Consider the following statements: Statement-I: India, despite having

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

Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I
Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I
Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect
Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct
This question was previously asked in
UPSC IAS – 2023
Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect.
Statement-I: India heavily relies on coal for its electricity generation, which accounts for over half of the total installed capacity and actual generation. While India has some uranium deposits and a growing nuclear power program, its contribution to the total electricity mix is relatively small compared to coal. Hence, India depends predominantly on coal despite having some uranium reserves. This statement is correct.
Statement-II: Commercial nuclear power reactors, such as Pressurized Water Reactors (PWRs) and Boiling Water Reactors (BWRs), typically use Low Enriched Uranium (LEU), which is enriched to about 3% to 5% of the fissile isotope U-235. Enrichment to the extent of at least 60% (which falls under Highly Enriched Uranium – HEU) is not required for the production of electricity in most common power reactors. HEU is usually used in research reactors or for weapons purposes. This statement is incorrect.
India’s nuclear power program aims to increase capacity using both indigenous uranium and imported fuel, but coal remains the backbone of its energy production. The level of uranium enrichment is critical for its use; lower enrichment for power, higher for specific research reactors or weapons.