Which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. Thermal power stations in Delhi were required to summarily shut down. 2. CNG supplies had to be assured once diesel vehicles were prohibited from plying. 3. The Supreme Court banned the use of coal across the National Capital Region. Select the answer using the code given below.

Passage

The key source of the battle for clean skies and clear lungs is the fuel we burn—from household chulhas to the thermal power plants. In most cases, it is biomass or coal. The Supreme Court banned the use of pet coke—the dirtiest of such fuels. The Delhi Government banned the use of coal, which was later extended to the entire National Capital Region. It was also agreed that the thermal power plants would clean up or shut down. Action on this has been patchy to say the least. The lesson from the transition to CNG is that people need alternatives for a ban to be effective. When diesel buses were stopped, CNG supply had to be assured. It also had to be feasible in terms of cost. The Supreme Court agreed that fiscal measures were needed to keep clean fuel cheaper than dirty fuel. Now even as coal is banned, the price of natural gas makes industry uncompetitive.

Question

CSATMediumPrelims 2026Comprehension

Which of the following statements is/are correct?

Thermal power stations in Delhi were required to summarily shut down.
CNG supplies had to be assured once diesel vehicles were prohibited from plying.
The Supreme Court banned the use of coal across the National Capital Region.

Select the answer using the code given below.

Explanation

Answer: C — 2 only

Statement 1 — Incorrect. The passage says thermal power plants "would clean up or shut down" — shutting down was one of two options. It then notes that "action on this has been patchy". So they were not "required to summarily shut down"; the requirement was either clean up or shut down, and even that has not been fully enforced.

Statement 2 — Correct. The passage explicitly states: "When diesel buses were stopped, CNG supply had to be assured." This matches the statement directly.

Statement 3 — Incorrect. Per the passage, the Supreme Court banned pet coke, while the Delhi Government banned coal (later extended to the rest of NCR). The coal ban is therefore attributable to the Delhi Government, not the Supreme Court.