Science & Technology MCQs for UPSC Prelims — January 2026

Q1. Which one of the following best describes the principal claim made by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw about the India-AI Impact Summit 2026 in his press briefing of January 2026?

  • A. It would be Asia's first ministerial-level AI summit
  • B. It is shaping up to be the biggest AI summit globally to date
  • C. It is the first AI summit to be jointly hosted by India and a G7 country
  • D. It would be the first AI summit convened under United Nations auspices

Q2. With reference to the India-AI Impact Summit 2026, which of the following are correctly identified as 'Chakras' (thematic pillars) of the Summit framework? 1. Safe and Trusted AI 2. Democratizing AI Resources 3. Defence and Strategic Autonomy 4. Human Capital Which of the above are correctly identified?

  1. Safe and Trusted AI
  2. Democratizing AI Resources
  3. Defence and Strategic Autonomy
  4. Human Capital
  • A. 1, 2 and 4 only
  • B. 1, 3 and 4 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q3. In the context of the IndiaAI Mission, the term 'AIKosh' refers to which one of the following?

  • A. A sovereign cloud platform providing subsidised GPU compute to Indian start-ups
  • B. A unified national datasets and models repository to support development of AI applications
  • C. A venture capital fund of the Government of India for deep-tech AI start-ups
  • D. India's foundation language model trained on Indian languages

Q4. With reference to the India-AI Impact Summit 2026 and its predecessor global AI summits, consider the following statements: 1. It is the first edition of the global AI summit series to be hosted in the Global South. 2. Unlike the Bletchley AI Safety Summit (2023), the India edition was organised around three foundational Sutras — People, Planet and Progress. 3. The summit was preceded by the AI Seoul Summit (2024) and the AI Paris Summit (2025) in the same series. Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. It is the first edition of the global AI summit series to be hosted in the Global South.
  2. Unlike the Bletchley AI Safety Summit (2023), the India edition was organised around three foundational Sutras — People, Planet and Progress.
  3. The summit was preceded by the AI Seoul Summit (2024) and the AI Paris Summit (2025) in the same series.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q5. As per the advisory issued in the wake of the Supreme Court's 2026 ruling on stem cell therapy for Autism Spectrum Disorder, on how many diseases/conditions is stem cell therapy permissible as standard clinical care, based on the Indian Council of Medical Research's recommendations?

  • A. 22
  • B. 28
  • C. 32
  • D. 36

Q6. The National Guidelines for Stem Cell Research, 2017 — relied upon by the Supreme Court in its 2026 ruling on stem cell therapy for Autism Spectrum Disorder — were jointly issued by which one of the following?

  • A. Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO)
  • B. Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Department of Biotechnology (DBT)
  • C. Department of Health Research (DHR) and Department of Biotechnology (DBT)
  • D. Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS)

Q7. With reference to the regulation of stem cell therapy in India following the Supreme Court's ruling in Yash Charitable Trust v. Union of India (2026), consider the following statements: 1. Autologous bone marrow transplantation is recognised as standard clinical care under the National Guidelines for Stem Cell Research, 2017. 2. Epithelial therapies for corneal surface disorders are recognised as standard clinical care under the same guidelines. 3. Stem cell therapy for Autism Spectrum Disorder is among the indications approved by the Indian Council of Medical Research as standard care. 4. Apart from recognised standard-care indications, any other use of stem cells in patients is treated as investigational and permissible only within an approved and monitored clinical trial. Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. Autologous bone marrow transplantation is recognised as standard clinical care under the National Guidelines for Stem Cell Research, 2017.
  2. Epithelial therapies for corneal surface disorders are recognised as standard clinical care under the same guidelines.
  3. Stem cell therapy for Autism Spectrum Disorder is among the indications approved by the Indian Council of Medical Research as standard care.
  4. Apart from recognised standard-care indications, any other use of stem cells in patients is treated as investigational and permissible only within an approved and monitored clinical trial.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • B. 2 and 4 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q8. In the context of the 2026 NDCT Rules amendments, the term 'BA/BE study', for which prior approval has been replaced with online intimation, refers to which one of the following?

  • A. A bio-availability and bio-equivalence study comparing rate and extent of drug absorption, used principally for approval of generic formulations
  • B. A bio-augmentation and bio-enhancement study to improve the potency of cytotoxic anti-cancer molecules
  • C. A bacterial-assay and biofilm-elimination study mandated for all new antibiotics before Phase-III trials
  • D. A biosimilar-authentication and batch-equivalence study undertaken only for recombinant DNA-based vaccines

Q9. Under the 2026 amendments to the New Drugs and Clinical Trials Rules, 2019, how many categories of drugs continue to mandatorily require a test licence and are excluded from the new prior-intimation mechanism for non-commercial manufacture?

