GS-III: Infrastructure Energy Sector

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                                                                                                                                                          This is a dynamic E-Book comprising the below UPSC Mains Model Questions as well as their answers written by GKToday team. The PDF E-Book can be instantly downloaded after payment. No Hadcopy is provided.
                                                                                                                                                        1. Creation of national electricity distribution company could help turn around the power distribution segment. Comment.
                                                                                                                                                        2. India is blessed with plenty of sunlight for most of the year yet it is energy deficient. Explain the need of solar sufficiency in present context and reforms taken by Indian government to harness the solar potential available.
                                                                                                                                                        3. Should the pursuit of carbon credit and clean development mechanism set up under UNFCCC be maintained even through there has been a massive slide in the value of carbon credit? Discuss with respect to India's energy needs for economic growth.
                                                                                                                                                        4. "Fly Ash was once discarded as a waste but today, it is increasingly emerging as a major input material in several industries."Discuss.
                                                                                                                                                        5. Explain the distribution of coal resources of India throwing light on the coal quality and its impact on India's economy.
                                                                                                                                                        6. "The supreme court decision regarding cancellation of the coal blocks was a logical outcome of flawed captive mining policy."Discuss critically.
                                                                                                                                                        7. "Coal mines were nationalized because of the shortcomings in the way it was run by private parties."In the light of the above statement, critically discuss the implications of the enabling provisions made in Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act, 2015 towards commercial mining of coal in India.
                                                                                                                                                        8. "The past and present government have resorted to allocate coal mines on such a premise that the coal blocks of the country are just waiting to be exploited."Critically examine in the light of environment concerns.
                                                                                                                                                        9. The Ultra Mega Power Projects were envisioned under the "Power for all"vision in 11th five year plan. However, so far only two UMPPs are producing power. Critically examine the issues that derailed this government initiative.
                                                                                                                                                        10. Discuss the various reasons behind poor financial performance of the State Electricity Boards citing various government efforts to tackle the problem.
                                                                                                                                                        11. "The operational needs of hydro & thermal stations are complimentary and the balanced mix helps in optimal utilization of the capacity."Explain.
                                                                                                                                                        12. "India is making significant progress in the development of the onshore wind power plants. However, so far progress in the offshore wind power generation has been almost nil."Why progress in offshore wind farming is important? Discuss citing key challenges and the recently launched National Offshore Wind Power Policy.
                                                                                                                                                        13. The NDA Government has scaled up the target of Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission to five fold at 1,00,000 MW (100GW) to be achieved by 2022. Do you think this target is realistic? Argue.
                                                                                                                                                        14. Critically examine the circumstances that led to Oil Crisis of 1973. To what extent similar circumstances might appear in near future? Discuss.
                                                                                                                                                        15. To what extent the authority of OPEC in deciding the global oil prices has eroded? What are the factors that led to this erosion? Examine.
                                                                                                                                                        16. To what extent the New Domestic Natural Gas Pricing Guidelines, 2014 have addressed the confusion created by APM and Non-APM system of gas pricing in India. Discuss throwing light on its salient features.
                                                                                                                                                        17. Discuss the key features of the New Exploration Licensing Policy (NELP) throwing light on its role in oil industry.
                                                                                                                                                        18. Discuss the implications of deregulation of the petroleum prices on economy.
                                                                                                                                                        19. "In last one and half year, the Global oil prices have fallen sharply."Examine the reasons and its implications for oil producers, consumers and environment.
                                                                                                                                                        20. Cheaper oil will not eliminate structural challenges facing Asia's biggest economies although it presents a huge opportunity for both India and China. Explain.
                                                                                                                                                        21. "The Plasma Pulse Technology (PPT) seems to be an answer to significant environment costs of traditional shale gas production technologies."Discuss.
                                                                                                                                                        22. What do you understand by energy security? Critically examine the link between Food, Water and Energy Securities.
                                                                                                                                                        23. What do you understand by Strategic petroleum Reserves? Discuss rationale and India's efforts towards building Strategic petroleum Reserves.
                                                                                                                                                        24. What are the so called Suryaputra / Sunshine countries? To what extent, the recently mootedInternational Solar Alliance can help to achieve affordable solar energy to all and towards global effort to fight climate change? Discuss citing its key objectives.
