Science & Technology MCQs for UPSC Prelims

Q1. The IndiaAI Mission, which includes a 'Safe & Trusted AI' pillar, was approved by the Union Cabinet in which year and is implemented by which body?

  • A. 2024 — Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)
  • B. 2018 — NITI Aayog
  • C. 2024 — Ministry of Science and Technology
  • D. 2020 — Ministry of Law and Justice

Q2. With reference to the U.S. case Mata v. Avianca, consider the following: 1. Steven A. Schwartz was the attorney who used ChatGPT for the research. 2. Peter LoDuca was an attorney associated with the brief. 3. Judge P. Kevin Castel imposed the sanction. 4. The case was decided by the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom. Which of the above is/are NOT correctly identified?

  1. Steven A. Schwartz was the attorney who used ChatGPT for the research.
  2. Peter LoDuca was an attorney associated with the brief.
  3. Judge P. Kevin Castel imposed the sanction.
  4. The case was decided by the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 2 and 3
  • C. 1 and 4
  • D. 4 only

Q3. In the U.S. case Mata v. Avianca (2023), what monetary sanction was imposed for submitting fake, ChatGPT-generated citations?

  • A. US $1,000
  • B. US $5,000
  • C. US $15,000
  • D. US $50,000

Q4. Under India's Green Hydrogen Standard, hydrogen qualifies as 'green' only if its well-to-gate emissions do not exceed which one of the following (as a 12-month average)?

  • A. 2 kg CO2 equivalent per kg of hydrogen
  • B. 4 kg CO2 equivalent per kg of hydrogen
  • C. 6 kg CO2 equivalent per kg of hydrogen
  • D. 10 kg CO2 equivalent per kg of hydrogen

Q5. The following statements relate to India's indigenous cell and gene therapy achievements. Which of the above is/are NOT correctly identified?

  1. NexCAR19 is described as India's first indigenous CAR-T cell therapy.
  2. NexCAR19 was developed by ImmunoACT, a spin-off of IIT Bombay, with Tata Memorial Centre.
  3. India's indigenous CRISPR-based gene therapy for sickle cell disease was developed by CSIR-IGIB.
  4. NexCAR19 is a xenograft-derived heart-valve product used in cardiology.
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 4 only
  • C. 3 and 4
  • D. 2 only

Q6. Oryza rufipogon, the wild rice conserved at the Borjuli site, belongs to which genome group of the genus Oryza — the same group as cultivated Asian rice, Oryza sativa?

  • A. AA genome group
  • B. BB genome group
  • C. CC genome group
  • D. BBCC genome group

Q7. With reference to WHO Europe's evidence often cited in support of age-based social media restrictions, consider the following. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. Problematic social media use among adolescents rose from about 7% in 2018 to 11% in 2022.
  2. Girls reported higher levels of problematic social media use than boys.
  3. The data were drawn from the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) survey of adolescents aged 11, 13 and 15.
  4. It concluded that problematic social media use showed no statistically significant association with depression or anxiety.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 4 only
  • C. 2 and 3
  • D. 1 and 4

Q8. With reference to the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), consider the following: 1. It is an autonomous body established in 1942. 2. It functions under the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Ministry of Science and Technology. 3. The Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research (CIMFR) is a constituent laboratory of CSIR. 4. R.A. Mashelkar is the current Director General of CSIR. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. It is an autonomous body established in 1942.
  2. It functions under the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Ministry of Science and Technology.
  3. The Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research (CIMFR) is a constituent laboratory of CSIR.
  4. R.A. Mashelkar is the current Director General of CSIR.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 3
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q9. At the September 2025 NITI Aayog workshop, which gasification technology was highlighted as the most suitable for India's high-ash-content (25–45%) coal?

  • A. Entrained-flow gasification
  • B. Fixed-bed (Lurgi) gasification
  • C. Circulating fluidized bed gasification
  • D. Molten-salt gasification

Q10. The September 2025 national workshop on 'Coal Gasification Technology for Indian High Ash Content Coal' held at NITI Bhawan was organised by which body?