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

Q10. With reference to India's first-generation communication satellite (INSAT-1) series, consider the following satellites: 1. INSAT-1A 2. INSAT-1B 3. INSAT-1C 4. INSAT-1D Which of the above is/are correctly identified as part of the INSAT-1 series?

  1. INSAT-1A
  2. INSAT-1B
  3. INSAT-1C
  4. INSAT-1D
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q11. In which year did the Government of India constitute the Space Commission and establish the Department of Space, the institutional framework under which the plan for India's own communication satellite was subsequently pursued?

  • A. 1962
  • B. 1969
  • C. 1972
  • D. 1975

Q12. The first-generation INSAT (INSAT-1) series of communication satellites, which originated from the late-1970s plan for India's own communication satellite, comprised how many spacecraft in total?

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

Q13. Which one of the following is the nodal Union government body under which the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) — the agency that designed and operationalised the INSAT communication satellite programme — functions?

  • A. Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
  • B. Ministry of Communications
  • C. Department of Space, under the Prime Minister
  • D. Department of Science and Technology

Q14. In the context of the joint India–EU semiconductor R&D agenda, the term 'heterogeneous integration' refers to which one of the following?

  • A. The combination of multiple wafer-fabrication process nodes on a single monolithic silicon wafer
  • B. The packaging-level assembly of separately manufactured chiplets or dies with different functions and process technologies into a single advanced semiconductor package
  • C. The integration of analog sensors with digital microcontrollers on a printed circuit board for IoT devices
  • D. The mixing of logic and memory dies through conventional wire-bonding in legacy semiconductor packages

Q15. With reference to the India–EU Trade and Technology Council outcomes that underpin the technology pillar of the India–EU FTA, consider the following areas: 1. Chip design 2. Heterogeneous integration 3. Quantum cryptographic hardware 4. Process Design Kit (PDK) for advanced processes Which of the above is/are correctly identified as areas of joint India–EU R&D in semiconductors under this framework?

  1. Chip design
  2. Heterogeneous integration
  3. Quantum cryptographic hardware
  4. Process Design Kit (PDK) for advanced processes
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 4
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 3 and 4

Q16. According to the WHO Global Malaria Programme, a country can be certified 'malaria-free' when which one of the following conditions has been satisfied?

  • A. The country reports fewer than one indigenous case per 1,000 population at risk for at least five consecutive years.
  • B. The chain of local transmission of all human malaria parasites has been interrupted nationwide for at least three consecutive years, with a functional surveillance and response system in place.
  • C. Indigenous transmission of Plasmodium falciparum has been interrupted for at least five years, irrespective of P. vivax transmission.
  • D. Imported cases account for less than 10% of reported cases for at least two consecutive years and an external WHO audit confirms zero deaths.

Q17. The solid propulsion rocket motor system that boosts the DRDO's Long Range Anti-Ship Hypersonic Missile (LR-AShM) to hypersonic velocities consists of how many stages?

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

Q18. Consider the following statements comparing the Long Range Anti-Ship Hypersonic Missile (LR-AShM) with the BrahMos missile currently in service: 1. Unlike the BrahMos, the LR-AShM is a hypersonic glide missile that follows a quasi-ballistic trajectory. 2. The LR-AShM has a substantially longer operational range than the conventional BrahMos cruise missile. 3. Both the LR-AShM and BrahMos are powered solely by air-breathing ramjet engines. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Unlike the BrahMos, the LR-AShM is a hypersonic glide missile that follows a quasi-ballistic trajectory.
  2. The LR-AShM has a substantially longer operational range than the conventional BrahMos cruise missile.
  3. Both the LR-AShM and BrahMos are powered solely by air-breathing ramjet engines.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q19. With reference to the DRDO's tableau themed 'Naval Technologies for Combat Submarines' showcased at Bharat Parv 2026 (Red Fort), consider the following systems: 1. Integrated Combat Suite (ICS) 2. Wire Guided Heavy Weight Torpedo (WGHWT) 3. Air Independent Propulsion 4. LR-AShM road-mobile launcher Which of the above were correctly displayed as part of this Bharat Parv tableau?

  1. Integrated Combat Suite (ICS)
  2. Wire Guided Heavy Weight Torpedo (WGHWT)
  3. Air Independent Propulsion
  4. LR-AShM road-mobile launcher
  • A. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • B. 2 and 4 only
  • C. 1, 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q20. Which one of the following missile systems was unveiled for the FIRST time in public at the 77th Republic Day Parade 2026 as India's debut hypersonic anti-ship strike weapon?

