Energy Infrastructure

**Statement 1 is incorrect:** India does not have a policy of intentionally conserving its domestic coal reserves for the future and importing coal for current use. **Statement 2 is correct:** Most of the power plants in India are coal-based, and they are not able to get sufficient supplies of coal from within the country. This is due to various factors such as insufficient domestic production, logistical constraints, and quality issues. **Statement 3 is correct:** Steel companies need a large quantity of coking coal, which has to be imported. India's domestic reserves of coking coal are not sufficient to meet the demand of its steel industry, hence the need for imports. Therefore, the second and third statements are correct.

The UDAY scheme (Ujwal DISCOM Assurance Yojana), launched by the Government of India in 2015, has multiple objectives aimed at improving the financial health and operational efficiency of electricity distribution companies (DISCOMs) in India.

Domestic Content Requirement (DCR) is a policy tool used by governments to encourage local industries to grow and reduce dependence on imports. In the context of solar power production, DCR mandates that a certain percentage of solar equipment used in the production process must be domestically produced. This policy is aimed at promoting indigenous manufacturing and reducing dependence on imports.

**Statement 1 is Incorrect:** The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) was constituted under the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board Act, 2006. The independent regulator, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), set up under the TRAI Act of 1997, was the first independent regulator in India. Hence, statement 1 is not correct. **Statement 2 is correct:** PNGRB is tasked to protect the interests of consumers and entities engaged in specified activities relating to petroleum, petroleum products and natural gas and to promote competitive markets and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. **Statement 3 is correct:** The Appellate Tribunal established under Section 110 of the Electricity Act, 2003 (Central Act 36 of 2003) shall be the Appellate Tribunal to appeal against the decisions of the PNGRB.

**Nationalisation:** Yes, the coal sector was nationalised by the Indira Gandhi government in phases during the 1970s. **Hence, Statement 1 is Correct.** **Coal block allocation:** Coal blocks are not allocated through a lottery system. They are currently allocated through auctions, a shift from the previous system of administrative allocation. **Hence, Statement 2 is Incorrect.** **Coal self-sufficiency:** India is not entirely self-sufficient in coal production. While domestic production has increased, there is still a gap that is met through imports. **Hence, Statement 3 is Incorrect.**

* The term "West Texas Intermediate" (WTI), often seen in news reports, refers to a grade of crude oil. WTI is used as a benchmark for oil pricing in North America. * Specifically, WTI is a light, sweet crude oil, meaning it has a low density and low sulfur content. This makes it easier and more desirable to refine into gasoline and other products. WTI serves as one of the main benchmarks for oil prices globally. * West Texas Intermediate (WTI) and Brent Crude are two of the most important global benchmarks for crude oil prices. Brent Index is used as a benchmark for oil pricing globally, including Europe, Asia, and Africa.

The Coal Controller's Organisation (CCO) is a subordinate office of the Ministry of Coal, having its headquarters at Kolkata and field offices at Dhanbad, Ranchi, Bilaspur, Nagpur, Sambalpur, Kothagudem and Asansol. It collects and maintains coal production data of all private and public sector coal mines in the country. The information is collected every month. **Statement 1 is correct.** Under the Collection of Statistics Act, 2008 Coal Controller has been made the statistical authority concerning coal and lignite statistics. Entrusted with the responsibility of carrying out the Annual Coal & Lignite survey and publishing of Provisional Coal Statistics and Coal Directory of India. **Statement 2 is correct.** It is entrusted with the task of monitoring captive mines. Work such as permission for the opening and reopening of coal mines has been entrusted to the CCO. **Statement 3 is correct.** Under the Coal Bearing Area (Acquisition and Development) Act, 1957- the Coal Controller is the competent authority under this act to hear any objection to the Central Government's Notification relating to the acquisition of coal-bearing land and to furnish his reports to the Central Govt. **Statement 4 is incorrect.** Ensuring that coal mining companies deliver the coal to end users in the prescribed time is not the function of the Coal Controller's Organization (CCO).

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) regulates **downstream activities** like storage, distribution, and marketing—not **upstream activities** like production. ❌ **I. Production of crude oil – Not regulated** * This is an upstream activity regulated by the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas and Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH), not PNGRB. ✅ **II. Refining, storage and distribution – Partially regulated** * **Storage** and **distribution** are regulated by PNGRB. * **Refining** is generally **not directly regulated**, though PNGRB may set standards affecting it. ✅ **III. Marketing and sale of petroleum products – Regulated** * PNGRB **authorizes entities** to market notified petroleum products and natural gas. ❌ **IV. Production of natural gas – Not regulated** * Like crude oil, it’s an **upstream activity**, **not under PNGRB**.