Science & Technology MCQs for UPSC Prelims — February 2026

Q1. Which one of the following is the nodal agency that prepared India's first R&D Roadmap to enable Net Zero targets through Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS), launched in December 2025?

  • A. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
  • B. Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas
  • C. Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology
  • D. NITI Aayog

Q2. With reference to the first cluster of CCU testbeds for the cement industry (2025), which of the following are correctly identified as knowledge partners (research institutions)?

  1. Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay
  2. Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur
  3. Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee
  4. National Council for Cement and Building Materials
  • A. 1 and 3
  • B. 2 and 4
  • C. 1, 2 and 4
  • D. 3 only

Q3. Which one of the following institutions has been designated as a National Centre of Excellence in Carbon Capture and Utilization (NCoE-CCU) by the Department of Science and Technology to spearhead industry-oriented CCU innovation in India?

  • A. Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru
  • B. Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay
  • C. Indian Institute of Technology, Madras
  • D. Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi

Q4. The IndiaAI Mission, as approved by the Union Cabinet in March 2024, is structured around how many distinct pillars?

  • A. Five
  • B. Six
  • C. Seven
  • D. Nine

Q5. With reference to the IndiaAI Mission approved by the Union Cabinet in March 2024, consider the following: 1. IndiaAI Compute Capacity 2. IndiaAI Datasets Platform 3. India Semiconductor Mission 4. Safe & Trusted AI Which of the above is/are correctly identified as pillars of the IndiaAI Mission?

  1. IndiaAI Compute Capacity
  2. IndiaAI Datasets Platform
  3. India Semiconductor Mission
  4. Safe & Trusted AI
  • A. 1 and 4 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 4 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q6. In the first phase of the IndiaAI Mission's call for indigenous foundational-model development, the following Indian start-ups were selected: 1. Sarvam AI 2. Soket AI 3. Gnani AI 4. Krutrim SI Designs Which of the above is/are NOT correctly identified as a first-phase selection under this call?

  1. Sarvam AI
  2. Soket AI
  3. Gnani AI
  4. Krutrim SI Designs
  • A. 1 and 3
  • B. 2 only
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 3 and 4

Q7. With reference to the foundational LLM work assigned to Sarvam AI under the IndiaAI Mission, consider the following statements comparing the April 2025 selection with the models unveiled at the IndiaAI Impact Summit (February 2026): 1. The April 2025 mandate envisaged an open-source model of around 120 billion parameters, whereas the February 2026 release comprised two distinct models of 30 billion and 105 billion parameters. 2. In the first phase of sovereign foundational-model selection, Sarvam AI was chosen along with three other Indian startups - Soket AI, Gnani AI and Gan AI. 3. Unlike the April 2025 plan, the models released in February 2026 abandoned the Mixture-of-Experts (MoE) architecture in favour of a dense transformer design. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The April 2025 mandate envisaged an open-source model of around 120 billion parameters, whereas the February 2026 release comprised two distinct models of 30 billion and 105 billion parameters.
  2. In the first phase of sovereign foundational-model selection, Sarvam AI was chosen along with three other Indian startups - Soket AI, Gnani AI and Gan AI.
  3. Unlike the April 2025 plan, the models released in February 2026 abandoned the Mixture-of-Experts (MoE) architecture in favour of a dense transformer design.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q8. Which one of the following is the nodal implementing entity of the IndiaAI Mission approved by the Union Cabinet in March 2024?

  • A. NITI Aayog's National AI Portal
  • B. Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC)
  • C. 'IndiaAI' Independent Business Division under Digital India Corporation
  • D. National Informatics Centre (NIC) AI Division

Q9. With reference to India's malaria situation between the 2015 baseline and 2023, consider the following statements: 1. India recorded over an 80% reduction in malaria cases between 2015 and 2023. 2. The number of States/UTs in Category 3 (high burden) fell from ten in 2015 to only two in 2023. 3. India was the first country in the WHO South-East Asia Region to exit the High Burden to High Impact (HBHI) group, doing so in 2024. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. India recorded over an 80% reduction in malaria cases between 2015 and 2023.
  2. The number of States/UTs in Category 3 (high burden) fell from ten in 2015 to only two in 2023.
  3. India was the first country in the WHO South-East Asia Region to exit the High Burden to High Impact (HBHI) group, doing so in 2024.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q10. As per official data cited on World Malaria Day 2025, how many States/UTs in India remained classified as 'high burden' (Category 3) for malaria in 2023?

