UPSC CSE Prelims
Question 100
Despite having large reserves of coal, why does India import millions of tonnes of coal?
- It is the policy of India to save its own coal reserves for future, and import it from other countries for the present use.
- Most of the power plants in India are coal-based and they are not able to get sufficient supplies of coal from within the country.
- Steel companies need large quantity of coking coal which has to be imported.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
View correct answer and explanation
Correct answer: B
Correct Option: B
Explanation: India imported coal to bridge domestic power-sector shortages and to obtain sufficient high-grade coking coal for steelmaking.
Statement/Item-wise Analysis:
1: Incorrect - There was no general policy to preserve all domestic coal reserves while relying on imports.
2: Correct - Domestic production and transport constraints left many thermal plants short of coal.
3: Correct - Steel production requires quality coking coal, much of which had to be imported.
Option-wise Analysis:
A: Incorrect - includes incorrect item 1; omits correct items 2, 3.
B: Correct - includes exactly the valid statements/items and excludes the invalid ones.
C: Incorrect - includes incorrect item 1; omits correct item 2.
D: Incorrect - includes incorrect item 1.