Two recent developments have brought India’s reliance on fossil fuel into sharp focus. The Russia-Ukraine conflict and the consequent surge in crude oil prices roiled the economy. Separately, the most recent IPCC report on climate highlighted the energy sector’s large contribution to global warming. Both these developments need to be located in the context of India’s pledge to get to net zero carbon emissions by 2070. Meeting this pledge requires an overhaul of both the logistics and electricity sectors to reduce reliance on fossil fuels. Transitioning to renewables in energy is an important part of the solution. Within renewables, solar energy has been lavished with policy support. However, it won’t be enough to meet the targets. Anil Kakodkar, former chairman of Atomic Energy Commission, had written that India can’t meet its net-zero commitment without nuclear power. He’s right. It is an area where India was off to an early start, developed relatively high indigenous capabilities in relation to other sectors, but subsequently let the ball drop. Today, nuclear power contributes a mere 3% of the total electricity generated, and has a capacity of 6780 MW. After the early euphoria of the India-United States civil nuclear deal, progress has been disappointing. The deal did open the pathway to a stable supply of uranium ore from Kazakhstan and Canada. However, the design of the subsequent bill on civil liability for nuclear damage killed the prospect of participation of Western firms. India’s main partner today is Russia, which side stepped the bill through inter-governmental agreements.
According to the author, which of the following is the effect of the india-united States civil nuclear deal?
Correct Answer :
removal of bottlenecks for self-reliance in power generation
Solution :
The correct option is: removal of bottlenecks for self-reliance in power generation.
Step-by-step Explanation:
1. Analyze the passage context:
The passage discusses India's reliance on fossil fuels, its commitment to net-zero carbon emissions by 2070, and the essential role of nuclear power in reaching these goals. It highlights that India had early indigenous capabilities in nuclear energy and that the India-United States civil nuclear deal opened up crucial opportunities.
2. Examine the specific detail regarding the India-US deal:
The text explicitly states: "After the early euphoria of the India-United States civil nuclear deal, progress has been disappointing. The deal did open the pathway to a stable supply of uranium ore from Kazakhstan and Canada."
3. Connect to the correct option:
By opening the pathway to a stable supply of uranium ore, the deal effectively removed critical resource bottlenecks/constraints that blocked India's path toward building robust indigenous nuclear energy capabilities and achieving self-reliance in power generation.
4. Evaluate other options:
- export-import target with united States: Not mentioned as the primary effect.
- Nuclear defence Pact with Kazakhstan: Incorrect, the deal was with the US for civil energy, though it helped clear pathways for uranium supply.
- Self-reliance in Solar Power: Incorrect, as the deal specifically pertains to nuclear energy, not solar power.
Hence, the effect of the India-United States civil nuclear deal was the removal of bottlenecks for self-reliance in power generation.
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