Infrastructure MCQs for UPSC Prelims — August 2026

Question 1

Consider the following statements regarding the national oil companies in India's exploration reform trajectory:
1. The performance metrics of ONGC and Oil India have been reoriented to place a stronger emphasis on exploration.
2. ONGC has made discoveries in 20 blocks with estimated reserves of about 75 million metric tonnes of oil equivalent.
3. Oil India Limited recorded seven discoveries over a four-year period, with reserves estimated at about 9.8 million barrels of oil.
4. Exploration acreage in India is awarded exclusively to ONGC and Oil India, private and foreign companies being barred from bidding in acreage licensing rounds.
Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

Accepted Answer

4 only

Answer

1 and 4

Answer

3 and 4

Answer

2 only

Question 2

Under the Revenue Sharing Contract model adopted for India's upstream sector, what is the principal basis on which the Government's take from an awarded block is determined?

Accepted Answer

A pre-determined share of gross revenue quoted by the bidder at the time of bidding

Answer

A share of profit petroleum computed after the contractor recovers its exploration and development costs

Answer

A uniform royalty rate applied to all sedimentary basins irrespective of what the bidder has quoted

Answer

An annual concession fee levied on the total acreage of the block held by the contractor

Question 3

Across the nine bid rounds of the Open Acreage Licensing Programme completed under the revenue-sharing regime, how many exploration blocks have been awarded?

Accepted Answer

172

Answer

148

Answer

55

Answer

26

Question 4

Consider the following statements regarding the liberalisation of exploration acreage in India:
1. Nearly one million square kilometres of erstwhile offshore 'No-Go' areas were released for exploration in 2016, simultaneously with the launch of the Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy.
2. As a result of successive liberalisation measures, over 99% of the erstwhile 'No-Go' areas stand removed, opening acreage within India's Exclusive Economic Zone.
3. The Open Acreage Licensing Programme allows a bidder to carve out and bid for a block of its own choice rather than wait for the Government to notify blocks.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

2 and 3 only

Answer

1 and 2 only

Answer

1 and 3 only

Answer

1, 2 and 3

Question 5

Which one of the following bid rounds of the Open Acreage Licensing Programme (OALP) is the largest so far in terms of acreage offered?

Accepted Answer

Round-X

Answer

Round-IX

Answer

Round-VIII

Answer

Round-VII

Question 6

How many deepwater exploration wells are to be drilled under the drilling component of the 'Samudra Manthan' National Offshore Exploration Scheme approved by the Union Cabinet?

Accepted Answer

60

Answer

80

Answer

25

Answer

172

Question 7

With reference to 'Samudra Manthan' as approved by the Union Cabinet, consider the following:
1. Government support for deepwater exploration drilling is limited to 50% of eligible drilling cost or ₹675 crore per well, whichever is lower.
2. The scheme's implementation period extends up to FY 2030-31.
3. Its priority deepwater and ultra-deepwater areas include the Krishna-Godavari, Cauvery, Mahanadi and Andaman basins.
4. It has been approved as a Central Sector Scheme of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

Accepted Answer

1, 2 and 3

Answer

1 and 4

Answer

2, 3 and 4

Answer

1, 3 and 4

Question 8

Consider the following statements regarding the targets and design of the 'Samudra Manthan' National Offshore Exploration Scheme as compared with the existing position:
1. It seeks to raise India's domestic oil and gas production from about 62 MMTOE annually to 80 MMTOE annually.
2. It seeks to expand India's hydrocarbon resource base from 1.6 billion TOE to 2.2 billion TOE.
3. Unlike earlier exploration programmes, it is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme funded on a 60:40 Centre-State sharing pattern.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

1 and 2 only

Answer

1 only

Answer

2 and 3 only

Answer

1, 2 and 3

Question 9

Under the 'Samudra Manthan' National Offshore Exploration Scheme, consider the following components and their approved outlays:
1. Acquisition and processing of modern offshore seismic data — ₹28,534 crore
2. Deepwater exploration drilling — ₹43,200 crore
3. Development of common offshore infrastructure hubs — ₹12,534 crore
4. Oil and Gas Manufacturing and Services Zones — ₹2,000 crore
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

Accepted Answer

1, 2 and 4

Answer

1 and 3

Answer

2, 3 and 4

Answer

1, 2, 3 and 4

Infrastructure MCQs for UPSC Prelims — August 2026

Q2. Under the Revenue Sharing Contract model adopted for India's upstream sector, what is the principal basis on which the Government's take from an awarded block is determined?

Q3. Across the nine bid rounds of the Open Acreage Licensing Programme completed under the revenue-sharing regime, how many exploration blocks have been awarded?

Q5. Which one of the following bid rounds of the Open Acreage Licensing Programme (OALP) is the largest so far in terms of acreage offered?

Q6. How many deepwater exploration wells are to be drilled under the drilling component of the 'Samudra Manthan' National Offshore Exploration Scheme approved by the Union Cabinet?