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Q11 (IAS/2023) Science & Technology › New Materials, Energy & Environment-linked Tech › Nuclear energy technologies Official Key

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?

Result
Your answer: —  ·  Correct: C
Explanation

The correct answer is Option 3: Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect.

Statement-I is correct: While India possesses significant uranium deposits (notably in Andhra Pradesh and Jharkhand), the domestic supply is insufficient and often low-grade. Consequently, India relies heavily on thermal power, with coal accounting for over 70% of its total electricity generation to meet the massive base-load demand.

Statement-II is incorrect: For commercial electricity production in nuclear power reactors, uranium generally needs to be enriched only to 3% to 5% (Low Enriched Uranium - LEU). Some reactors, like India’s PHWRs, even use natural uranium (0.7% U-235). Uranium enriched to 60% or more is considered High Enriched Uranium (HEU) and is typically associated with research reactors or naval propulsion; enrichment levels above 90% are required for nuclear weapons.

Thus, since Statement-I identifies a valid economic reality and Statement-II provides an incorrect technical requirement, Option 3 is the only accurate choice.

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Don’t just practise – reverse-engineer the question. This panel shows where this PYQ came from (books / web), how the examiner broke it into hidden statements, and which nearby micro-concepts you were supposed to learn from it. Treat it like an autopsy of the question: what might have triggered it, which exact lines in the book matter, and what linked ideas you should carry forward to future questions.
Q. Consider the following statements : Statement-I : India, despite having uranium deposits, depends on coal for most of its electricity pro…
At a glance
Origin: Mixed / unclear origin Fairness: Moderate fairness Books / CA: 6.7/10 · 0/10
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This is a classic 'Cross-Domain' question. Statement I is pure NCERT Geography (Resources), while Statement II is Core Science/Tech (Nuclear Physics). The strategy is simple: Do not silo your preparation. When you study 'Uranium' in Geography, you must understand 'Enrichment' in Science.

How this question is built

This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.

Statement 1
Does India have uranium deposits?
Origin: Direct from books Fairness: Straightforward Book-answerable
From standard books
Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 7: Resources > Natural Resources of India > p. 30
Presence: 5/5
“deposits occur in Singhbhum and Hazaribagh districts of Jharkhand, and Gaya district of Bihar, and in sedimentary rocks of Saharanpur district of Uttar Pradesh. The largest source of uranium comprise the monazite sands, both beach and alluvial. Monazite sand rich in uranium is found in Kerala. Some uranium is found in the copper and zinc mines of Udaipur (Rajasthan). The total reserves of uranium as estimated by the Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India, are about 31,000 tonnes. Uranium Corporation of India Limited, exploits the atomic minerals commercially. The important uranium mining centres of India are: (i) Jharkhand–Bagjata, Banduhurang, Bhateen, Jaduguda, Mohuldeeh, Narwapur and Turamdeeh, (ii) Meghalaya-Keleng-Pindeng, Maothabah, Shahiyong, and Vakheen, (iii) Andhra Pradesh-Lambapur, Paddagtu and Tummalapalle.”
Why this source?
  • Explicitly lists multiple Indian districts and states with uranium occurrences (e.g., Singhbhum, Hazaribagh, Gaya, Saharanpur, Kerala, Udaipur).
  • Names important uranium mining centres and notes commercial exploitation by Uranium Corporation of India Limited.
  • Gives an official reserve estimate (Department of Atomic Energy).
Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 7: Resources > Table 7.7 > p. 16
Presence: 5/5
“Uranium Uranium and thorium are the main atomic minerals. Uranium is mined at Jaduguda, Bhatin, Narwapahar and Turamdih (Singhbhum East), Jharkhand. Only one kg. of uranium can produce as much electricity as is done by 1500 tonnes of coal. The total uranium reserve of India is 120 thousand metric tonnes.”
Why this source?
  • Specifically names major uranium mines (Jaduguda, Bhatin, Narwapahar, Turamdih) in Singhbhum East, Jharkhand.
  • Provides a quantitative total uranium reserve figure for India.
INDIA PEOPLE AND ECONOMY, TEXTBOOK IN GEOGRAPHY FOR CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 5: Mineral and Energy Resources > Nuclear Energy Resources > p. 61
Presence: 5/5
“Nuclear energy has emerged as a viable source in recent times. Important minerals used for the generation of nuclear energy are uranium and thorium. Uranium deposits occur in the Dharwar rocks. Geographically, uranium ores are known to occur in several locations along the Singbhum Copper belt. It is also found in Udaipur, Alwar and Jhunjhunu districts of Rajasthan, Durg district of Chhattisgarh, Bhandara district of Maharashtra and Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh. Thorium is mainly obtained from monazite and ilmenite in the beach sands along the coast of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. World's richest monazite deposits occur in Palakkad and Kollam districts of Kerala, near Vishakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh and Mahanadi river delta in Odisha.”
Why this source?
  • States uranium is a key nuclear mineral and occurs in Dharwar rocks and along the Singbhum copper belt.
  • Lists additional districts and states with uranium occurrences (Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh).
Statement analysis

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Statement analysis

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SIMILAR QUESTIONS

IAS · 2009 · Q88 Relevance score: 3.01

Consider the following statements: 1. India does not have any deposits of Thorium. 2. Kerala's monazito sands contain Uranium. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

IAS · 2025 · Q89 Relevance score: 1.97

Consider the following statements : Statement I : In India, State Governments have no power for making rules for grant of concessions in respect of extraction of minor minerals even though such minerals are located in their territories. Statement II : In India, the Central Government has the power to notify minor minerals under the relevant law. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?