Science & Technology MCQs for UPSC Prelims — February 2026
Q1. Which one of the following HPV types is the single most carcinogenic type, responsible for the largest share of cervical cancer cases worldwide?
- A. HPV type 6
- B. HPV type 11
- C. HPV type 16
- D. HPV type 18
Q2. CERVAVAC, India's first indigenously developed quadrivalent HPV vaccine, was developed and manufactured by which one of the following?
- A. Bharat Biotech International Limited
- B. Serum Institute of India, Pune
- C. Biological E Limited
- D. Panacea Biotec Limited
Q3. The description of CERVAVAC as a 'quadrivalent' HPV vaccine refers to which one of the following?
- A. Protection against four strains of a single bacterium
- B. Protection against four types of the Human Papillomavirus, namely 6, 11, 16 and 18
- C. A requirement of four separate doses to achieve full immunity
- D. Protection lasting for four years after administration
Q4. Among the memory/storage products made by Micron's Sanand unit, which one of the following is a non-volatile memory, i.e., it retains stored data even when the power supply is switched off?
- A. NAND flash
- B. DRAM
- C. SRAM
- D. DDR DRAM
Q5. In the context of India's approved semiconductor units, the term 'OSAT' stands for which one of the following?
- A. Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test
- B. Onshore Semiconductor Analysis and Testing
- C. Optical Semiconductor Assembly and Treatment
- D. Outsourced Silicon Automation and Testing
Q6. In the context of the human papillomavirus (HPV), the types 16 and 18 are best described as which one of the following?
- A. High-risk (oncogenic) types responsible for most cervical cancers
- B. Low-risk types that primarily cause genital warts
- C. Types present only in vaccines and not found in natural infection
- D. Non-oncogenic types that are cleared without causing infection
Q7. Consider the following statements comparing the cervical cancer burden in India with that elsewhere:
1. Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women in India.
2. India records a higher number of cervical cancer cases and deaths than China.
3. Cervical cancer accounts for the highest number of new cancer cases among Indian men.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women in India.
- India records a higher number of cervical cancer cases and deaths than China.
- Cervical cancer accounts for the highest number of new cancer cases among Indian men.
- A. 1 only
- B. 1 and 2 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q8. With reference to CERVAVAC, consider the following statements:
1. It is India's first indigenously developed quadrivalent HPV vaccine.
2. It is manufactured by the Serum Institute of India.
3. It protects against HPV types 6, 11, 16 and 18.
4. It was developed by the Indian Council of Medical Research.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- It is India's first indigenously developed quadrivalent HPV vaccine.
- It is manufactured by the Serum Institute of India.
- It protects against HPV types 6, 11, 16 and 18.
- It was developed by the Indian Council of Medical Research.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 1, 2 and 3
- C. 2, 3 and 4
- D. 3 and 4 only
Q9. In WHO's 90-70-90 cervical cancer elimination strategy, the '70' target refers to which one of the following?
- A. 70% of women screened with a high-performance test by age 35 and again by 45
- B. 70% of adolescent girls fully vaccinated against HPV by age 15
- C. 70% of women with cervical disease receiving treatment
- D. 70% reduction in cervical cancer deaths by 2030
Q10. Under the WHO cervical cancer elimination strategy, elimination is defined as reducing incidence to how many new cases per 1,00,000 women per year?
- A. 4 or fewer
- B. 10 or fewer
- C. 15 or fewer
- D. 70 or fewer
Q11. With reference to the Gardasil vaccine deployed under India's 2026 HPV vaccination campaign, consider the following statements:
1. It is administered as a single dose under the current campaign.
2. It offers 93-100% effectiveness against the HPV types that cause cervical cancer.
3. Girls turning 15 within 90 days of the launch are also eligible for the vaccine.
4. It is a bivalent vaccine.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- It is administered as a single dose under the current campaign.
- It offers 93-100% effectiveness against the HPV types that cause cervical cancer.
- Girls turning 15 within 90 days of the launch are also eligible for the vaccine.
- It is a bivalent vaccine.
- A. 1, 2 and 3
- B. 1 and 4 only
- C. 2, 3 and 4
- D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Q12. Which one of the following HPV vaccines is a bivalent vaccine that protects only against HPV types 16 and 18?
- A. Cervarix
- B. Gardasil
- C. Gardasil-9
- D. CERVAVAC
Q13. The GLOBOCAN global estimates of cervical cancer incidence and mortality are compiled by which one of the following bodies?
- A. International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)
- B. WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE)
- C. Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance
- D. United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
Q14. Which one of the following correctly states the rank of cervical cancer among cancers affecting women in India?
- A. The most common cancer among women
- B. The second most common cancer among women
- C. The third most common cancer among women
- D. The fifth most common cancer among women
Q15. CERVAVAC was developed by the Serum Institute of India in partnership with which Government of India department (working through BIRAC and the Gates Foundation)?
- A. Department of Biotechnology
- B. Department of Health Research
- C. Department of Pharmaceuticals
- D. Department of Science and Technology
Q16. CERVAVAC, India's first indigenously developed HPV vaccine, provides protection against how many HPV types?
- A. Two
- B. Four
- C. Seven
- D. Nine
Q17. In the context of the 4th Generation VSHORADS trials at Pokhran, the demonstrated 'hit-to-kill' capability refers strictly to which one of the following?