                                                                                                                                                        25. How the IPDS, DDUGJY and UDAY schemes are different from each other? Discuss their objectives in power sector of India.
                                                                                                                                                        26. From time to time, several capital infusion efforts have been launched to revive the ailing Discoms in India. How Uday Scheme is different from previous capital infusion efforts? Do you think that this scheme can put undue pressure on states' finances? Discuss.
                                                                                                                                                        27. Although 2G (Second Generation) Ethanol can play a very important role in economy, employment and environment protection yet, despite of several positives, India faces numerous challenges."Critically discuss while suggesting policy actions to provide positive momentum to second generation ethanol Industry in the country.
                                                                                                                                                        28. Examine various ways in which harnessing the solar power can help in increasing the real income of farmers in the country. What are the various difficulties and challenges that need to be overcome towards this? Discuss.
                                                                                                                                                        29. The future of energy sector rests on four pillars viz. Energy Access, Energy Efficiency, Energy Sustainability and Energy Security. Critically discuss in the light of current government policies towards the sector.
                                                                                                                                                        30. What are the major aspects of the so called Quality Infrastructure Investment (QII) promoted by Japan? While analyzing the QII collaboration between India and Japan, discuss how it can help the infrastructure policy making in the country.
                                                                                                                                                        31. Rooftop solar provides provides a good alternative source of electricity to that provided by the grid, however, it is not being adopted widely in India. Highlight the reasons underlying.
                                                                                                                                                        32. Despite being one of the largest coal producers, India depends on imports to meet its demands. Critically examine the issues which domestic coal industry is facing.
                                                                                                                                                        33. While highlighting the salient features of National Electricity Policy, critically discuss if the policy has been able to maintain a balance between renewable energy and thermal energy. Give policy suggestions.
                                                                                                                                                        34. The state monopoly in coal has been extremely inefficient and country is forced to import hundreds of millions of coal every year. To what extent, Commercial Coal Mining can be helpful towards this? Discuss elucidating current government policy towards commercial coal mining.
                                                                                                                                                        35. The social cost analysis of coal and renewable energy done by mid-year Economic Survey (August 2017) has suggested that investments in renewable energy should be made in a calibrated manner as social costs are high in promoting green energy (in comparison to conventional energy). Critically examine the rationale behind such suggestion.
                                                                                                                                                        36. What do you understand by Breeder reactors? Why India's nuclear energy programme focuses on breeder reactors while most advanced countries give them less preference? Justify.
                                                                                                                                                        37. What is the significance of putting various economic sectors in the Harmonized Master List of Infrastructure Sub-sectors? Discuss taking examples of recent sectors placed in this list.
                                                                                                                                                        38. Despite of dramatic fall in equipment costs and tariff of solar energy, rooftop solar plants are not very popular in India. Account for the key stumbling blocks in realizing India's rooftop solar power goals.
                                                                                                                                                        39. What is Refuse-derived fuel (RDF)? Can RDF be a solution to waste management in India? Are there any provisions regarding the same in the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016? Elucidate.
                                                                                                                                                        40. How can Methanol Economy be helpful for India? What are major roadblocks in to use Methanol as an alternative fuel? Discuss the current government policy towards promoting extensive use of Methanol in cooking gas and transportation fuel in India.
                                                                                                                                                        41. Coal will continue to be India's chief source of power beyond 2047 because of the high "social costs of renewable". Explain the so called "Carbon Imperialism" in the light of this statement.
                                                                                                                                                        42. What are perovskite solar cells? Explain why these cells are more efficient that conventional silicon solar cells.
                                                                                                                                                        43. What are the challenges before India in achieving its target of 100 GW from solar energy by 2022?
                                                                                                                                                        44. Why the import dependency for oil makes the Indian energy needs vulnerable? How does it make strong case to diversify the energy market?
                                                                                                                                                        45. To what extent the establishment of District Mineral Foundations (DMFs) is capable to alleviate the problems of the people living in mining affected areas? Examine in the light of recently amended Mines and Minerals Act.
                                                                                                                                                        46. After three years of announcement of the 100 gigawatt (GW) solar capacity target for March 2022, discuss the progress made so far while highlighting the issues and challenges.
                                                                                                                                                        47. Why India needs to bring structural changes in its energy sector? How to address challenges to bring those changes?
                                                                                                                                                        48. Outline the salient features of India’s nuclear policy and explain the reasons for India’s refusal to sign the C.T.B.T.
