Q1. Which of the following best defines the difference between conventional and non-conventional sources of energy in the Indian context?
Energy, Transportation and Communication: RAS Prelims MCQs
84 RAS Prelims MCQs on energy, transportation and communication cover the energy sources and policy, the nuclear programme, solar parks, highways, railways and logistics. Small hydro, the National Energy Policy, Bhadla Solar Park, the longest national highway, railway zones and the Dedicated Freight Corridors are asked as facts and effects.
Practice questions based on the RPSC RAS Prelims syllabus. They follow the exam pattern but are not past-paper questions.
Showing 1–10 of 84 questions
Q2. Identify the incorrect pair regarding the classification of energy sources in India:
Explanation
In the Indian context, solar and wind energy are classified as non-conventional sources because they are renewable alternatives to traditional fossil fuels. Conventional sources include traditional commercial fuels like coal and petroleum, as well as non-commercial fuels such as firewood and cow dung. Labeling wind and solar as conventional is incorrect because they belong to the modern, sustainable category.
Q3. Consider the following statements regarding coal reserves in India:
I. Gondwana coal accounts for more than 98 percent of the total coal reserves in India.
II. Tertiary coal is mainly found in the peninsular plateau region of India.
III. Anthracite is the most abundantly available type of coal in India.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are incorrect?
I. Gondwana coal accounts for more than 98 percent of the total coal reserves in India.
II. Tertiary coal is mainly found in the peninsular plateau region of India.
III. Anthracite is the most abundantly available type of coal in India.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are incorrect?
Explanation
India’s coal reserves are predominantly found in the Gondwana formations, representing over ninety-eight percent of total resources. Tertiary coal is actually found in younger rock formations in the northeastern states rather than the peninsular plateau. Anthracite is a high-quality coal but is extremely rare in India, whereas Bituminous coal is the most abundantly available type across major mines.
Q4. Read the following statements regarding coal resources in India and select the correct option:
Statement I: India imports a significant amount of coking coal despite having large domestic coal reserves.
Statement II: The majority of Indian coal reserves have high ash content and are non-coking in nature.
Statement I: India imports a significant amount of coking coal despite having large domestic coal reserves.
Statement II: The majority of Indian coal reserves have high ash content and are non-coking in nature.
Explanation
India imports coking coal primarily because its domestic reserves consist largely of non-coking coal with high ash content. This high mineral matter reduces the quality and efficiency for steel manufacturing, making imports necessary despite large quantities of thermal coal. Thus, the physical characteristics of Indian coal, specifically its non-coking nature and impurities, directly necessitate the reliance on international markets.
Q5. Match List I with List II:
Select the correct code:
| Coal/Lignite Mining Area | State |
|---|---|
| A. Jharia | i. Odisha |
| B. Neyveli | ii. Rajasthan |
| C. Palana | iii. Tamil Nadu |
| D. Talcher | iv. Jharkhand |
Explanation
Coal and lignite mining areas are geographically distributed across several Indian states. Jharia is the most famous coalfield located in Jharkhand, while Neyveli in Tamil Nadu is known for significant lignite deposits. Palana is a lignite mining site situated in Rajasthan, and Talcher represents one of the largest coal reserves in Odisha. Matching these correctly requires knowledge of regional geology.
Q6. Match List I with List II:
Select the correct code:
| Nuclear Power Plant | State |
|---|---|
| A. Rawatbhata | i. Gujarat |
| B. Kakrapar | ii. Rajasthan |
| C. Kaiga | iii. Tamil Nadu |
| D. Kudankulam | iv. Karnataka |
Explanation
Nuclear power plants are strategically located across different states to support regional electricity grids. Rawatbhata is located in Rajasthan, while Kakrapar serves the state of Gujarat. Kaiga is a significant facility in Karnataka, and Kudankulam is the largest nuclear plant in India, situated in Tamil Nadu. Correctly identifying these locations is essential for understanding India’s nuclear energy infrastructure and distribution.
Q7. Who among the following is credited with conceptualizing India’s three-stage nuclear power programme?