- A. Destruction of the target by direct kinetic impact of the missile on it
- B. Destruction of the target only by a proximity-fuzed blast-fragmentation warhead near it
- C. Disabling the target's electronics by an electromagnetic pulse
- D. Diverting the target by decoy flares rather than destroying it
Q18. With reference to the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, consider the following statements:
1. It is a test and evaluation facility of the DRDO.
2. It is located off the coast of Odisha.
3. The February 2026 VSHORADS flight-trials were conducted from this range.
4. It is a launch facility operated by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- It is a test and evaluation facility of the DRDO.
- It is located off the coast of Odisha.
- The February 2026 VSHORADS flight-trials were conducted from this range.
- It is a launch facility operated by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
- A. 1, 2 and 3 only
- B. 1 and 4 only
- C. 2, 3 and 4 only
- D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Q19. The flight-tests of the 4th Generation VSHORADS at the Pokhran Field Firing Ranges, Rajasthan, were conducted in which year?
- A. 2022
- B. 2023
- C. 2024
- D. 2025
Q20. The maiden successful flight-tests of the VSHORADS missile conducted by DRDO in September 2022 consisted of how many successful test flights?
- A. One
- B. Two
- C. Three
- D. Four
Q21. In the three successive VSHORADS flight-trials of February 2026, the missiles intercepted and destroyed targets that primarily mimicked which one of the following?
- A. High-speed aerial targets mimicking enemy aircraft
- B. Incoming short-range ballistic missiles
- C. Low-orbit reconnaissance satellites
- D. Surface naval vessels
Q22. With reference to the VSHORADS flight-trials conducted in February 2026, consider the following statements:
1. They were carried out from the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, off the coast of Odisha.
2. Three successive flight-trials were conducted.
3. The missile was tested in its final deployment configuration, with field operators carrying out target acquisition and firing.
4. The trials were conducted from the Pokhran Field Firing Ranges in Rajasthan.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- They were carried out from the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, off the coast of Odisha.
- Three successive flight-trials were conducted.
- The missile was tested in its final deployment configuration, with field operators carrying out target acquisition and firing.
- The trials were conducted from the Pokhran Field Firing Ranges in Rajasthan.
- A. 1, 2 and 3 only
- B. 1 and 4 only
- C. 2, 3 and 4 only
- D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Q23. Consider the following entities said to be associated with the development of VSHORADS:
1. Research Centre Imarat (RCI)
2. Other DRDO laboratories
3. Development-cum-Production Partners (DcPPs) from Indian industry
4. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
Which of the above is/are NOT correctly associated with the development of VSHORADS?
- Research Centre Imarat (RCI)
- Other DRDO laboratories
- Development-cum-Production Partners (DcPPs) from Indian industry
- Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
- A. 1 only
- B. 3 and 4 only
- C. 4 only
- D. 2 and 4 only
Q24. Which one of the following DRDO laboratories is the lead developer of the VSHORADS missile system?
- A. Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad
- B. Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), Bengaluru
- C. Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE), Pune
- D. High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL), Pune
Q25. With reference to the Very Short-Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS), consider the following statements:
1. It is a shoulder-fired Man Portable Air Defence System (MANPAD).
2. It is designed to neutralise low-altitude aerial threats at short ranges.
3. It is a long-range surface-to-air missile developed primarily for ballistic missile defence.
4. It incorporates a miniaturised Reaction Control System (RCS).
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- It is a shoulder-fired Man Portable Air Defence System (MANPAD).
- It is designed to neutralise low-altitude aerial threats at short ranges.
- It is a long-range surface-to-air missile developed primarily for ballistic missile defence.
- It incorporates a miniaturised Reaction Control System (RCS).
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 3 and 4 only
- C. 1, 2 and 4 only
- D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Q26. The Very Short-Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS) has been developed by the DRDO, which functions under which one of the following departments of the Ministry of Defence?
- A. Department of Defence Production
- B. Department of Defence Research and Development
- C. Department of Military Affairs
- D. Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare
Q27. The IIT Kharagpur study cited for the pause in rice fortification identified certain variables as critically affecting the shelf life of Fortified Rice Kernels (FRK). Consider the following:
1. Moisture content
2. Relative humidity
3. Packaging material
4. The soil type of the district where paddy was cultivated
Which of the above is/are correctly identified as such variables?
- Moisture content
- Relative humidity
- Packaging material
- The soil type of the district where paddy was cultivated
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 1, 2 and 3 only
- C. 3 and 4 only
- D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Q28. A DRAM cell is volatile and must be electrically refreshed to retain its data. Approximately after how many milliseconds does a typical DRAM cell require a refresh cycle?
Q29. The semiconductor unit inaugurated at Sanand on 28 February 2026 - India's first operational commercial semiconductor facility - was set up under which one of the following programmes?
- A. Semicon India Programme (India Semiconductor Mission) under MeitY
- B. Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Large Scale Electronics Manufacturing
- C. Modified Special Incentive Package Scheme (M-SIPS)
- D. Scheme for Promotion of Manufacturing of Electronic Components and Semiconductors (SPECS)
Q30. The Sanand Industrial Estate, which hosts multiple semiconductor units, is developed and administered by which one of the following bodies?
- A. Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC)
- B. Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation (GMDC)
- C. Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation (GSPC)
- D. Gujarat Infrastructure Development Board (GIDB)