Current Affairs: Passage of the Day - 14 April 2025 | Current Affairs & General Knowledge - CLAT PDF Download

Directions: Read the passage carefully and answer the questions that follow.
Maharashtra on Friday signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Russia's state-owned company ROSATOM for development of a Small Modular Reactor based on thorium fuel. The MoU was signed in the presence of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis between Mahagenco and ROSATOM's 'Small Modular Reactor with Thorium Fuel' initiative.
The main objective of this MoU is to jointly develop a thorium reactor in Maharashtra, commercialise thorium reactors as per safety standards of Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), and establish an assembly line for thorium reactors under the 'Make in Maharashtra' initiative.
"CM Devendra Fadnavis presided over the MoU signing between Maharashtra State Power Generation Co. Ltd (MAHAGENCO) and Russia's State Atomic Energy Corporation ROSATOM for the development of a Small Modular Reactor based on Thorium Fuel," the CMO said in a post on X.
The Maharashtra Institution for Transformation (MITRA) will provide strategic support for the joint development of the Small Modular Reactor with thorium fuel. All work will be carried out in accordance with the guidelines of the Government of India and AERB.
"A joint working group will be formed to facilitate coordination and research for this project. Representatives from the signing organisations Mahagenco, Rosatom Energy Projects, MITRA, and Global Technology Alliance will participate in the project's execution. All legal provisions and safety protocols as laid out by the Government of India for nuclear energy will be strictly followed during implementation," a CMO statement said.
[Excerpt from The Economic Times "Maharashtra-ROSATOM Partnership for Thorium Reactor" Dated 14/04/25]

Q1: What makes Maharashtra’s MoU with ROSATOM significant?
(a) It’s the first time India will build a coal power plant with Russia
(b) It’s the first time a state government has entered nuclear energy development
(c) It marks the closure of all nuclear plants in Maharashtra
(d) It involves the production of solar panels

View Answer  

Ans: (b)
Sol: This MoU is significant because nuclear energy development in India has traditionally been handled by the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) — this is the first time a state government is getting involved.

Q2: What type of reactor is this project aiming to develop?
(a) Uranium-235 reactor
(b) Thorium reactor
(c) Hydroelectric reactor
(d) Coal-fired reactor

View Answer  

Ans: (b)
Sol: The project’s goal is to commercialise thorium reactors in Maharashtra, tapping into India’s abundant thorium resources.

Q3: What is one major advantage of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)?
(a) They run on fossil fuels
(b) They require very large land areas
(c) They are safer, more efficient, and modular
(d) They need no government approval

View Answer  

Ans: (c)
Sol: SMRs are safer, flexible, and can be integrated into existing grids more easily than traditional large nuclear reactors.

Q4: Which organisation in India will ensure safety standards for this nuclear project?
(a) BCCI
(b) AERB (Atomic Energy Regulatory Board)
(c) NASA
(d) UNESCO

View Answer  

Ans: (b)
Sol: The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) is responsible for setting and monitoring nuclear safety standards in India.

Q5: Why is thorium considered important for India’s nuclear future?
(a) India has vast reserves of thorium
(b) Thorium reactors can run without any safety protocols
(c) It emits harmful gases
(d) Thorium reactors are banned internationally

View Answer  

Ans: (a)
Sol: India has some of the world’s largest thorium reserves. Thorium-232 can be converted into fissile Uranium-233, providing a sustainable, long-term nuclear fuel option.