Directions: Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow by choosing the correct/most appropriate options:

The power crisis has taken us by surprise. The question in everyone’s mind is: where did we go wrong? And who slipped up? Clearly, there was complacency as the power supply position was comfortable for some years; there was ‘surplus’ capacity. Then there were stranded coal- and gas-based power plants which had become non-performing assets. It was, however, not appreciated that electricity demand growth had been lower than expected, due to slower and less energy-intensive economic growth. The robust economic recovery after two waves of COVID-19 and the unexpected heatwave have brought back power cuts. The Government is undertaking emergency measures such as canceling passenger trains so as to be able to get the Indian Railways to transport more coal to power plants and issuing directives to use more imported coal to tide over the supply shortfall.

Taking a holistic view of responsibilities in the supply chain would be helpful in avoiding such recurrences. Under the Electricity Act, it is the responsibility of the Distribution Licensee/Company (Discom) to provide reliable quality and round-the-clock electricity to all consumers to meet full demand. To do so, they enter into contracts with a number of generating companies in order to ensure adequate supply. These Discoms work under the oversight of the State Electricity Regulatory Commissions. With higher incomes and the consequent increase in the use of air-conditioners and other electrical appliances, the nature of electricity demand is undergoing a qualitative transformation with rising daily and seasonal peaks, and spikes on very hot or cold days. This will only increase in the years ahead.