  • A. Ministry of Coal
  • B. NITI Aayog
  • C. Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research (CIMFR)
  • D. Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL)

Q11. Consider the following statements comparing coal gasification with conventional coal combustion: 1. Combustion fully oxidises coal to release heat, whereas gasification is a partial-oxidation process that yields syngas. 2. The syngas from gasification consists mainly of carbon monoxide and hydrogen, unlike the flue gas of combustion which is largely carbon dioxide and nitrogen. 3. Unlike combustion, gasification cannot provide feedstock for fertilisers such as ammonia and urea. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Combustion fully oxidises coal to release heat, whereas gasification is a partial-oxidation process that yields syngas.
  2. The syngas from gasification consists mainly of carbon monoxide and hydrogen, unlike the flue gas of combustion which is largely carbon dioxide and nitrogen.
  3. Unlike combustion, gasification cannot provide feedstock for fertilisers such as ammonia and urea.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q12. GAGAN, India's indigenous SBAS, was developed at an estimated cost of how many crore rupees?

  • A. Rs. 574 crore
  • B. Rs. 674 crore
  • C. Rs. 774 crore
  • D. Rs. 874 crore

Q13. The ionospheric correction model (ISRO GIVE Model–Multi-Layer Data Fusion, IGM-MLDF) that underpins GAGAN's integrity in the equatorial region was developed by which one of the following?

  • A. Airports Authority of India (AAI)
  • B. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
  • C. Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)
  • D. Raytheon

Q14. Consider the following statements about global Satellite-Based Augmentation Systems (SBAS) with which GAGAN is inter-operable: 1. WAAS is the SBAS operated by the United States. 2. EGNOS is the SBAS serving Europe. 3. MSAS is the SBAS operated by Russia. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. WAAS is the SBAS operated by the United States.
  2. EGNOS is the SBAS serving Europe.
  3. MSAS is the SBAS operated by Russia.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q15. Among GAGAN's identified non-aviation applications, lane guidance, traffic management and speed control are envisaged primarily for which one of the following sectors?

  • A. Railways
  • B. Road transport
  • C. Maritime navigation
  • D. Precision agriculture

Q16. Consider the following statements comparing GAGAN-based LPV approaches with conventional precision approaches: 1. GAGAN-enabled LPV approaches allow aircraft to land without a ground-based Instrument Landing System (ILS). 2. GAGAN-based LPV approaches can lower the decision height to as low as 250 ft. 3. GAGAN-based approach procedures are designed and published by ISRO rather than by the Airports Authority of India. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. GAGAN-enabled LPV approaches allow aircraft to land without a ground-based Instrument Landing System (ILS).
  2. GAGAN-based LPV approaches can lower the decision height to as low as 250 ft.
  3. GAGAN-based approach procedures are designed and published by ISRO rather than by the Airports Authority of India.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q17. The June 2026 GAGAN milestone widely reported in the news marked India's first of which one of the following?

  • A. Satellite-based landing on a commercial aircraft using GAGAN
  • B. Launch of a dedicated GAGAN navigation satellite
  • C. Installation of an indigenous ground-based Instrument Landing System
  • D. Export of the GAGAN signal to a foreign flight information region

Q18. GAGAN holds the global distinction of being the first Satellite-Based Augmentation System certified for Approach with Vertical Guidance (APV) operations in which one of the following regions?

  • A. Polar region
  • B. Mid-latitude region
  • C. Equatorial ionospheric region
  • D. Arctic auroral region

Q19. GAGAN signals were certified for APV-1 (Approach with Vertical Guidance, Level 1) precision approach services by which one of the following authorities?

  • A. International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO)
  • B. Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)
  • C. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
  • D. Airports Authority of India (AAI)

Q20. GAGAN navigation payloads have been carried on how many GSAT geostationary satellites (GSAT-8, GSAT-10 and GSAT-15)?

