UPSC Prelims 2020— Question 85

This question tests iaea safeguards and india. The key concept is: India's civilian nuclear safeguards arrangement distinguishes reactors using imported fuel or otherwise placed under international safeguards from strategic facilities outside the safeguards list. The distinction is therefore linked principally to the source of nuclear fuel and the safeguards agreement, not to ownership or foreign operation. The verified answer for the uploaded Set-B paper is option B. Option A — Some use uranium and other use thorium: This is not the correct option. The option does not match the verified combination or conclusion. The decisive point is the distinction explained above: India's civilian nuclear safeguards arrangement distinguishes reactors using imported fuel or otherwise placed under international safeguards from strategic facilities outside the safeguards list. The distinction is therefore linked principally to the source of nuclear fuel and the safeguards agreement, not to ownership or foreign operation. Therefore this alternative should be eliminated even if part of its wording appears plausible in isolation. Option B — Some use imported uranium and others use domestic supplies: This is the correct option. It matches the verified conclusion because India's civilian nuclear safeguards arrangement distinguishes reactors using imported fuel or otherwise placed under international safeguards from strategic facilities outside the safeguards list. The distinction is therefore linked principally to the source of nuclear fuel and the safeguards agreement, not to ownership or foreign operation. The wording of the option is consistent with the governing concept tested by the question. Option C — Some are operated by foreign enterprises and others are operated by domestic enterprises: This is not the correct option. The option does not match the verified combination or conclusion. The decisive point is the distinction explained above: India's civilian nuclear safeguards arrangement distinguishes reactors using imported fuel or otherwise placed under international safeguards from strategic facilities outside the safeguards list. The distinction is therefore linked principally to the source of nuclear fuel and the safeguards agreement, not to ownership or foreign operation. Therefore this alternative should be eliminated even if part of its wording appears plausible in isolation. Option D — Some are state-owned and others are privately-owned: This is not the correct option. The option does not match the verified combination or conclusion. The decisive point is the distinction explained above: India's civilian nuclear safeguards arrangement distinguishes reactors using imported fuel or otherwise placed under international safeguards from strategic facilities outside the safeguards list. The distinction is therefore linked principally to the source of nuclear fuel and the safeguards agreement, not to ownership or foreign operation. Therefore this alternative should be eliminated even if part of its wording appears plausible in isolation. For UPSC-style elimination, first identify the exact proposition being tested, then evaluate each statement independently before comparing the answer codes. Avoid treating a broad or absolute statement as correct merely because its general theme is familiar. The precise qualifiers in the question—such as 'all', 'only', 'cannot', 'largest', 'always' or a specific institutional role—often determine the answer. On that basis, option B is the verified answer.