UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — India’s Renewable Energy Journey: Powering a Cleaner Future

Q1. Consider the following facts reported for India in 2026: non-fossil sources account for 308 GW, or 55% of total installed power capacity, and installed solar capacity is about 175 GW. Which of the following inferences can be validly drawn from these facts alone?

  1. India's total installed power capacity is roughly 560 GW.
  2. Fossil-fuel plants now generate less than half of the electricity consumed in India.
  3. Solar installations alone make up more than half of India's total installed power capacity.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 3
  • C. 1 only
  • D. 2 and 3 only

Q2. A grid-scale battery system stores 10,000 MWh of energy. If it is designed to discharge that full energy evenly over 4 hours, what would its power rating be?

  • A. 2,500 MW
  • B. 20,000 MW
  • C. 5,000 MW
  • D. 40,000 MW

Q3. Consider the following statements: Which of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

  1. Pairing a floating solar plant with a co-located energy storage system enables it to supply electricity to the grid after sunset.
  2. The MWh rating of a storage system indicates the maximum rate at which it can deliver power, while its MW rating indicates how long it can sustain that delivery.
  • 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

Q4. Consider the following statements: Which of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

  1. As the share of solar and wind in India's power mix rises, flexible resources such as hydropower and energy storage become more valuable for maintaining grid stability.
  2. The output of solar and wind plants varies with weather and time of day and cannot be raised on demand by the grid operator.
  • 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

Q5. With reference to Compressed Biogas (CBG), consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. It is obtained from biogas generated when organic matter is broken down by microbes in the absence of oxygen.
  2. After purification it is mostly methane, which allows it to be used as an automotive fuel in place of CNG.
  3. It can be produced only from cattle dung, which is why the national scheme to scale it up is named GOBARdhan.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 2 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1 and 2 only

Q6. Consider the following assertion: Scaling up Compressed Biogas production from organic waste can simultaneously serve waste management, farm incomes and energy security. Which of the following statements support/supports the above assertion?

  1. Crop residue and cattle dung that are otherwise burnt or left unused acquire a market value as feedstock for CBG plants.
  2. CBG can substitute natural gas-based fuels, much of which India imports.
  3. The digestate left after biogas production can be returned to fields as organic manure recognised under fertiliser regulations.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 3
  • C. 1 only
  • D. 2 and 3 only

Q7. With reference to geothermal energy, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Unlike solar plants, geothermal plants can keep generating through the night and across seasons.
  2. Geothermal energy is mainly solar radiation absorbed and stored in the upper layers of soil.
  3. Geothermal energy can complement solar and wind power in balancing the electricity grid.
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 3
  • D. 2 only