Power Resources — Set 5

Correct Answer: A. Hydroelectricity

• **Hydroelectricity** = called White Coal because it provides power like coal (black) but is clean, renewable, and emission-free. • **Symbolic contrast** — White Coal signifies purity and renewability versus the polluting black coal; hydroelectricity is also highly efficient for meeting peak load demand. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Natural gas: sometimes called blue fuel, not white coal; Nuclear energy: sometimes called atomic energy or clean energy, not white coal; Solar energy: called solar power or green energy, not white coal.

Correct Answer: C. Petroleum

• **Petroleum** = commonly found trapped in sedimentary rock layers, formed from marine organisms buried under heat and pressure in sedimentary basins. • **Anticlines and fault traps** — structural geological formations where oil and gas accumulate; geologists map rock layers to locate these reservoirs. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Anthracite: a form of coal found in metamorphic/Gondwana rock, not sedimentary oil traps; Iron ore: found in Banded Iron Formation rocks, not in sedimentary hydrocarbon traps; Thorium: found in monazite placer deposits along coastlines, not in oil traps.

Correct Answer: D. Intermittency

• **Intermittency** = the main drawback of solar and wind energy; the sun doesn't shine at night and wind doesn't always blow, making supply unreliable. • **Storage challenge** — intermittency requires expensive battery storage or backup power; battery technology is rapidly advancing to overcome this limitation. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: High pollution: solar and wind produce zero emissions during operation, opposite of this option; High fuel cost: solar and wind have zero fuel cost once installed; Global warming: solar and wind are used specifically to combat global warming, not cause it.

Correct Answer: D. Tamil Nadu

• **Tamil Nadu** = the state where Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC), a Navratna PSU, is headquartered and operates its lignite mines. • **NLC operations** — runs large open-cast lignite mines and thermal power plants at Neyveli; supplies electricity to South Indian states. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Andhra Pradesh: has coal/lignite deposits but NLC's main base is Tamil Nadu; Odisha: major iron ore and coal state but NLC is headquartered in Tamil Nadu; Jharkhand: home to major coal companies like BCCL and CCL, not NLC.

Correct Answer: C. Nuclear fission

• **Nuclear fission** = the process used in nuclear power plants — splitting heavy atomic nuclei (uranium/plutonium) releases enormous heat energy. • **Heat-to-electricity chain** — fission heat produces steam → steam drives turbines → generators produce electricity; same chain as thermal power but using nuclear heat. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Nuclear fusion: joining of light nuclei (hydrogen), the Sun's process; not yet commercially achieved in power plants; Electromagnetic induction: the final step in all generators, not the energy source; Chemical oxidation: burning of fuels, applies to thermal power not nuclear.

Correct Answer: C. Gujarat

• **Gujarat** = India's first state to launch a dedicated Solar Energy Policy in 2009, pioneering the national solar movement. • **Charanka Solar Park** — Asia's first multi-megawatt solar park, developed in Gujarat; this initiative inspired India's National Solar Mission launched in 2010. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Karnataka: launched solar policy later, not the first; Rajasthan: leads in solar capacity today but adopted policy after Gujarat; Maharashtra: developed solar sector later, not the pioneer.

Correct Answer: D. Carbon

• **Carbon content** = the parameter (along with moisture) used to classify coal into four grades: peat, lignite, bituminous, and anthracite. • **Carbon ranking** — peat (~55%) < lignite (~25–35%) < bituminous (60–80%) < anthracite (>80%); higher carbon means higher calorific value. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Oxygen: decreases as coal matures, but carbon content is the standard classification parameter; Sulphur: affects pollution level of coal but not its quality grade ranking; Nitrogen: present in trace amounts, not the classification criterion for coal grades.

Correct Answer: B. Kerosene (Aviation Turbine Fuel)

• **Kerosene (Aviation Turbine Fuel — ATF)** = the specialized fuel used in aircraft jet engines, a highly refined form of kerosene. • **ATF properties** — must stay liquid at -40°C to -47°C (high altitude temperatures), have high energy density, and meet strict safety standards. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Coal: a solid fuel used for power generation and steel making, completely unsuitable for jet engines; CNG: compressed gas, too bulky and requires high-pressure storage, impractical for aircraft; Diesel: used in compression-ignition engines and ships, not jet turbine engines.

Correct Answer: B. West Bengal

• **West Bengal** = the state where Raniganj coalfield is located, the site of India's first coal mine, started in 1774 — the oldest in Asia. • **1774** — year coal mining began at Raniganj; it remains one of India's largest coalfields and supplies coal for the Eastern region's industries. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Odisha: has Talcher and IB Valley coalfields, important but not the oldest; Madhya Pradesh: has Singrauli coalfield, significant but far newer; Jharkhand: has Jharia (India's largest coking coal reserve) but that is separate from Raniganj which is in West Bengal.

Correct Answer: A. Rajasthan

• **Rajasthan** = India's top state for installed solar power capacity, leveraging its vast Thar Desert land and the highest solar irradiation in the country. • **Bhadla Solar Park** — located in Rajasthan's Jodhpur district, one of the world's largest solar parks with over 2,245 MW capacity. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Gujarat: launched India's first solar policy (2009) and has strong solar capacity but ranks below Rajasthan in total installed capacity; Maharashtra: growing solar sector but does not lead nationally; Karnataka: significant solar production in Pavagada Solar Park but lower total than Rajasthan.