Q150. Which energy resource is exhaustible and causes substantial pollution?
[RRB NTPC Undergraduate, 19 June 2026]
(A) Wind energy
(B) Coal
(C) Solar energy
(D) Biogas
Answer: B. Coal
Explanation: Coal forms from ancient vegetation over geological periods, making it non-renewable on human timescales. Burning it releases carbon dioxide, particulate matter and other pollutants. Wind, sunlight and sustainably produced biogas can be replenished much more rapidly.
Q149. Which renewable source has the highest installed electricity-generation capacity in India?
[UGC NET, 2 January 2026]
(A) Solar power
(B) Nuclear power
(C) Wind power
(D) Geothermal power
Answer: A. Solar power
Explanation: Solar power became the largest individual renewable-energy capacity segment in India. Photovoltaic installations expanded through solar parks, rooftop systems and government programmes. Nuclear energy is generally grouped with non-fossil sources, but it is not renewable.
Q148. Match wind, solar, hydro and coal-based thermal power with Gujarat–Tamil Nadu coast, western Rajasthan, Western Ghats–Himalayas and Damodar Valley, respectively.
[UPHESC Assistant Professor (Geography), 19 April 2026]
(A) Wind–Ghats; Solar–Damodar; Hydro–Coast; Coal–Rajasthan
(B) Wind–Rajasthan; Solar–Coast; Hydro–Damodar; Coal–Ghats
(C) Wind–Damodar; Solar–Ghats; Hydro–Rajasthan; Coal–Coast
(D) Wind–Coast; Solar–Rajasthan; Hydro–Ghats/Himalayas; Coal–Damodar
Answer: D. Wind–Coast; Solar–Rajasthan; Hydro–Ghats/Himalayas; Coal–Damodar
Explanation: Coastal Gujarat and Tamil Nadu have favourable wind regimes, while western Rajasthan receives intense sunshine. Mountain gradients support hydropower in Himalayan and Western Ghats catchments. The Damodar basin contains major coalfields supplying thermal power stations.
Q147. Which state has India’s largest reserves of lignite?
[DSSSB MTS, 27 April 2026]
(A) Rajasthan
(B) Gujarat
(C) Telangana
(D) Tamil Nadu
Answer: D. Tamil Nadu
Explanation: Tamil Nadu contains the celebrated Neyveli lignite deposit. Lignite is a low-rank brown coal with more moisture than bituminous coal. Rajasthan and Gujarat also hold sizeable deposits, but Tamil Nadu remains the principal reserve state in this comparison.
Q146. Which mission announced by India aims to intensify offshore hydrocarbon exploration?
[RRB NTPC Undergraduate, 18 June 2026]
(A) Blue Energy Mission
(B) National Deepwater Exploration Mission
(C) Offshore Energy Security Mission
(D) Strategic Hydrocarbon Mission
Answer: B. National Deepwater Exploration Mission
Explanation: The National Deepwater Exploration Mission concerns identifying petroleum and natural-gas prospects beneath deep offshore waters. Such exploration can improve knowledge of sedimentary basins and domestic resource potential. It is distinct from solar or wind-power development programmes.
Q145. Which source continues to account for the largest portion of India’s electricity generation?
[DSSSB MTS, 25 February 2026]
(A) Wind
(B) Coal
(C) Nuclear fuel
(D) Ethanol
Answer: B. Coal
Explanation: Coal-fired power stations supply a dominant portion of India’s generated electricity. Generation share differs from installed-capacity share: solar and wind capacity has grown quickly, but their actual output varies with weather and daylight conditions.
Q144. Which Himachal Pradesh valley is associated with geothermal-energy potential?
[DSSSB Primary Teacher, 3 April 2026]
(A) Kangra
(B) Spiti
(C) Solang
(D) Parvati
Answer: D. Parvati
Explanation: The Parvati Valley includes the Manikaran hot-spring area, where geothermal resources have long been investigated. Underground heat warms circulating water. This resource differs from hydropower, which exploits flowing water rather than heat originating beneath Earth’s surface.
Q143. What is a principal use of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)?
[SSC GD Constable, 18 May 2026]
(A) Making medicinal ointments
(B) Fuelling heavy railway engines
(C) Surfacing highways
(D) Fuel for domestic cooking and industries
Answer: D. Fuel for domestic cooking and industries
Explanation: LPG mainly contains propane and butane. Stored under pressure, it can be transported in cylinders and used for household cooking and various industrial heating needs. Its controlled combustion is generally cleaner than burning raw coal or firewood.
Q142. Which geological group accounts for the overwhelming majority of India’s coal resources?
[OSSC CGL Mains, 8 July 2026]
(A) Tertiary coalfields
(B) Jurassic coalfields
(C) Gondwana coalfields
(D) Carboniferous coalfields
Answer: C. Gondwana coalfields
Explanation: Gondwana coalfields dominate Indian coal reserves and production. Significant deposits occur in the Damodar, Mahanadi, Son and Godavari basins. Younger Tertiary coal is concentrated especially in northeastern India and represents a smaller proportion of resources.
Q141. Which group consists of important wind-energy states in India?
[OSSC CGL Mains, 8 July 2026]
(A) Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan
(B) Bihar, Assam and Tripura
(C) Punjab, Haryana and Bihar
(D) Meghalaya, Nagaland and Sikkim
Answer: A. Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan
Explanation: Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Rajasthan possess wind installations or substantial wind potential. Wind turbines need suitable speeds and open corridors. Coastal belts, uplands and selected arid landscapes are generally more favourable than densely sheltered inland terrain.