2026 GS Paper I, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2026 · GS Paper I

Question 45: Science and Technology

Which of the following statements with regard to Green Hydrogen is/are correct ?

  1. 1.It is decarbonized hydrogen obtained from natural gas reforming combined with carbon capture and storage (CCS).
  2. 2.It is produced using electrolysis of water with electricity generated by renewable energy.
  3. 3.National Green Hydrogen Mission of India aims for abatement of nearly 50 MMT of annual greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.

Select the answer using the code given below :

a1 only
b2 and 3 only
c2 only
d1, 2 and 3

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (b).

Green hydrogen is made by electrolysis of water using renewable electricity, which is statement 2. Hydrogen from natural gas reforming with carbon capture and storage is blue hydrogen, so statement 1 is wrong. India's National Green Hydrogen Mission targets 5 million tonnes of green hydrogen production a year by 2030 and the abatement of nearly 50 MMT of annual greenhouse gas emissions, which makes statement 3 correct.

  • 1. Gas reforming with CCS gives blue hydrogen, not green.
  • 2. Green hydrogen is made by electrolysis powered by renewable energy.
  • 3. The Mission aims at nearly 50 MMT of annual emission abatement by 2030.

How you could have got this

  1. If you were sure statement 1 is not correct, (a) and (d) go: each of them includes 1.

    What you needed to know: Gas reforming with CCS gives blue hydrogen, not green.

  2. Then, if you were sure statement 3 is correct, (c) goes: it leaves 3 out.

    What you needed to know: The Mission aims at nearly 50 MMT of annual emission abatement by 2030.

Only (b) is left. You didn’t need statement 2.

This follows UPSC’s provisional key; the final key could change it.

Which options go is worked out from UPSC’s key and the options, not by a model.

Why each option is right or wrong
  • (a) Wrong: statement 1 describes blue hydrogen.
  • (b) Right: electrolysis with renewable power, and the Mission's 50 MMT abatement.
  • (c) Incomplete: statement 3 on the Mission is also correct.
  • (d) Wrong: statement 1 is blue hydrogen.

Only the provisional key (27 May 2026) was found; the final key replaces it when found.

Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2026, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.