UPSC CSE Prelims
Question 85
Consider the following statements :
Statement-I : India, despite having uranium deposits, depends on coal for most of its electricity production.
Statement-II : Uranium, enriched to the extent of at least 60%, is required for the production of electricity.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
View correct answer and explanation
Correct answer: C
Correct Option: C (Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect)
Explanation: Coal produced most Indian electricity despite uranium deposits. Electricity-generating reactors ordinarily use natural uranium or low-enriched uranium, not 60% enrichment.
Statement / Pair / Item-wise Analysis:
I. Correct/True - India’s electricity mix has historically been coal-dominated despite domestic uranium resources.
II. Incorrect/False - Typical commercial power-reactor fuel is natural uranium or approximately 3–5% enriched U-235, nowhere near a 60% minimum.
Option-wise Analysis:
A. Incorrect-Statement II is false: Typical commercial power-reactor fuel is natural uranium or approximately 3–5% enriched U-235, nowhere near a 60% minimum.
B. Incorrect-Statement II is false: Typical commercial power-reactor fuel is natural uranium or approximately 3–5% enriched U-235, nowhere near a 60% minimum.
C. Correct-only Statement I is true.
D. Incorrect-Statement I is true, not false: India’s electricity mix has historically been coal-dominated despite domestic uranium resources.