  • A. 1
  • B. 2
  • C. 5
  • D. 10

Q11. India's currently operational National Strategic Plan for Malaria Elimination, which guides the push for zero indigenous cases, covers which one of the following periods?

  • A. 2016–2030
  • B. 2017–2022
  • C. 2023–2027
  • D. 2025–2030

Q12. Which one of the following organisations was the principal organiser of the International Malaria Conference (IMC) 2026 held in New Delhi?

  • A. National Centre for Vector Borne Diseases Control (NCVBDC)
  • B. ICMR–National Institute of Malaria Research (ICMR–NIMR)
  • C. National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC)
  • D. All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi

Q13. With reference to the NVS-02 satellite and the findings of ISRO's Failure Analysis Committee (2026), consider the following statements: 1. NVS-02 is the second satellite of India's second-generation NavIC (NVS) series. 2. The committee traced the orbit-raising failure to a loose electrical contact in the connector feeding the pyro valves on the oxidiser line. 3. The satellite is currently stranded in a Sun-synchronous polar orbit. 4. The pyro valves whose firing was inhibited belonged to the Liquid Apogee Motor used for orbit raising. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. NVS-02 is the second satellite of India's second-generation NavIC (NVS) series.
  2. The committee traced the orbit-raising failure to a loose electrical contact in the connector feeding the pyro valves on the oxidiser line.
  3. The satellite is currently stranded in a Sun-synchronous polar orbit.
  4. The pyro valves whose firing was inhibited belonged to the Liquid Apogee Motor used for orbit raising.
  • A. 3 only
  • B. 1 and 3
  • C. 2 and 4
  • D. 3 and 4

Q14. The GSLV-F15 mission that carried NVS-02 on 29 January 2025 is most notable for being which one of the following?

  • A. The first operational flight of the GSLV with an indigenous cryogenic stage
  • B. The 100th launch from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota
  • C. The maiden flight of the GSLV Mk-III (LVM3)
  • D. The first Indian launch to a geostationary transfer orbit

Q15. The Failure Analysis Committee whose February 2026 report attributed the NVS-02 orbit-raising failure to a loose electrical contact in the pyro-valve connector was chaired by:

  • A. K. Sivan, former Chairman, ISRO
  • B. A.S. Kiran Kumar, former Chairman, ISRO
  • C. S. Somanath, Chairman, ISRO
  • D. V. Narayanan, Director, LPSC

Q16. With reference to NVS-02 (launched in January 2025) as compared to the first-generation IRNSS satellites, consider the following statements: 1. NVS-02 was launched by a GSLV with an indigenous cryogenic upper stage, whereas first-generation IRNSS satellites were launched by the PSLV. 2. Unlike first-generation IRNSS satellites, NVS-02 carries a navigation payload in the L1 band in addition to L5 and S bands. 3. NVS-02 uses only imported rubidium atomic clocks, abandoning the indigenous atomic clock developed for the NVS series. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. NVS-02 was launched by a GSLV with an indigenous cryogenic upper stage, whereas first-generation IRNSS satellites were launched by the PSLV.
  2. Unlike first-generation IRNSS satellites, NVS-02 carries a navigation payload in the L1 band in addition to L5 and S bands.
  3. NVS-02 uses only imported rubidium atomic clocks, abandoning the indigenous atomic clock developed for the NVS series.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q17. In the Failure Analysis Committee report on the NVS-02 satellite (released in February 2026), how many independent connector paths to the pyro valves on the Liquid Apogee Motor's oxidiser line were found to have suffered contact disengagement?

  • A. One (only the primary)
  • B. Two (primary and redundant)
  • C. Three (primary, redundant and back-up igniter)
  • D. Four (two on oxidiser and two on fuel line)

Q18. Which one of the following is the primary HPV vaccine deployed under India's National HPV Vaccination Programme for the 14-year-old cohort?