  • A. Two
  • B. Three
  • C. Four
  • D. Five

Q21. The ground segment of GAGAN comprises Indian Reference Stations (INRES), Indian Master Control Centres (INMCC) and Indian Land Uplink Stations (INLUS). Which one of these categories of ground facilities is the largest in number?

  • A. Indian Reference Stations (INRES)
  • B. Indian Master Control Centres (INMCC)
  • C. Indian Land Uplink Stations (INLUS)
  • D. Geostationary uplink terminals

Q22. Indian heliports have historically lacked how many categories of the conventional ground-based navigation aids named as ILS, VOR and NDB, a gap that PinS is designed to overcome?

  • A. Three
  • B. Two
  • C. Four
  • D. Five

Q23. GAGAN was certified by the DGCA in which year for Approach with Vertical Guidance (APV-1) and en-route (RNP 0.1) operations?

  • A. 2015
  • B. 2011
  • C. 2018
  • D. 2022

Q24. The ICAO Performance-Based Navigation (PBN) Manual (Doc 9613) is organised into how many Volumes?

  • A. Two
  • B. Three
  • C. Four
  • D. Five

Q25. With reference to the ICAO Performance-Based Navigation (PBN) framework, consider the following statements: 1. The PBN concept is defined in the ICAO PBN Manual, Doc 9613. 2. An RNP navigation specification includes a requirement for on-board self-contained performance monitoring and alerting. 3. An RNAV navigation specification also includes on-board performance monitoring and alerting. 4. Under PBN, navigation system performance is defined in terms of accuracy, integrity, continuity and functionality. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. The PBN concept is defined in the ICAO PBN Manual, Doc 9613.
  2. An RNP navigation specification includes a requirement for on-board self-contained performance monitoring and alerting.
  3. An RNAV navigation specification also includes on-board performance monitoring and alerting.
  4. Under PBN, navigation system performance is defined in terms of accuracy, integrity, continuity and functionality.
  • A. 1, 2 and 4
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q26. Which one of the following is the primary enabling technology for a PinS instrument approach procedure, distinguishing it from conventional instrument approaches?

  • A. Satellite-based navigation (GNSS/SBAS)
  • B. Instrument Landing System (ILS)
  • C. VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR)
  • D. Non-Directional Beacon (NDB)

Q27. The Point-in-Space (PinS) instrument approach procedure approved in India is designed to serve how many categories of aircraft?

  • A. Only one (helicopters alone)
  • B. Two (helicopters and light fixed-wing aircraft)
  • C. Three (helicopters, turboprops and jets)
  • D. All categories of civil aircraft

Q28. Which of the following is/are correctly identified as institutional measures or safeguards India has adopted to reduce strategic dependence on foreign AI systems?

  1. Creation of the Defence AI Council (DAIC) to promote adoption of AI in defence systems
  2. Creation of the Defence AI Project Agency (DAIPA)
  3. A stance that AI used in strategic sectors should be able to operate offline and remain transparent and auditable
  4. A mandate routing all Indian government data through foreign-hosted frontier models
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 4
  • C. 1, 2 and 3
  • D. 1, 3 and 4

Q29. With reference to 'frontier AI models', which one of the following best describes the order of training compute conventionally used to demarcate the most advanced (frontier) class of models?

  • A. Around ten septillion (10^25) or more floating-point operations
  • B. Around ten billion (10^10) floating-point operations
  • C. Around ten trillion (10^13) floating-point operations
  • D. Around ten quintillion (10^19) floating-point operations

Q30. The IndiaAI Mission — including the provisioning of common compute for training foundation and frontier models — is executed through which one of the following as its implementation agency?

  • A. IndiaAI, an Independent Business Division under the Digital India Corporation, MeitY
  • B. NITI Aayog
  • C. Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC)
  • D. National Informatics Centre (NIC)
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