UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Cabinet approves Green Energy Corridor Phase-III scheme for Development of Intra-State Transmission System with Battery Energy Storage Systems

Q1. With reference to the regulation of electricity transmission in India, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. A line carrying power from a generating station in Ladakh to a terminal in Haryana falls within the regulatory jurisdiction of the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission.
  2. A State Electricity Regulatory Commission regulates an intra-State transmission line even when the line is built by a private developer selected through competitive bidding.
  3. When the Centre provides financial assistance for an intra-State line under a Green Energy Corridor scheme, the tariff of that line moves under the jurisdiction of the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 2 only
  • D. 2 and 3 only

Q2. Consider the following statements: Which of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

  1. The battery storage planned under PM-DHARA is expected to reduce peak-hour curtailment of renewable power.
  2. Batteries can be charged with surplus solar output that the grid cannot absorb at midday and discharged during non-solar hours.
  • A. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
  • B. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
  • C. Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
  • D. Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct

Q3. With reference to battery energy storage systems of the kind planned under PM-DHARA, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. A rating expressed in GWh describes how much energy the batteries can hold, not how fast they can deliver it.
  2. Two battery systems with identical GWh ratings must have identical power ratings in GW.
  3. A battery system rated 25 GW that can run at full output for two hours holds 50 GWh.
  4. Doubling a battery's full-power discharge duration while keeping its power rating unchanged doubles its energy capacity.
  • A. 1, 3 and 4 only
  • B. 2 and 4 only
  • C. 1 and 2 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q4. With reference to the models used to develop transmission lines in India, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Under Tariff Based Competitive Bidding, the winning bidder is the one quoting the lowest capital cost for building the line.
  2. Under Tariff Based Competitive Bidding, a construction cost overrun generally cannot be recovered by the developer through a higher transmission tariff.
  3. Under the regulated tariff (cost-plus) route, the regulator sets the tariff to recover the approved costs of the asset together with a regulated return.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 2 only
  • D. 1 and 3 only

Q5. Consider the following statements: Which of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

  1. Although the Centre provides financial support under PM-DHARA, State Transmission Utilities are the overall implementing agencies for the intra-State network.
  2. Electricity is a subject in the State List, so the Union can shape State power networks only through financial grants.
  • A. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
  • B. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
  • C. Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
  • D. Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct

Q6. With reference to the constitutional and regulatory framework of India's power sector, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Members of the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission are appointed and removed by the Central Government.
  2. Members of a State Electricity Regulatory Commission are appointed by the Central Government in consultation with the State concerned.
  3. A law made by a State legislature on electricity is void merely because Parliament has also legislated on the subject.
  • A. 2 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1 only

Q7. Consider the following facts: India's updated NDC committed to about 50% of cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil sources by 2030. India reported reaching this share in June 2025, and by November 2025 non-fossil sources made up 51.5% of total installed capacity. Which of the following inferences can validly be drawn from the above?

  1. Meeting this target does not, by itself, establish that absolute greenhouse gas emissions from the power sector have fallen.
  2. India's installed fossil-fuel capacity must have declined in absolute terms between 2022 and 2025.
  3. Further additions to fossil-fuel capacity after 2025 need not push the non-fossil share below 50%, if non-fossil additions are proportionately larger.
  • A. 2 and 3 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 3
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1 only

Q8. With reference to India's climate commitments for the power sector and the wider economy, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. India's pledge to reduce the emissions intensity of its GDP by 45% by 2030 from the 2005 level places a ceiling on its absolute emissions.
  2. The updated NDC's goal of about 50% non-fossil share is framed in terms of installed electric capacity, not the share of electricity actually generated.
  3. Because solar and wind plants have low running costs, a 50% non-fossil share of installed capacity ensures a 50% non-fossil share of generation.
  • A. 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 only
  • D. 1 and 2 only