Explanation
Homi J. Bhabha was the visionary physicist who conceptualized India’s unique three-stage nuclear power programme. This strategy was designed to achieve energy independence by utilizing India’s modest uranium reserves in the first stages and eventually tapping into its vast thorium resources. His foundational work established the Department of Atomic Energy and set the long-term trajectory for nuclear research and development.
Q8. Read the following statements regarding nuclear energy in India and select the correct option:
Statement I: Nuclear energy currently contributes less than 5 percent to India’s total installed power capacity.
Statement II: The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) operates directly under the Prime Minister of India.
Statement I: Nuclear energy currently contributes less than 5 percent to India’s total installed power capacity.
Statement II: The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) operates directly under the Prime Minister of India.
Explanation
Nuclear energy contributes less than 5 per cent of India’s installed power capacity, and the Department of Atomic Energy works directly under the Prime Minister. Both are correct, but the second does not explain the first.
Q9. Consider the following statements regarding India’s nuclear energy programme:
I. The first stage utilizes Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs).
II. Fast Breeder Reactors form the second stage and use Plutonium.
III. Thorium utilization is the primary focus of the first stage.
IV. India possesses vast reserves of Thorium in the monazite sands of Kerala.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
I. The first stage utilizes Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs).
II. Fast Breeder Reactors form the second stage and use Plutonium.
III. Thorium utilization is the primary focus of the first stage.
IV. India possesses vast reserves of Thorium in the monazite sands of Kerala.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
The first stage of India’s nuclear programme uses Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors, while the second stage utilizes Fast Breeder Reactors fueled by plutonium. Thorium utilization is the primary focus of the third stage, not the first. India possesses massive thorium reserves within the monazite sands along the Kerala coast, which is a key component for long-term sustainable nuclear power generation.
Q10. Identify the incorrect statement regarding India’s energy security and Strategic Petroleum Reserves (SPR):
Explanation
Strategic Petroleum Reserves are designed as a critical buffer against short-term global supply disruptions rather than long-term independence. Currently, India’s storage capacity, including sites like Mangalore and Visakhapatnam, covers roughly nine to ten days of demand, far less than two years. These facilities are managed by the government-owned Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Limited to ensure national energy security during emergencies.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 1 | (b) Conventional sources are traditional long- used fuels, while non-conventional sources are newer alternatives. |
| 2 | (a) Conventional Energy - Wind and Solar |
| 3 | (b) II and III |
| 4 | (a) Both Statement I and Statement II are correct, and Statement II explains Statement I. |
| 5 | (a) A-iv, B-iii, C-ii, D-i |
| 6 | (a) A-ii, B-i, C-iv, D-iii |
| 7 | (b) Homi J. Bhabha |
| 8 | (b) Both Statement I and Statement II are correct, but Statement II does not explain Statement I. |
| 9 | (b) I, II and IV |
| 10 | (c) SPR facilities holding enough crude to meet total demand for two years. |
Key facts from Energy, Transportation and Communication
- Small hydro projects have an installed capacity of 25 MW or less; the Brahmaputra basin has the highest commercially exploitable hydropower potential.
- NITI Aayog drafted the National Energy Policy; Homi J. Bhabha conceptualised the three-stage nuclear programme.
- Coal Bed Methane is natural gas trapped within coal seams; Bhadla is one of the largest solar parks in the world.
- NH 44, from Srinagar to Kanyakumari, is the longest national highway in India.
- Indian Railways is divided into 19 zones for administration.
- The Eastern and Western Dedicated Freight Corridors reduce transit time and unit cost for freight; Krishi UDAN helps transport farm produce by air.
Frequently asked questions
How many RAS Prelims practice MCQs are there on Energy, Transportation and Communication?
This page has 84 practice MCQs on Energy, Transportation and Communication (Indian Economy). Each has the correct answer, and most have an explanation.
Which is the longest National Highway in India?
NH 44, which runs from Srinagar in the north to Kanyakumari in the south. It covers several States, including Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, and links the north and south of the country.
How many zones does Indian Railways have?
19 zones for administrative convenience, each headed by a General Manager. The Kolkata Metro is counted as a zone, and each zone is further divided into divisions that run the day-to-day work of the railways.
What is Coal Bed Methane?
Natural gas trapped within coal seams. It can be extracted by drilling into the coal bed, and it is a source of cleaner energy that India is developing in its coal-bearing regions.