                                                                                                                                                        49. How the policy flip-flops will adversely affect the renewable energy targets?
                                                                                                                                                        50. Hydropower & South Asia
                                                                                                                                                        51. Creating a healthy power sector
                                                                                                                                                        52. India Needs To Unify Its Energy Departments
                                                                                                                                                        53. National Data Repository: Concept, Content and Uses
                                                                                                                                                        54. Throwing light upon the problem of huge debt owed by the Electricity DISCOMs to GENCOs of the country, suggest measure to tackle the same.
                                                                                                                                                        55. Hydrogen-based energy production can play a key role in a clean, secure, and affordable energy future. In this context, identify the potential and opportunities for utilizing hydrogen-based technologies. What are the challenges that need to be addressed to fulfill the potential?
                                                                                                                                                        56. National Hydrogen Mission can be a game changer for India's rising energy demands. Discuss the benefits and challenges associated.
                                                                                                                                                        57. Power Discoms are plagued by several problems and privatization is often regarded as a solution to the existing problems. Critically examine.
                                                                                                                                                        58. The Green Term Ahead Market (GTAM) can be a game changer for the renewable energy sector in India. Evaluate.
                                                                                                                                                        59. The infrastructure is considered as a key determinant of the economic development of a nation. In this context, highlight the issues faced in infrastructure financing in India.
                                                                                                                                                        60. Highlight the need for promoting energy efficiency in India. Mention the steps taken by the government in this regard.
                                                                                                                                                        61. Highlight the role of public private partnership (PPP) and input-based distribution franchisee models in the power sector to handle the problem of distribution losses.
                                                                                                                                                        62. The use of Natural gas as an important primary energy source is rising and expected to increase further. Identify the various uses of natural gas and give a brief account of its distribution globally.
                                                                                                                                                        63. India has significantly improved its position as one of the leading countries in the field of renewable energy. However, the contribution of coal-based power generation is not expected to go down substantially in the next few decades. Comment on the statement in the light of increasing demand for power in India.
                                                                                                                                                        64. India’s push for transitioning from fossil fuels to more sustainable forms of renewable energy will not lead results until reforms are done in power distribution and transmission companies. Elucidate.
                                                                                                                                                        65. Diversification of energy basket has not remain a choice, rather it is key for survival. Elucidate.
                                                                                                                                                        66. Dams are crucial for development of India but they can become a safety hazard too. In the light of above statement, discuss the potential of Dam rehabilitation and improvement project to address the challenges pertaining to Dam safety in India.
                                                                                                                                                        67. What is the ‘Solar Facility’ launched at the 5th ISA Assembly Meeting? Discuss its utility in enabling capital flow for solar power projects in under-served areas.
                                                                                                                                                        68. What are the advantages of compressed biogas? How will it help to achieve twin goals of becoming energy self-sufficient and increase farmers income?
                                                                                                                                                        69. Examine the case for the regulatory innovation in India’s efforts towards green transition.
                                                                                                                                                        70. What are the challenges faced by the state governments in transitioning to a greener future? List some initiatives towards this end and some possible solutions to overcome the challenges.
                                                                                                                                                        71. What is Market-Based Economic Dispatch? How can the system change the Indian power sector?
                                                                                                                                                        72. What are the advantages of offshore wind energy projects over onshore projects? What are the associated challenges?
                                                                                                                                                        73. What are the highlights of the Uttar Pradesh Bioenergy Policy 2022? What are challenges in its successful implementation?
                                                                                                                                                        74. Discuss the current status of cross-border electricity trade in India. What are its advantages and significance?
                                                                                                                                                        75. In view of the recent geopolitical tensions, how can India ensure its energy security? What are the challenges presented by these geo-political tensions? Suggest a way forward.
                                                                                                                                                        76. What are lead-acid batteries? How could these batteries help India in achieving the SDGs?
                                                                                                                                                        77. Disclaimer: These questions have been written and answered by GKToday team over the period of time; and have included some previous years questions also. While every effort was made to ensure that these questions as well as their answers remain relevent and correct, it is possible, that some facts or context in some questions might have changed over time. GKToday does not assume and hereby disclaims any liability to any party for any loss, damage, or disruption caused by such change of facts or context in the questions and answers of this E-book.

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