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Topic Fuel Cells
Asked 2 times across 2 UPSC exams over 11 years (2015–2026), peaking in 2015.
Key insights
- Most tested in CSE — 1 of 2 PYQs
- Most asked in 2015
- Recurs across 2 years (2015–2026)
How it travelled across exams
First appearance in each exam — the same idea, reframed.
CSE 2015 → ESE 2026
How the concept evolved
Long-running — most appearances (1 of 2) predate 2016, and it still returns.
Sample questions
You've seen the pattern — here are a few of the actual PYQs.
ESE2026
A fuel cell in electric car generates electrical energy by combining
- A Carbon dioxide (CO2) and Hydrogen (H2)
- B Oxygen (O2) and Hydrogen (H2)
- C Sulphur dioxide (SO2) and Hydrogen (H2)
- D Carbon monoxide (CO) and Hydrogen (H2)
Answer key not yet available (pending official release)
Engineering › Engineering Mathematics & General
CSE2015
With reference to 'fuel cells' in which hydrogen-rich fuel and oxygen are used to generate electricity, consider the following statements
- If pure hydrogen is used as a fuel, the fuel cell emits heat and water as by-products
- Fuel cells can be used for powering buildings and not for small devices like laptop computers
- Fuel cells produce electricity in the form of Alternating Current (AC)
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A 1 only ✓
- B 2 and 3 only
- C 1 and 3 only
- D 1, 2 and 3
✓ Correct answer: (A)
Science & Technology › Energy & Nuclear
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