Science & Technology MCQs for UPSC Prelims — June 2026

Q1. Which of the following are correctly identified as features of the special theory of relativity (as distinct from the general theory)?

  1. It is restricted to inertial (non-accelerating) reference frames.
  2. It was first published in 1905.
  3. It explains gravity as the curvature of spacetime.
  4. It is founded on the equivalence principle of gravitation and acceleration.
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 2 and 4
  • C. 1, 2 and 3
  • D. 3 and 4

Q2. The designation of 2005 as the 'World Year of Physics' (International Year of Physics) by the United Nations and UNESCO primarily commemorated which one of the following?

  • A. The centenary of Einstein's 1905 'annus mirabilis' papers
  • B. The centenary of the Michelson-Morley experiment
  • C. The tercentenary of Newton's laws of motion
  • D. The centenary of Maxwell's electromagnetic theory

Q3. Einstein's paper introducing the principle of mass-energy equivalence, 'Does the inertia of a body depend upon its energy content?', was published in which year?

  • A. 1905
  • B. 1887
  • C. 1915
  • D. 1921

Q4. During his 'annus mirabilis' of 1905, how many landmark research papers did Albert Einstein publish in the journal Annalen der Physik?

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

Q5. In the Michelson-Morley interferometer, the split light beams were recombined after travelling along how many mutually perpendicular directions?

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

Q6. The 1887 Michelson-Morley experiment depended principally on which one of the following optical instruments?

  • A. Interferometer
  • B. Spectroscope
  • C. Diffraction grating
  • D. Photometer

Q7. Einstein's 1905 paper setting out the special theory of relativity, 'On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies', was first published in which scientific journal?

  • A. Annalen der Physik
  • B. Nature
  • C. Philosophical Magazine
  • D. Zeitschrift für Physik

Q8. A nuclear triad, of which India's is now considered mature, is built on how many distinct delivery legs?

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

Q9. Which is India's longest-range canisterised ballistic missile, first flight-tested with Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicles under Mission Divyastra?

  • A. Agni-V
  • B. Agni-III
  • C. Agni-IV
  • D. Agni-II

Q10. Consider the following statements contrasting canisterised missiles with India's earlier strategic posture: 1. Canisterisation stores a missile pre-packaged (often pre-fuelled) in a sealed canister, reducing launch-preparation time relative to older separately stored systems. 2. The canisterised Agni-5 was flight-tested with MIRV technology under Mission Divyastra in 2024. 3. Canisterisation requires warheads to remain permanently de-mated from missiles, unlike the earlier recessed posture. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Canisterisation stores a missile pre-packaged (often pre-fuelled) in a sealed canister, reducing launch-preparation time relative to older separately stored systems.
  2. The canisterised Agni-5 was flight-tested with MIRV technology under Mission Divyastra in 2024.
  3. Canisterisation requires warheads to remain permanently de-mated from missiles, unlike the earlier recessed posture.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q11. Consider the following statements about CARTMAN, the body associated with the bullock-cart redesign project. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. CARTMAN expands to Centre for Action Research and Technology for Man, Animal and Nature.
  2. It is based in Bangalore.
  3. Its bullock-cart redesign project was funded by the ICAR.
  4. It was founded by Verghese Kurien.
  • A. 1 and 3
  • B. 2 only
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 3 and 4

Q12. The two-year project begun in April 2001 to redesign six bullock-cart variants for difficult rural terrain was funded by which one of the following?

  • A. Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)
  • B. Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)
  • C. Department of Science and Technology (DST)
  • D. Ministry of Road Transport and Highways

Q13. The ASTRA cell established at IISc, Bangalore, in 1974 was conceived primarily as a 'weapon' against which one of the following?

  • A. Rural poverty
  • B. Urban industrial pollution
  • C. Food-grain inflation
  • D. Coastal soil erosion

Q14. The OECD AI Principles were updated to explicitly address mis/disinformation and the safeguarding of information integrity in the context of generative AI in which year?

  • A. 2024
  • B. 2019
  • C. 2021
  • D. 2023

Q15. Consider the following statements about the Hiroshima AI Process Reporting Framework. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. It was launched by the OECD in February 2025
  2. It is a legally binding treaty obligation on all participating companies
  3. It monitors application of the Hiroshima Process International Code of Conduct for organisations developing advanced AI
  4. It is an outcome of the G7 Hiroshima AI Process
  • A. 1, 3 and 4
  • B. 1, 2 and 3
  • C. 2 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q16. With reference to the ten priority AI risks identified by the OECD, consider the following items. Which of the above is/are correctly identified as one of those priority risks?

  1. Manipulation, disinformation and resulting harms to democracy
  2. Concentration of power in a small number of companies or countries
  3. Loss of forest biodiversity caused by the land footprint of data centres
  4. Exacerbated inequality and poverty
  • A. 1, 2 and 4
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q17. The BrahMos cruise missile is the product of a joint venture between India's DRDO and which one of the following Russian entities?

  • A. Almaz-Antey
  • B. NPO Mashinostroyenia
  • C. Rosoboronexport
  • D. Tactical Missiles Corporation (KTRV)

Q18. With reference to hypersonic weapons, consider the following statements: 1. Hypersonic weapons are those capable of sustained flight at speeds of Mach 5 or greater. 2. A hypersonic glide vehicle is lofted by a rocket booster and thereafter glides unpowered through the upper atmosphere while manoeuvring. 3. A hypersonic cruise missile is powered for much of its flight by an air-breathing scramjet engine. 4. Russia's Avangard and the glide vehicle carried by China's DF-17 are examples of hypersonic glide systems. Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. Hypersonic weapons are those capable of sustained flight at speeds of Mach 5 or greater.
  2. A hypersonic glide vehicle is lofted by a rocket booster and thereafter glides unpowered through the upper atmosphere while manoeuvring.
  3. A hypersonic cruise missile is powered for much of its flight by an air-breathing scramjet engine.
  4. Russia's Avangard and the glide vehicle carried by China's DF-17 are examples of hypersonic glide systems.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2, 3 and 4 only
  • C. 1, 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q19. India's first Agni-5 flight test with Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) technology placed it among an exclusive set of states fielding MIRVs. Counting India itself, how many countries are recognised as possessing MIRV-capable missiles after this test?

