Q1. Which of the following statements regarding Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) in India is/are correct?
- SMRs are primarily intended for deployment at greenfield sites to achieve the 100 GW nuclear target by 2047.
- SMRs can be deployed in retired fossil fuel-based power plants due to lower exclusion zone requirements.
- SMRs are being designed with load-follow capability to improve operational flexibility.
- Slightly Enriched Uranium (SEU) is being considered as potential fuel for proposed SMRs.
Select the correct answer using the code below:
- 2, 3 and 4 only
- 1 and 3only
- 2 and 4 only
- 1, 2, 3 and 4
Correct Option: 1. 2, 3 and 4 only
Explanation:
• Statement 1 – Incorrect
The 100 GW target by 2047 is primarily to be achieved through large reactors such as indigenous PHWRs and imported advanced reactors at greenfield sites. SMRs are mainly intended for brownfield deployment and rapid decarbonization.
•
Statement 2 – Correct
SMRs require significantly lower exclusion zones due to enhanced safety features, making them suitable for repurposing retired fossil fuel-based power plants.
•
Statement 3 – Correct
SMRs can be engineered with load-follow characteristics, allowing flexibility in power output and improving grid stability.
•
Statement 4 – Correct
Slightly Enriched Uranium (SEU) is being considered as the potential fuel for proposed SMRs.
Q2. Which one of the following best explains why Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) are considered suitable for deployment in retired fossil fuel-based power plants in India?
- They operate entirely without nuclear fuel reprocessing.
- They require significantly lower exclusion zones due to enhanced safety features.
- They are designed exclusively for hydrogen production.
- They eliminate the need for regulatory approvals under the SHANTI Act.
Correct Option: 2. They require significantly lower exclusion zones due to enhanced safety features.
Explanation:
• Option (1) – Incorrect
SMRs in India are proposed to use Slightly Enriched Uranium (SEU), and reprocessing of spent fuel is planned to recover valuable materials and reduce waste burden. Therefore, fuel reprocessing remains part of the strategy.
•
Option (2) – Correct
A major advantage of SMRs is their enhanced safety design, which reduces the required exclusion zone (safety buffer area). This makes them suitable for deployment in brownfield sites such as retired coal-based power plants where land availability is limited.
•
Option (3) – Incorrect
Although a high-temperature gas-cooled reactor variant is being developed for hydrogen generation, SMRs overall are primarily intended for electricity generation and industrial decarbonization.
•
Option (4) – Incorrect
The SHANTI Act facilitates research and development without requiring a license, but it does not eliminate regulatory approvals for deployment and operation of nuclear reactors.
Q3. With reference to “Bharat Taxi”, consider the following statements:
- It is registered under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002.
- It operates on a zero-commission and surge-free pricing model.
- Drivers are bound by exclusivity clauses and cannot work on other platforms.
- Profits are directly distributed to drivers under a cooperative ownership model.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
- 1, 2 and 4 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 2, 3 and 4 only
- 1, 2, 3 and 4
Correct Option: 1. 1, 2 and 4 only
Explanation:
• Statement 1 – Correct
Bharat Taxi is registered under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002, making it a legally recognized cooperative entity operating across states.
•
Statement 2 – Correct
The platform follows a zero-commission model and does not implement surge pricing, distinguishing it from conventional aggregator-based ride-hailing platforms.
•
Statement 3 – Incorrect
There is no exclusivity clause. Drivers (Sarathis) are allowed to operate on other platforms simultaneously.
•
Statement 4 – Correct
The cooperative model ensures direct distribution of profits to drivers, reinforcing the principle “Sarathi Hi Malik.”
Q4. Exercise KHANJAR, recently seen in the news, is a joint military exercise conducted between India and which of the following countries?
- Kazakhstan
- Uzbekistan
- Kyrgyzstan
- Tajikistan
Correct Option: 3. Kyrgyzstan
Explanation:
Exercise KHANJAR is a bilateral joint special forces exercise conducted annually between India and Kyrgyzstan.
• It is conducted alternatively in both countries.
• The 13th edition (February 2026) is being held in Missamari, Assam.
• The previous edition was conducted in Kyrgyzstan in March 2025.
The exercise focuses on:
• Counter-terrorism operations
• Urban and mountainous warfare
• Special forces skill enhancement
Other options are incorrect because India conducts separate military exercises with those countries under different names.
Q5. Which of the following statements about India’s human submersible MATSYA-6000 is correct?
- It can carry 5 aquanauts and reach a depth of 3000 meters.
- Wet tests were conducted at L&T Harbour in Katupalli, and scientists gained experience with the French submersible NAUTILE.
- It is designed only for shallow water exploration and cannot reach deep-sea hydrothermal vents.
- It is an autonomous vehicle and does not require human aquanauts.
Correct Option: 2. Wet tests were conducted at L&T Harbour in Katupalli, and scientists gained experience with the French submersible NAUTILE.
Explanation:
• MATSYA-6000 is India’s flagship human submersible, designed to reach 6000 meters and carry 3 aquanauts, not 5 (so 1 is wrong).
•
Wet tests were indeed conducted at L&T Harbour, Katupalli (Jan–Feb 2025), and scientists gained pilot experience on the French submersible NAUTILE (Aug 2025).
•
It is intended for deep-sea exploration, including hydrothermal vent surveys (3 is wrong).
•
It is manned, not autonomous (4 is wrong).