and financial powers of the Government of India within the budget allotted by Parliament?
- A. The Atomic Energy Commission
- B. The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board
- C. The Board of Research in Nuclear Sciences
- D. The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited
Q9. With reference to the indigenous 700 MWe Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors, which one of the following statements is correct?
- A. Units 3 and 4 at Kakrapar were the first of this design to obtain the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board's licence for regular operation.
- B. All 700 MWe units currently under construction in the country are located exclusively within the State of Gujarat.
- C. Every reactor that makes up India's present installed nuclear capacity is of this indigenous 700 MWe design.
- D. This design necessarily requires imported enriched uranium fuel for the entire operating life of its core.
Q10. Consider the following statements regarding the reasons for, and the schedule of, delays in India's nuclear power projects as stated in Parliament in 2026:
1. Delays were attributed initially to land acquisition, rehabilitation and resettlement and obtaining clearances, and thereafter to problems in execution of works by contractors.
2. Implementation of design changes recommended after the Fukushima incident was among the factors that extended project timelines.
3. All reactors under implementation are scheduled for completion by 2031-32, and no unit is planned for commissioning beyond that year.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- Delays were attributed initially to land acquisition, rehabilitation and resettlement and obtaining clearances, and thereafter to problems in execution of works by contractors.
- Implementation of design changes recommended after the Fukushima incident was among the factors that extended project timelines.
- All reactors under implementation are scheduled for completion by 2031-32, and no unit is planned for commissioning beyond that year.
- A. 1 only
- B. 1 and 2 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q11. India's installed nuclear power capacity of 8,780 MW, excluding RAPS-1 which is under long-term shutdown, is made up of how many reactors?
Q12. Consider the following statements regarding the public outreach and community engagement undertaken around nuclear power plant sites in India:
1. Engagement with communities near plant sites is limited exclusively to one-time monetary compensation for the land acquired.
2. NPCIL, a public sector undertaking under the Department of Atomic Energy, carries out a structured public awareness programme on a continuous basis, adopting a multi-pronged approach.
3. The target groups of this programme include students and teachers, the local community, decision makers and people's representatives, and the press and media.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- Engagement with communities near plant sites is limited exclusively to one-time monetary compensation for the land acquired.
- NPCIL, a public sector undertaking under the Department of Atomic Energy, carries out a structured public awareness programme on a continuous basis, adopting a multi-pronged approach.
- The target groups of this programme include students and teachers, the local community, decision makers and people's representatives, and the press and media.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 1 and 3 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3