UPSC Prelims 2016 Question:

India is an important member of the 'International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor'. If this experiment succeeds, what is the immediate advantage for India?

Explanation:

• International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) is one of the largest experimental efforts underway in the south of France at Cadarache with an aim to demonstrate nuclear fusion as a clean green source of unlimited energy.  It is a collaboration of 35 nations launched in 1985. The ITER members include China, the European Union, India, Japan, South Korea, Russia and the United States.  European Union being the host party contributes 45% while the rest of the parties contribute 9% each.
  
  
• ITER works on the “Tokamak” concept where the reaction of hydrogen isotopes Deuterium and Tritium produces energy by the mass-energy conversion principle, thereby proving to be a source of unlimited energy.
  
  

Therefore, option (4) is the correct answer.

Subject: Science & Technology | Recent Developments