Daily Current Affairs Quiz: September 27, 2025

Statement 1 is correct: Heavy water is used as a moderator in some nuclear reactors, such as the CANDU reactor, to slow down neutrons.

Statement 2 is incorrect: Not all nuclear reactors are capable of using Thorium as a fuel; this capability depends on the reactor design.

Statement 3 is correct: The process of nuclear fission in reactors is controlled to prevent it from exploding like a nuclear bomb.

Statement 4 is correct: Fast breeder reactors are designed to produce more fissile material than they consume.

Statement 1 is correct: IGCAR is indeed located in Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu, and its primary focus is on fast breeder reactor technology.

Statement 2 is correct: AMD is responsible for the exploration and development of atomic mineral resources, crucial for India’s nuclear program.

Statement 3 is correct: NPCIL designs, constructs, commissions, and operates nuclear power reactors, playing a key role in India’s energy sector.

Statement 4 is incorrect: While VECC is a research center specializing in accelerator physics and nuclear science, it is located in Kolkata, not Mumbai. Its focus is on fundamental and applied research using accelerators, not directly on radioisotopes or radiation technologies.  That area falls under the purview of BRIT, the Board of Radiation and Isotope Technology under the Department of Atomic Energy.

Statement 1is Correct: High-level nuclear waste (HLW) comes mainly from spent nuclear fuel after it has been used in a reactor. It contains highly radioactive isotopes such as Cesium-137, Strontium-90, and transuranic elements (Plutonium, Americium) HLW generates a lot of heat and requires careful storage and shielding.

Statement 2 is Correct: HLW remains radioactive and hazardous for thousands of years. For example: Plutonium-239 has a half-life of ~24,000 years, Uranium-238 has a half-life of ~4.5 billion years. This makes long-term disposal a major challenge for nuclear waste management.

Statement 3 is Correct: Reprocessing involves chemically treating spent fuel to recover usable uranium and plutonium, reducing the volume and toxicity of waste. France, Russia, Japan, and India actively practice fuel reprocessing. However, it is controversial due to cost, proliferation risks, and environmental concerns, but it is still a widely accepted method among nuclear powers.

Statement 4 is Incorrect: Not all nuclear-powered countries have permanent disposal facilities for HLW. Most countries (including the US, India, and many in Europe) still rely on interim storage in pools or dry casks. The world’s first deep geological repository (for permanent disposal) is under development in Finland (Onkalo project), but globally, such facilities are still rare.

Statement 1 is Correct: Most nuclear power plants use Uranium-235 as fuel; some also use Plutonium-239 (derived from reprocessing). These undergo nuclear fission (splitting of heavy atomic nuclei), releasing energy in the form of heat. This heat generates steam to drive turbines and produce electricity.

Statement 2 is Correct: During operation, nuclear plants do not emit carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases like coal or gas plants. Thus, nuclear power is considered a low-carbon energy source. However, indirect emissions (from mining, fuel processing, construction) do exist, but they are minimal compared to fossil fuels.

Statement 3 is Correct: The major drawback of nuclear power is radioactive waste (high-level waste like spent fuel, and low/intermediate waste like contaminated equipment). This waste remains hazardous for thousands of years, and safe disposal/storage (like deep geological repositories) remains a global challenge.

Statement 4 is Incorrect: Commercial nuclear power today is based on fission, not fusion. Fusion (combining light nuclei like hydrogen isotopes at very high temperatures, as in the Sun) is still experimental (e.g., ITER project in France). No commercial nuclear plant yet uses fusion for electricity generation.

Statement 1 is correct: The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) was constituted by the Government of India on November 15, 1983, as an independent regulatory body to carry out certain regulatory and safety functions under the Atomic Energy Act, 1962. Its mission is to ensure that the use of ionizing radiation and nuclear energy in India does not cause undue risk to health and the environment.

Statement 2 is incorrect: While the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) is responsible for the administration of nuclear energy in India, the regulation of nuclear safety, including the safety of nuclear reactors, is the responsibility of the AERB, not the DAE directly.

Statement 3 is correct: India is a signatory to the Convention on Nuclear Safety. The convention is an incentive-based instrument that commits signatory states operating land-based nuclear power plants to maintain a high level of safety by setting international benchmarks to which states would subscribe.