  • A. BrahMos-II
  • B. Long Range Anti-Ship Hypersonic Missile (LR-AShM)
  • C. Shaurya
  • D. Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV)

Q21. The Long Range Anti-Ship Hypersonic Missile (LR-AShM), unveiled at the 77th Republic Day Parade 2026, has been indigenously developed under the aegis of which one of the following organisations?

  • A. Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
  • B. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
  • C. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)
  • D. Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL)

Q22. In the context of the IndiaAI Mission, the term 'AIKosha' refers to which one of the following?

  • A. India's indigenous sovereign Large Language Model unveiled under the Mission
  • B. The IndiaAI Datasets Platform — a secured repository of datasets, AI models and use cases with an integrated AI Sandbox
  • C. The empanelled common compute facility of 38,000+ GPUs offered at ₹65/hour
  • D. The fellowship programme for 500 PhD scholars and 8,000 undergraduates in AI

Q23. Which one of the following is the flagship pillar of the IndiaAI Mission that directly addresses the country's sovereign access to high-end GPUs at a subsidised rate of ₹65 per hour?

  • A. IndiaAI Innovation Centre (IAIC)
  • B. IndiaAI Compute Capacity
  • C. IndiaAI Datasets Platform
  • D. Safe & Trusted AI

Q24. In which year did the Union Cabinet approve the IndiaAI Mission with a total outlay of approximately ₹10,372 crore for a five-year period?

  • A. 2022
  • B. 2023
  • C. 2024
  • D. 2025

Q25. With reference to the design and configuration of ISRO's Pushpak Reusable Launch Vehicle Technology Demonstrator (RLV-TD), consider the following features: 1. A lift-off mass of about 1.75 tonnes 2. A wingspan of about 3.6 metres 3. Around 600 heat-resistant tiles on its underside for thermal protection 4. A cryogenic upper-stage engine integrated within the winged body for orbital insertion Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. A lift-off mass of about 1.75 tonnes
  2. A wingspan of about 3.6 metres
  3. Around 600 heat-resistant tiles on its underside for thermal protection
  4. A cryogenic upper-stage engine integrated within the winged body for orbital insertion
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 3 only
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 2 and 4 only

Q26. In the context of ISRO's reusable launch vehicle roadmap, the term 'Orbital Re-entry Vehicle (ORV)' refers to which one of the following?

  • A. A capsule-shaped crew module that splashes down in the sea after re-entry, similar to the Gaganyaan crew module
  • B. A winged body that will be launched to orbit by an ascent vehicle and will subsequently re-enter the atmosphere for an autonomous approach and horizontal landing on a runway
  • C. An expendable upper stage that is recovered from low Earth orbit using a deployable parachute
  • D. A semi-cryogenic booster recovered after a vertical propulsive landing on a drone ship

Q27. As recognised in the Department of Space Year End Review 2025, how many autonomous Reusable Launch Vehicle Landing Experiments (RLV-LEX) using the winged 'Pushpak' vehicle has ISRO successfully completed in the LEX series?

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

Q28. With reference to the Reusable Launch Vehicle Landing Experiment (RLV-LEX) series carried out by ISRO with external partners, consider the following organisations: 1. Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), DRDO 2. Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC) 3. Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), Hyderabad 4. Indian Air Force (IAF) Which of the above is/are correctly identified as collaborating partners in the RLV-LEX missions?

  1. Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), DRDO
  2. Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC)
  3. Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), Hyderabad
  4. Indian Air Force (IAF)
  • A. 1 and 4 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q29. Which one of the following ISRO centres serves as the lead centre for the development of the Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) programme, including the Pushpak technology demonstrator?

  • A. Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC), Valiamala
  • B. Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Thiruvananthapuram
  • C. U R Rao Satellite Centre (URSC), Bengaluru
  • D. Space Applications Centre (SAC), Ahmedabad

Q30. In the context of soft matter physics, the term 'viscoelasticity' — the defining property of materials such as toothpaste, shampoo and gels — is best described as:

  • A. The simultaneous exhibition of viscous (liquid-like flow) and elastic (solid-like shape recovery) responses, with the dominant behaviour depending on the timescale and magnitude of applied stress
  • B. The property by which a fluid's viscosity decreases monotonically with rising temperature
  • C. The ability of a crystalline material to retain a fixed lattice structure under high hydrostatic pressure
  • D. The conversion of mechanical strain into an electrical polarisation across a material
  • NRAA-Funded Wild Rice Conservation Project Secures Major Milestone in Assam
    NRAA-Funded Wild Rice Conservation Project Secures Major Milestone in Assam

    The notification of Borjuli site in Sonitpur, Assam as a Biodiversity Heritage Site under an NRAA-funded wild rice conservation project is a named, verifiable fact. Biodiversity Heritage Sites and wild crop genetic resource conservation are tested Prelims topics.

