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Q43 (IAS/2025) Science & Technology › New Materials, Energy & Environment-linked Tech › Electric mobility technologies Answer Verified

In the context of electric vehicle batteries, consider the following elements: 1. Cobalt 2. Graphite 3. Lithium 4. Nickel How many of the above usually make up battery cathodes?

Result
Your answer: —  ·  Correct: C
Explanation

Lithium-ion batteries rely on special metals like lithium and cobalt[1], which are key components in these batteries. The black mass contains all precious metals, such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, manganese or graphite, depending on the battery chemistry.[2] Lithium hydroxide is typically used for nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NMC) batteries[3], which are common in electric vehicles.

In lithium-ion batteries, the cathode typically contains lithium, cobalt, and nickel in compounds like NMC (Nickel Manganese Cobalt oxide) or NCA (Nickel Cobalt Aluminum oxide). Graphite, however, is used as the **anode** material, not the cathode material. The anode is where lithium ions are stored during charging, while the cathode is the positive electrode that contains the lithium-metal oxide compounds.

Therefore, of the four elements listed, **three elements (Cobalt, Lithium, and Nickel) make up battery cathodes**, while graphite is used in the anode. The correct answer is option C - Only three.

Sources
  1. [1] Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 4: Electricity: Magnetic and Heating Effects > A step further > p. 58
  2. [2] https://www.oecd.org/content/dam/oecd/en/publications/reports/2023/12/new-but-used_33bd60ec/28ee4515-en.pdf
  3. [3] https://www.irena.org/-/media/Files/IRENA/Agency/Publication/2024/Sep/IRENA_Critical_materials_Batteries_for_EVs_2024.pdf
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Don’t just practise – reverse-engineer the question. This panel shows where this PYQ came from (books / web), how the examiner broke it into hidden statements, and which nearby micro-concepts you were supposed to learn from it. Treat it like an autopsy of the question: what might have triggered it, which exact lines in the book matter, and what linked ideas you should carry forward to future questions.
Q. In the context of electric vehicle batteries, consider the following elements: 1. Cobalt 2. Graphite 3. Lithium 4. Nickel How many of t…
At a glance
Origin: Books + Current Affairs Fairness: Low / Borderline fairness Books / CA: 2.5/10 · 7.5/10
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This is a classic 'Functional Science' question. UPSC moves beyond asking 'What is a Li-ion battery?' to 'What is inside it?'. The strategy is simple: If a technology (EVs) is a national priority, you must map its anatomy—Raw Materials (Critical Minerals) → Components (Anode/Cathode) → Geopolitics (Supply Chain).

How this question is built

This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.

Statement 1
Are cobalt-containing compounds typically used in cathodes of electric vehicle lithium-ion batteries?
Origin: Direct from books Fairness: Straightforward Book-answerable
From standard books
Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 4: Electricity: Magnetic and Heating Effects > A step further > p. 58
Presence: 4/5
“Today, the lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery is the most common type of rechargeable battery, found in almost all devices that use batteries. These batteries rely on special metals like lithium and cobalt, which are mined and processed in limited parts of the world. Because of this, countries are now racing to secure supplies, recycle old batteries, and develop new technologies. 58 Scientists are also working on the next big leap: solid-state batteries, which replace the liquid or paste-like electrolytes with solid materials. These future batteries would be much safer, charge faster and last longer. Improved rechargeable batteries are very important as the world moves to developing environmentally friendly sources of electrical power.”
Why this source?
  • Explicitly identifies lithium-ion batteries as relying on special metals like lithium and cobalt.
  • Frames cobalt as a key metal in current Li-ion battery technology, implying use in battery components.
Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 15: Budget and Economic Survey > Indirect Taxes > p. 448
Presence: 4/5
“Govt. has proposed to reduce the number of basic customs duty rates on goods from 21 to 13.• To provide impetus to green mobility, customs duty exemption is being extended to import of capital goods and machinery required for manufacture of lithium-ion cells for batteries used in electric vehicles.• To deepen domestic value addition in manufacture of mobile phones, it is proposed to provide relief in customs duty on import of certain parts and inputs like camera lens and continue the concessional duty on lithium-ion cells for batteries for another year.• To promote value addition in manufacture of televisions, I propose to reduce the basic customs duty on parts of open cells of TV panels to 2.5 per cent.• In the last financial year, marine products recorded the highest export growth benefitting farmers in the coastal states of the country.”
Why this source?
  • Specifically links lithium-ion cells to batteries used in electric vehicles through policy and manufacturing context.
  • Shows governmental emphasis on Li-ion cells for EVs, supporting relevance of Li-ion chemistry to EV batteries.
Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 4: Electricity: Magnetic and Heating Effects > 4.3.3 Rechargeable batteries > p. 57
Presence: 3/5
“Rechargeable batteries can be recharged and reused multiple times. This prevents wastage and saves money over time as well. There are many different kinds of rechargeable batteries that are used for different applications—from small batteries used in watches and phones to batteries used in laptops and tablet to bigger batteries that run inverters or drive electric vehicles (Fig. 4.10). However, rechargeable batteries also do not last forever. After being charged and used many times, they slowly wear out. Oh, so this is the reason why after a year or two, the phone battery requires charging more often!”
Why this source?
  • States rechargeable batteries (including those that drive electric vehicles) are the class of batteries in question.
  • Provides context that larger rechargeable batteries power EVs, connecting device use to Li-ion technology.
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