  • A. Cervavac (bivalent, Serum Institute of India)
  • B. Gardasil-4 (quadrivalent, Merck)
  • C. Gardasil-9 (nonavalent, Merck)
  • D. Cecolin (bivalent, Innovax)

Q19. How many distinct HPV genotypes does the vaccine deployed under India's 2026 National HPV Vaccination Programme protect against?

  • A. 2
  • B. 4
  • C. 7
  • D. 9

Q20. With reference to the high-level expert committee constituted by ISRO in 2026 to probe the repeated failures of the PSLV, consider the following: 1. K. Vijay Raghavan, former Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India 2. S. Somanath, former Chairman of ISRO 3. All the members of the committee are serving officials drawn from within ISRO. 4. The mandate of the committee extends beyond routine failure analysis to systemic and organisational issues in India's launch vehicle programme. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. K. Vijay Raghavan, former Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India
  2. S. Somanath, former Chairman of ISRO
  3. All the members of the committee are serving officials drawn from within ISRO.
  4. The mandate of the committee extends beyond routine failure analysis to systemic and organisational issues in India's launch vehicle programme.
  • A. 1 and 4 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q21. Which one of the following is the lead centre of ISRO entrusted with the design and development of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV)?

  • A. Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC-SHAR), Sriharikota
  • B. Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Thiruvananthapuram
  • C. U R Rao Satellite Centre (URSC), Bengaluru
  • D. Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC), Valiamala

Q22. With reference to the PSLV-C61 (May 2025) and PSLV-C62 (January 2026) missions, consider the following statements: 1. Both missions experienced anomalies during the third stage of the PSLV. 2. While PSLV-C61 failed due to a chamber pressure drop in the third stage, PSLV-C62 failed due to a roll-rate deviation observed in the third stage. 3. Both missions were intended to inject navigation satellites of the NavIC constellation into geostationary orbit. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Both missions experienced anomalies during the third stage of the PSLV.
  2. While PSLV-C61 failed due to a chamber pressure drop in the third stage, PSLV-C62 failed due to a roll-rate deviation observed in the third stage.
  3. Both missions were intended to inject navigation satellites of the NavIC constellation into geostationary orbit.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q23. How many satellites were lost in the PSLV-C62 mission of January 2026, which prompted ISRO to constitute a national expert committee on PSLV failures?

  • A. 8
  • B. 12
  • C. 16
  • D. 24

Q24. Which Union Ministry is solely responsible for implementing the IndiaAI Mission that operationalises the 'AI for All' vision?

  • A. Ministry of Science and Technology
  • B. Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
  • C. Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
  • D. Ministry of Communications

Q25. The IndiaAI Mission, the institutional vehicle for the 'AI for All' vision, was approved by the Union Cabinet in which year with a total outlay of ₹10,371.92 crore over five years?

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

Q26. Which of the following is the lead nodal entity that operationalises the IndiaAI Mission as an independent business division under MeitY?

  • A. National Informatics Centre (NIC)
  • B. Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC)
  • C. Digital India Corporation
  • D. Software Technology Parks of India (STPI)

Q27. As of the conclusion of the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi, how many countries and international organisations have endorsed the New Delhi Declaration on AI Impact?

  • A. 58
  • B. 74
  • C. 89
  • D. 92

Q28. Which of the following was the principal leaders' political declaration adopted as the flagship outcome of the India AI Impact Summit 2026?

  • A. New Delhi Declaration on AI Impact
  • B. Global AI Impact Commons
  • C. New Delhi Frontier AI Impact Commitments
  • D. Equitable AI Transition Playbook

Q29. In the context of the India AI Impact Summit 2026, what is the 'Global AI Impact Commons'?

  • A. A voluntary initiative/platform to share, replicate and scale successful AI use cases and democratise access to AI resources
  • B. A binding treaty obligating signatories to pool sovereign compute capacity
  • C. A UN-administered fund to finance AI infrastructure in least developed countries
  • D. A global registry mandating disclosure of frontier model training data

Q30. The India AI Impact Summit 2026 and its associated New Delhi Declaration were organised by the Government of India under the IndiaAI Mission, operationalised primarily by which ministry?

  • A. Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)
  • B. Ministry of Science and Technology
  • C. Ministry of External Affairs
  • D. Ministry of Education
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