  • A. Exactly 4
  • B. Exactly 5
  • C. Exactly 6
  • D. Exactly 7

Q20. With reference to the Pralay missile, consider the following statements: 1. It is developed by DRDO with Bharat Dynamics Limited and Bharat Electronics Limited as production partners. 2. It has an operational range band of 150–500 km. 3. It attains a terminal speed of about Mach 6.1 with a Circular Error Probable of under 10 metres. 4. It is co-developed with Russia's NPO Mashinostroyenia under a bilateral joint venture. Which of the above is/are NOT correctly stated?

  1. It is developed by DRDO with Bharat Dynamics Limited and Bharat Electronics Limited as production partners.
  2. It has an operational range band of 150–500 km.
  3. It attains a terminal speed of about Mach 6.1 with a Circular Error Probable of under 10 metres.
  4. It is co-developed with Russia's NPO Mashinostroyenia under a bilateral joint venture.
  • A. 1 and 4
  • B. 2 and 3
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 4

Q21. With reference to the Pralay missile compared with other Indian missiles, consider the following statements: 1. Unlike India's older Prithvi series, Pralay employs solid propellant. 2. Pralay follows a quasi-ballistic, manoeuvrable trajectory with mid-air course correction, unlike a purely ballistic missile. 3. Like the Agni-5, Pralay is designed to carry Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicles (MIRVs). Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Unlike India's older Prithvi series, Pralay employs solid propellant.
  2. Pralay follows a quasi-ballistic, manoeuvrable trajectory with mid-air course correction, unlike a purely ballistic missile.
  3. Like the Agni-5, Pralay is designed to carry Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicles (MIRVs).
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q22. With reference to missile systems associated with China's PLA Rocket Force deployment against India, consider the following: 1. DF-26 — a long-range, dual-capable ballistic missile able to range across Indian territory from the Tibetan plateau. 2. DF-21C — a medium-range ballistic missile. 3. Agni-5 — a road-mobile missile held in the PLA Rocket Force inventory. 4. CJ-1000 — a long-range land-attack cruise missile. Which of the above is/are correctly identified as Chinese missile systems?

  1. DF-26 — a long-range, dual-capable ballistic missile able to range across Indian territory from the Tibetan plateau.
  2. DF-21C — a medium-range ballistic missile.
  3. Agni-5 — a road-mobile missile held in the PLA Rocket Force inventory.
  4. CJ-1000 — a long-range land-attack cruise missile.
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 2 and 4 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 4
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q23. China's PLA Rocket Force has positioned several missile types opposite India. Which one of the following is China's first operationally fielded missile specifically designed to carry a hypersonic glide vehicle (the DF-ZF)?

  • A. DF-15B
  • B. DF-16
  • C. DF-17
  • D. DF-21C

Q24. Under the India AI Governance Guidelines, which one of the following is recommended as the apex inter-ministerial body to coordinate AI governance?

  • A. AI Governance Group
  • B. AI Safety Institute
  • C. Technology & Policy Expert Committee
  • D. NITI Aayog

Q25. The 'IndiaAI FutureSkills' pillar, which seeks to expand AI skilling and talent for India's AI-led structural transformation, is operationalised by which one of the following ministries?

  • A. Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
  • B. Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
  • C. Ministry of Education
  • D. Ministry of Labour and Employment

Q26. As per the latest official figures, approximately how many Aadhaar numbers had been generated in India?

  • A. About 144 crore
  • B. About 100 crore
  • C. About 120 crore
  • D. About 160 crore

Q27. With reference to the components of India's Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) stack, consider the following statements. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Aadhaar constitutes the world's largest biometric digital identity system.
  2. India accounts for nearly half of the world's real-time digital payment transactions, largely through UPI.
  3. The 'JAM trinity' underpinning the DPI base layer comprises Jan Dhan, Aadhaar and MGNREGA.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q28. With reference to the IndiaAI Mission, consider the following statements. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. It has a total outlay of ₹10,371.92 crore spread over five years.
  2. It was approved by the Union Cabinet in March 2024.
  3. It seeks to provide affordable AI compute access to start-ups and academia.
  4. Its GPU compute capacity was capped at the initial target of 10,000 GPUs.
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 3 only
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 2 and 4

Q29. Which of the following are correctly identified as constituent pillars of the IndiaAI Mission?

  1. IndiaAI FutureSkills
  2. IndiaAI Startup Financing
  3. IndiaAI Compute Capacity
  4. IndiaAI Semiconductor Fabrication
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 2 and 4
  • C. 1, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q30. With reference to the work and legacy of Prof. P.C. Mahalanobis, consider the following: 1. Founding of the Indian Statistical Institute in 1931 2. Introduction of the Mahalanobis Distance in 1936 3. The two-sector growth model underlying the Second Five-Year Plan 4. Establishment of the Reserve Bank of India Which of the above is/are NOT correctly associated with him?

  1. Founding of the Indian Statistical Institute in 1931
  2. Introduction of the Mahalanobis Distance in 1936
  3. The two-sector growth model underlying the Second Five-Year Plan
  4. Establishment of the Reserve Bank of India
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 2 and 3
  • C. 1 and 3
  • D. 4 only
  • 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