Topic6 stories
Energy security
Every story on Energy security in the news so far, newest first, with the key Prelims facts and the previous-year questions UPSC has asked on it.
In the news
- Centre orders 112 captive coal plants to run at full capacity till December 27 September 2026 · The Hindu
When can the government tell a factory's own power plant how much electricity to make?
- Nearly 40% of coal power plants are critically low on fuel 22 September 2026 · The Hindu
India has vast coal reserves. Why do plants still run short?
- Trump signs Russia sanctions law that allows up to 100% tariffs on buyers like India 20 September 2026 · The Hindu
A U.S. law now lets Washington tax India's exports for buying Russian oil. How much room does India have?
- India's Russian oil purchases fall after new U.S. curbs 19 September 2026 · The Hindu
Discounted oil or access to America. Can India keep both?
- Op-ed: E20 petrol's mileage loss may have cost consumers ₹88,234 crore in three years 17 September 2026 · The Hindu
Blending ethanol was meant to save money, crude and carbon. What if lower mileage eats into all three?
- Saudi Arabia shuts its East-West oil pipeline after attacks: why it matters for India 13 September 2026 · Indian Express
The pipeline built to bypass Hormuz has itself been shut. What does that do to an importer like India?
Key facts
- Section 11 of the Electricity Act, 2003 allows the appropriate Government to direct a generating company, in extraordinary circumstances, to operate and maintain a generating station in accordance with its directions. (27 September 2026)
- Under the Electricity Act, 2003, a person may construct, maintain or operate a captive generating plant without a licence. (27 September 2026)
- The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) sets coal stock norms for thermal plants and publishes daily stock data. (22 September 2026)
- A plant is classified as 'critical' when its coal stock is below 25% of the normative requirement. (22 September 2026)
- The Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 was signed by President Trump on 18 September 2026. (20 September 2026)
- It raises U.S. tariffs on goods from Russia to up to 500% and lets the President impose up to 100% tariffs on the top five importers of Russian crude oil or natural gas. (20 September 2026)
- Primary sanctions restrict a country's own firms; secondary sanctions penalise third countries that deal with the sanctioned state. (19 September 2026)
- The Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, signed on 18 September 2026, lets the U.S. impose tariffs of up to 100% on countries linked to buying Russian energy. (19 September 2026)
- E20 is 80% petrol and 20% anhydrous ethanol; public sector oil marketing companies began selling it on 6 February 2023. (17 September 2026)
- On 18 May 2022 the Cabinet amended the National Policy on Biofuels, 2018 to advance the 20% blending target to ESY 2025-26 from 2030. (17 September 2026)
- Saudi Arabia's East-West Crude Oil Pipeline (Petroline) runs about 1,200 km from Abqaiq in the Eastern Province to Yanbu on the Red Sea and can carry up to 7 million barrels per day. (13 September 2026)
- It was built in the 1980s, during the Iran-Iraq War, to let Saudi oil exports bypass the Strait of Hormuz. (13 September 2026)
Previous-year questions
- 2026 · GS3 · 15 marks Explain the key challenges for India's energy security. What measures do you suggest for ensuring energy security along with economic growth and sustainability?
- 2025 · GS3 · 10 marks How can India achieve energy independence through clean technology by 2047? How can biotechnology play a crucial role in this endeavour?
- 2025 · GS2 · 15 marks "Energy security constitutes the dominant kingpin of India's foreign policy, and is linked with India's overarching influence in Middle Eastern countries." How would you integrate energy security with India's foreign…
- 2022 · GS3 · 15 marks Do you think India will meet 50 percent of its energy needs from renewable energy by 2030? Justify your answer. How will the shift of subsidies from fossil fuels to renewables help achieve the above objective? Explain.
- 2021 · GS1 · 10 marks Despite India being one of the countries of the Gondwanaland, its mining industry contributes much less to its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in percentage. Discuss.
- 2020 · GS2 · 15 marks What is the significance of Indo-US defence deals over Indo-Russian defence deals? Discuss with reference to stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
- 2017 · GS1 · 10 marks 'In spite of adverse environmental impact, coal mining is still inevitable for development.' Discuss.
- 2017 · GS2 · 15 marks The question of India's Energy Security constitutes the most important part of India's economic progress. Analyze India's energy policy cooperation with West Asian Countries.
- 2015 · GS3 · 12.5 marks To what factors can the recent dramatic fall in equipment cost and tariff of solar energy be attributed? What implications does the trend have for thermal power producers and related industry?