Comprehension

Study the passage below and answer the questions.
The first requirement to ensure nuclear safety is technical expertise which India has. No questions have been raised so far about the expertise in Department of Atomic Energy (DAE). The first reactors were imported. Soon after commissioning the original suppliers left leaving us to fend for ourselves. The reactors have been running for decades without any serious environmental issues. More reactors have since been built indigenously with enhanced safety features, and increased power rating. Continuous monitoring of these shows negligible environmental impact compared to that arising from natural background radiation. All of this as possible because of the expertise available in DAE institutions. In the early years, there was self-regulation of safety. It had to be so because there was no other group working in this field. It worked very well. As the programme expanded, a full-time regulatory body was needed and, so, the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) came into being. Continuing absence of education and research a nuclear technology in academic institutions meant the AERB had to be staffed with experts transferred to it from DAE units. AERB also had to rely on expertise in DAE for various kinds of analyses. This was facilitated by the AERB being under the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC). Information that ought to have been disseminated in the first place was not available to the public. This has naturally tended to imputed motives on attitude of AERB and DAE to safety. An independent regulator is being demanded as the answer. Steps have to be initiated in the direction now. Meanwhile, reliance on expertise in DAE institutions is inevitable. If total independence now is impractical and expertise outside DAE is unavailable, only total transparency on the part of AERB and DAE can redeem the situation. This had not yet come about. If a larger contribution from nuclear energy is required, more effort is needed to effectively answer public questions on plant safety and to dispel needless fear of radiation. A brand new independent agency to be set up now to regulate nuclear safety may please some people, but would find it difficult to cope with the demands of an expanding programme with new designs.

Question: 1

Which of the following statements about India's nuclear capability building is/are true?

Updated On: Sep 26, 2024
  • India has depended on foreign countries to set up the first nuclear reactors in India
  • To this day India continues to be dependent on foreign countries for maintenance of its nuclear installations.
  • India has never faced any issues related to environment at its nuclear installations.
  • All these
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The Correct Option is A

Solution and Explanation

A. is true; India initially depended on foreign countries for assistance in setting up its first nuclear reactors.
B. is not necessarily true; while there may be some dependence on foreign technology or support, the passage does not clearly state that India continues to rely on foreign countries for maintenance.
C. is not true, as issues related to the environment are often a concern at nuclear installations.The correct option is (A): India has depended on foreign countries to set up the first nuclear reactors in India
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Question: 2

How is the safety of nuclear reactors in India ensured?

Updated On: Sep 26, 2024
  • By keeping usage of radio-active-material to the minimum
  • By locating the reactors in distant places, far from human habitation.
  • By ensuring regular inspections by experts available in India
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The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

A. may be a general practice but isn't explicitly mentioned in the context of safety measures.
B. is also not explicitly stated in the passage regarding safety protocols.
C. is true as regular inspections by experts are a standard measure to ensure the safety of nuclear reactors.The correct option is (C): By ensuring regular inspections by experts available in India
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Question: 3

The author is of the view that

Updated On: Sep 26, 2024
  • there is severe lack of educational programmes in the field of nuclear technology in India.
  • the Government agencies have failed to suitably assure the public that the nuclear reactors installed in India pose no threat in general.
  • nuclear energy can play a bigger role than present in India.
  • All these
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The Correct Option is B

Solution and Explanation

A. is not explicitly stated in the passage; the author may discuss education but doesn't claim there's a severe lack of educational programs in nuclear technology.
B. is true; the author suggests that government agencies have not effectively communicated the safety of nuclear reactors to the public.
C. could be inferred but isn't as directly supported as option B.The correct option is (B): the Government agencies have failed to suitably assure the public that the nuclear reactors installed in India pose no threat in general.
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Question: 4

All of the following statements are implied in the passage except

Updated On: Sep 26, 2024
  • the foreign suppliers of India's first nuclear reactors abandoned them right after installation.
  • indigenous technical expertise is enough to ensure the safety of Indian nuclear power installations
  • nuclear radiation is not a factor to be feared by the people of India.
  • no new regulatory body is required to ensure nuclear safety in India.
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The Correct Option is D

Solution and Explanation

A. is not explicitly stated but could be implied; the passage discusses dependence on foreign suppliers without ongoing support.
B. might be inferred as the passage implies there is indigenous expertise, but it doesn’t state that it is sufficient on its own for safety.
C. can be implied, as the passage seems to suggest that nuclear energy's risks are manageable.
D. is not implied; the passage does not suggest that no new regulatory body is needed for nuclear safety.The correct option is (D): no new regulatory body is required to ensure nuclear safety in India.
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