Consider the following statements: Statement-I: India, despite having uranium deposits, depends on coal for most of its electricity production. Statement-II: Uranium, enriched to the extent of at least 60%, is required for the production of electricity. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

Answer: C. Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect. Statement-I is CORRECT. India has indigenous uranium deposits (mainly at Jaduguda in Jharkhand and newer Tummalapalle in Andhra Pradesh) but they are LIMITED IN QUALITY (low grade) and quantity. Nuclear power generates only about 3% of India's electricity. Coal-fired plants dominate, accounting for about 70-75% of electricity generation. So India indeed depends on COAL despite having some uranium. Statement-II is WRONG. For ELECTRICITY production in power reactors, uranium is enriched to only about 3-5% U-235 (Low Enriched Uranium or LEU). The figure of 60% enrichment is irrelevant to power generation. 60%+ enrichment is associated with research reactors at some experimental facilities; 90%+ Highly Enriched Uranium (HEU) is weapons-grade. Civilian power reactors do not need 60% enrichment. So Statement-II contains a factual error. Source: Department of Atomic Energy / IAEA reactor specifications.