General Awareness ยท Economics

Indian Power and Energy Sector

1,045 Questions

The Indian power and energy sector questions cover nuclear plants, renewable energy targets, and solar missions. These topics are essential for the general awareness preparation of multiple competitive exams. Practice these questions to stay informed about national energy policies.

Nuclear power plantsRenewable energy targetsNational Solar MissionThermal power plantsSmall hydropower generation

Indian Power and Energy Sector Questions

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is/are true?

  1. Maharatna PSUs are the biggest Public Sector Undertakings (PSU)'s of India.
  2. Till now (Sept 2012), there are five officially declared Maharatna Companies in India.
  3. These Maharatnas are allowed to take decisions on projects independently of Govt. for values up to Rs. 5000 crores.

  1. Only 1

  2. 1 & 2

  3. 1 & 3

  4. 2 & 3

  5. 1, 2 & 3
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

All three statements are correct. Maharatna PSUs are indeed the largest public sector companies in India with greater operational and financial autonomy. As of September 2012, there were five Maharatna companies: ONGC, NTPC, SAIL, Coal India, and BHEL. They could invest up to Rs. 5000 crores in projects without government approval.

Multiple choice

Which state in India has approved the setting up of the first commercial scale tidal energy power plant of South Asia?

  1. Kerala

  2. Maharashtra

  3. Gujarat

  4. Orissa
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The Government of Gujarat has approved Rs. 25 crore for setting up the 50 MW plant at the Gulf of Kutch. The government has signed a MoU with Atlantis Resource Corporation to setup the plant. This will be the first commercial scale tidal energy plant in South Asia.

Multiple choice

Consider the following facts:

  1. The installed capacity of energy in India is 5th largest in the world.
  2. As per latest estimates, the largest energy consumer in the world is China.

Which of the above statements is/are true?

  1. Only 1

  2. Only 2

  3. Both 1 and 2

  4. Neither 1 nor 2
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The electricity sector in India had an installed capacity of 214.630 GW as of February 2013, the world's fifth largest. United States of America is the largest consumer of electricity in the world, followed by China, Russia and India.

Multiple choice

India's domestic uranium reserves are not sufficient to sustain its nuclear power plants. However, large deposits of uranium have been found at a site in India, which promises to be among the top 20 of the world's reserves. Which place is this?

  1. Kodarma

  2. Tumalapalle

  3. Kalahandi

  4. Pykara
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Large deposits of natural uranium, which promises to be one of the top 20 of the world's reserves, have been found in the Tummalapalle belt in the southern part of the Kadapa basin in Andhra Pradesh in March 2011. The Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD) of India, which explores uranium in the country, has so far discovered 44,000 tonnes of natural uranium (U3O8) in just 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) of the 160 kilometres (99 mi) long belt.

Multiple choice

Consider the following facts:

  1. The Shimsa hydroelectric project was the first ever hydro-electric project in Asia.
  2. The Shimsa hydroelectric project is located in Andhra Pradesh.

Which of the above statements is/are true?

  1. Only 1

  2. Only 2

  3. Both 1 and 2

  4. Neither 1 nor 2
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Shimsa hydroelectric power project is located in Karnataka. It has an installed capacity of 17,200 kilowatts. It was the first ever hydroelectric project in Asia.

Multiple choice

Consider the following facts:

  1. This power station became critical on 3rd September, 1992 and began commercial electricity production on 6th May, 1993.
  2. It lies in proximity to Surat in Gujarat.
  3. In 1998, the plant was switched off because of a leakage in the cooling loop for 66 days.

Which power station is being talked about in the above statements?

  1. Narora

  2. Kaiga

  3. Kakrapar

  4. Rawatbhata
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The Kakrapar Atomic Power Station (KAPS) is a nuclear power station in India, which lies in the proximity of the city of Surat in the state of Gujarat. It consists of two 220 MW pressurized water reactors with heavy water as moderator (PHWR). KAPS-1 went critical on 3rd September, 1992 and began commercial electricity production a few months later on 6th May, 1993.

Multiple choice

Consider the following facts:

  1. The five largest power generating companies, by measure of installed capacity, are all state-owned.
  2. Around 80% of the coal produced in the country is consumed by the electricity sector.

Which of the above statements is/are true?

  1. Only 1

  2. Only 2

  3. Both 1 and 2

  4. Neither 1 nor 2
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Among the top five power generating companies, only two are state owned - NTPC and NHPC. Rest are Tata Power, Reliance Power and Adani Power.

Multiple choice

The International Energy Agency

  1. has its headquarters in Paris
  2. is established in the framework of Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development
  3. has India as a member

Which of the above statements are true?

  1. 1 and 2

  2. 2 and 3

  3. 1 and 3

  4. All three
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The International Energy Agency is a Paris-based autonomous intergovernmental organization established in the framework of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in 1974 in the wake of the 1973 oil crisis. The IEA was initially dedicated to responding to physical disruptions in the supply of oli as well as serving as an information source on statistics about the international oil market and other energy sectors. India is a non-member state, but IEA does serve as a policy advisor to India.

Multiple choice

Consider the following facts about hydro-power in India.

  1. Hydel energy is the most widely used form of renewable energy in India.
  2. The private sector has a larger share in this sector.
  3. The installed capacity of hydel power is around 20% of the total electricity generated in India.

Which of the above statements are true?

  1. 1 and 2

  2. 2 and 3

  3. 1 and 3

  4. All of the three
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

It is the most widely used form of renewable energy. India is blessed with immense amount of hydro-electric potential and ranks 5th in terms of exploitable hydro-potential on global scenario. The present installed capacity as on 30-06-2011 is approximately 37,367.4 MW, which is 21.53% of total electricity generation in India. The public sector has a predominant share of 97% in this sector.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is celebrated on 29th August every year to create awareness about the use of renewable energy in India?

  1. Naveekarniya Urja Diwas

  2. Akshay Urja Diwas

  3. Harit Urja Diwas

  4. Harit Vidyut Diwas
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Akshay Urja Diwas is an awareness campaign about the developments of renewal energy in India, celebrated on August 20 every year since 2004. The Indian Ministry for Non Conventional Energy Sources initiated Akshay Urja Day (Diwas) in 2004. The first function was organised at New Delhi in 2004 and 2005 followed repeated in Nagpur in 2006 and at Hyderabad in 2007 and Panchkula, Haryana in 2008. This day commemorate the birth of former Prime Minister, Mr. Rajiv Gandhi.

Multiple choice

Consider the following facts:

  1. The National Solar Mission is named after India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru.
  2. It aims to deploy 20,000 MW of grid connected solar power.
  3. It aims to achieve its ambitious target by the end of 13th Five Year Plan.
  4. The plan was launched under the brand name of 'Rising India'.

Which of the above statements are true?

  1. 1, 2 and 4

  2. 2, 3 and 4

  3. 1, 3 and 4

  4. 1, 2 and 3
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission was launched on the 11th January 2010 by the Prime Minister, under the brand name 'Solar India'. The Mission has set the ambitious target of deploying 20,000 MW of grid connected solar power by 2022 is aimed at reducing the cost of solar power generation in the country through (i) long term policy; (ii) large scale deployment goals; (iii) aggressive R&D; and (iv) domestic production of critical raw materials, components and products, as a result to achieve grid tariff parity by 2022.