UPSC Prelims 2023 Question:

Consider the following statements

Statement-I:

India, despite 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?

Explanation:

• India is the world’s ninth-largest producer of uranium, with an output of 617 Tonnes in 2022, up by 0.26% in 2021. However, Coal is still the most important and abundant fossil fuel in India. It accounts for 55% of the country's energy needs. So, statement 1 is correct.
  
  
• Uranium is an element which occurs naturally. It can have nuclear-related uses once it has been refined, or enriched. This is achieved by increasing the content of its most fissile isotopes, U-235, through the use of centrifuges - machines which spin at supersonic speeds.
  
  
• Low-enriched uranium, which typically has a 3-5% concentration of U-235, can be used to produce fuel for commercial nuclear power plants. So, statement 2 is not correct.
  
  
• Highly enriched uranium has a purity of 20% or more and is used in research reactors. Weapons-grade uranium is 90% enriched or more.
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So, Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect.

Therefore, option (3) is the correct answer.

Subject: Geography | Mineral Resources