Correct answer: (a) 1 only
Explanation
- A
1 only
Statement 1 is correct: a hydrogen–oxygen fuel cell yields electricity, heat and water. Statements 2 and 3 are false: fuel cells can power small devices, and they generate direct current, not AC. Hence 1 only is the official key.
- B
2 and 3 only
Statements 2 and 3 are both wrong, so this pair is not the key.
- C
1 and 3 only
Statement 3 is wrong (output is DC), so 1 and 3 cannot stand together. This option is not the key.
- D
1, 2 and 3
All three would require 2 and 3 to be true. They are not. This option is not the key.
Summary. Official key is (a) 1 only. Pure-hydrogen fuel cells are clean: water and heat as by-products. They already power laptops, phones and vehicles at small scale, so statement 2 fails. Electrochemical cells produce DC; AC would need an inverter, so statement 3 fails. Only statement 1 survives.
PYQ trend
When UPSC asked this
Related PYQs from other years, newest first. Open a question to read it.