MCQs with answers on “India’s Nuclear Energy Program: Achievements and Challenges” 

1. Which was the first nuclear reactor built in India?

A) Tarapur Atomic Power Station
B) Dhruva Reactor
C) Apsara Reactor
D) Koodankulam Nuclear Power Plant

Answer: C) Apsara Reactor

2. What is the main objective of India’s nuclear energy program?

A) To develop nuclear weapons
B) To provide clean and sustainable energy
C) To increase defense capabilities
D) To improve international relations

Answer: B) To provide clean and sustainable energy

3. The Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant is located in which state of India?

A) Tamil Nadu
B) Maharashtra
C) Gujarat
D) Rajasthan

Answer: A) Tamil Nadu

4. Which of the following is NOT a component of the Indian nuclear fuel cycle?

A) Uranium mining
B) Nuclear reprocessing
C) Uranium enrichment
D) Synthetic diamond production

Answer: D) Synthetic diamond production

5. The Atomic Energy Commission of India was set up in which year?

A) 1947
B) 1948
C) 1950
D) 1952

Answer: B) 1948

6. Which of the following is the primary fuel used in India’s nuclear power plants?

A) Thorium
B) Uranium
C) Coal
D) Natural Gas

Answer: B) Uranium

7. What does the ‘India-US Civil Nuclear Agreement’ allow?

A) The development of nuclear weapons
B) Civilian nuclear cooperation between the two countries
C) Nuclear fusion research
D) Expansion of the nuclear weapons program

Answer: B) Civilian nuclear cooperation between the two countries

8. What is the role of the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL)?

A) It is responsible for uranium mining
B) It operates nuclear power plants in India
C) It manufactures nuclear weapons
D) It supervises nuclear fuel reprocessing

Answer: B) It operates nuclear power plants in India

9. The “Thorium Fuel Cycle” is a key feature of which country’s nuclear energy program?

A) United States
B) India
C) Russia
D) China

Answer: B) India

10. The first Indian nuclear explosion was conducted in which year?

A) 1972
B) 1974
C) 1982
D) 1998

Answer: B) 1974

11. The ‘Greenhouse Gas Reduction’ is one of the benefits of nuclear energy. Which of the following is NOT associated with nuclear energy?

A) Reduction of carbon emissions
B) Sustainable energy production
C) Radioactive waste generation
D) Fossil fuel dependence

Answer: D) Fossil fuel dependence

12. Which Indian city is home to the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC)?

A) Chennai
B) Mumbai
C) Delhi
D) Pune

Answer: B) Mumbai

13. Which Indian nuclear reactor uses thorium as its primary fuel?

A) Apsara Reactor
B) Dhruva Reactor
C) Fast Breeder Reactor
D) Koodankulam Reactor

Answer: C) Fast Breeder Reactor

14. India’s nuclear energy program is largely based on which two technologies?

A) Uranium and Coal
B) Uranium and Thorium
C) Natural Gas and Thorium
D) Wind and Solar

Answer: B) Uranium and Thorium

15. Which of the following is a major challenge in India’s nuclear energy program?

A) Lack of expertise in nuclear technology
B) High dependency on renewable sources
C) Insufficient uranium reserves
D) Lack of domestic electricity demand

Answer: C) Insufficient uranium reserves

16. The nuclear power plant at Tarapur was the first of its kind in India and is located in which state?

A) Maharashtra
B) Gujarat
C) Karnataka
D) Andhra Pradesh

Answer: A) Maharashtra

17. In which year did India conduct its second series of nuclear tests, known as “Operation Shakti”?

A) 1995
B) 1998
C) 2000
D) 2002

Answer: B) 1998

18. The concept of ‘Fast Breeder Reactor’ is intended to address which issue in India’s nuclear program?

A) Uranium shortage
B) Solar energy production
C) Clean energy generation
D) Nuclear weapons development

Answer: A) Uranium shortage

19. Which of the following is a key regulatory body for nuclear safety in India?

A) Department of Atomic Energy
B) Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB)
C) Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL)
D) Central Pollution Control Board

Answer: B) Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB)

20. Which of the following is a key achievement of India’s nuclear energy program?

A) Independence from foreign energy sources
B) Establishment of the first nuclear reactor
C) Development of thorium-based reactors
D) All of the above

Answer: D) All of the above

21. The “Civil Nuclear Liability Act” of India was enacted to address which issue?

A) Protect the civilian population from radiation
B) Handle accidents related to nuclear power plants
C) Regulate the sale of uranium
D) Ensure secrecy in nuclear programs

Answer: B) Handle accidents related to nuclear power plants

22. Which of the following statements about the Koodankulam Nuclear Power Plant is true?

A) It is India’s first indigenous nuclear power plant.
B) It is a joint venture between India and Russia.
C) It uses thorium as the primary fuel.
D) It is located in Maharashtra.

Answer: B) It is a joint venture between India and Russia.

23. India’s nuclear energy program is mostly dependent on which type of reactor technology?

A) Fusion reactors
B) Fast Breeder reactors
C) Heavy water reactors
D) Solar reactors

Answer: C) Heavy water reactors

24. What was the primary reason behind India’s decision to pursue nuclear energy?

A) To create nuclear weapons
B) To reduce dependence on fossil fuels
C) To maintain strategic military superiority
D) To increase global political influence

Answer: B) To reduce dependence on fossil fuels

25. What is the main concern regarding the environmental impact of nuclear energy?

A) Greenhouse gas emissions
B) Radioactive waste management
C) Water consumption
D) Mining impacts

Answer: B) Radioactive waste management

26. Which international treaty did India not sign due to its nuclear policies?

A) The Paris Agreement
B) The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)
C) The Kyoto Protocol
D) The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change

Answer: B) The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)

27. What is the key objective of India’s ‘Nuclear Liability Law’?

A) To limit the liability of foreign nuclear suppliers
B) To regulate uranium exports
C) To establish an insurance framework for nuclear accidents
D) To promote nuclear fusion

Answer: C) To establish an insurance framework for nuclear accidents

28. In which year did India sign the landmark Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement with the United States?

A) 2005
B) 2007
C) 2009
D) 2011

Answer: A) 2005

29. Which of the following is a potential advantage of India’s nuclear energy program?

A) Reduction in carbon emissions
B) High upfront costs
C) Dependence on imported uranium
D) Over-reliance on fossil fuels

Answer: A) Reduction in carbon emissions

30. What is one of the major challenges in the expansion of India’s nuclear power sector?

A) Lack of technology
B) High public opposition due to safety concerns
C) Lack of uranium reserves
D) Low electricity demand

Answer: B) High public opposition due to safety concerns