  • India Advances Global Green Hydrogen Leadership under National Green Hydrogen Mission

    Under the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM), a landmark commercial deal for green ammonia and methanol export to Japan (IHI Corporation named) is a concrete outcome. India's green hydrogen ambitions and NGHM are recurring Prelims themes; this adds a factual export-deal hook.

  • NITI Aayog launches report on "Strategic Roadmap for Making Ayurveda Global"
    NITI Aayog launches report on "Strategic Roadmap for Making Ayurveda Global"

    A named NITI Aayog report on Ayurveda's global expansion is testable as a policy document. NITI Aayog reports, AYUSH sector initiatives, and traditional medicine diplomacy are recurring Prelims themes; the report's launch date and authoring body are clean factual hooks.

  • INDIAN NAVAL SHIP TRIKAND RESPONDS TO PIRACY ATTEMPT ON MV GOLDEN ARSENAL IN THE GULF OF ADEN

    A named Indian Navy anti-piracy operation with specific ship (INS Trikand — identified as a stealth frigate), vessel flag state (St. Vincent and the Grenadines), and location (Gulf of Aden) offers testable facts. India's maritime security operations are plausible Prelims hooks but appear occasionally, not frequently.

  • Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan launches nationwide ‘Viksit Bharat – G-Ram G Act’ from Andhra Pradesh with Chief Minister Shri Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister Shri Pawan Kalyan

    A newly named nationwide scheme launched by the Rural Development ministry that explicitly positions itself as moving 'beyond MGNREGA' is potentially testable. However, the excerpt lacks concrete numbers or statutory grounding, keeping it at 3 rather than 4.

  • MANAS: A Digital Shield Against Drugs

    MANAS is a named government digital initiative (national narcotics helpline) with a specific mandate under Nasha Mukt Bharat. Named government portals/helplines with specific functions are tested in Prelims, though this release is a backgrounder without new launch data.

  • VB-G RAM G Act comes into force across the country from today; “A historic day for rural India”: Shivraj Singh Chouhan

    The VB-G RAM G Act (likely a renamed/revised MGNREGA or rural employment guarantee framework) came into force across India from July 1, 2026. Key facts: national launch in Tirupati on July 2; revised wage rates notified with no daily wage below ₹300; national average wage increased by over 10%. A new central Act coming into force with specific wage figures is high-priority Prelims material.

  • India Achieves Major Milestone with Approval of Country’s First PinS Instrument Approach Procedure for Helicopter Operations

    DGCA approved India's first Private Point-in-Space (PinS) Instrument Approach Procedure for helicopter operations, implemented at Undavalli Heliport (developed by AAI). This is a named first in Indian aviation with a specific location and implementing body — classic Prelims material for science/tech and aviation sections.

  • 11 Years of Digital India: Better Healthcare & Digital Markets Making Lives Easier

    This release contains high-quality testable data: Greece is named as the 10th country to adopt UPI; every second real-time digital transaction globally is processed via India's UPI; 13 lakh Anganwadi workers connected via Poshan Tracker covering 9 crore beneficiaries. Multiple concrete facts that are prime Prelims material.

  • India, EU Advance Cooperation on Sustainable Ship Recycling; Three Indian Yards Ready for EU Recognition

    India has a 35.4% global market share in sustainable ship recycling. Three Indian ship-recycling yards are ready for EU recognition. India committed $8 billion to strengthen shipbuilding and recycling, with a target of recycling 16,000 ships. These are specific, verifiable figures in a sector where India leads globally — strong Prelims material on maritime/shipping sector.

  • GAGAN: Navigating India’s Skies with Precision

    Detailed backgrounder on GAGAN (GPS Aided GEO Augmented Navigation), India's Satellite-Based Augmentation System developed jointly by ISRO and Airports Authority of India (AAI). It enhances GPS accuracy for aviation, is certified to international standards, and supports satellite-based landing approaches. GAGAN is a recurring Prelims topic and this backgrounder consolidates key testable facts about its developers, purpose, and certification status.

  • The Hindu

    Latest PIB

    Latest from The Hindu

    Explore