Science & Technology MCQs for UPSC Prelims — August 2026
Q1. In the context of the long-term supply contract concluded by India with Uzbekistan, 'natural uranium ore concentrate' is best described as which one of the following?
- A. A milled and chemically concentrated product of mined ore, which still requires conversion and enrichment before it becomes reactor fuel
- B. A gaseous compound obtained after conversion of milled ore, fed directly into centrifuge cascades for raising the fissile content
- C. A pelletised material already raised in fissile content and fabricated into assemblies ready for loading into a power reactor core
- D. A material recovered from irradiated fuel by chemical reprocessing and blended with plutonium oxide for use in mixed-oxide assemblies
Q2. The description of CSIR-National Physical Laboratory as the 'National Metrology Institute' of India denotes which one of the following roles?
- A. The statutory verification and stamping of weighing and measuring instruments before their use in trade and commerce
- B. Custodianship of the national standards of measurement, with responsibility for realising and disseminating the SI units in the country
- C. Formulation and publication of Indian Standards for products, processes and services across industrial sectors
- D. Grant of accreditation to testing and calibration laboratories operating in the country on the basis of international criteria
Q3. Which one of the following correctly describes the institutional arrangement for the project to disseminate Indian Standard Time with millisecond-to-microsecond accuracy?
- A. Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, in association with CSIR-NPL and the National Informatics Centre
- B. Department of Telecommunications, in association with C-DOT and the Bureau of Indian Standards
- C. Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, in association with CSIR-NPL and ISRO
- D. Department of Consumer Affairs, in association with CSIR-NPL and ISRO
Q4. Consider the following statements regarding the institutions and infrastructure involved in the Indian Standard Time dissemination project:
1. The National Primary Timescale from which IST is realised is maintained at CSIR-NPL and consists of a bank of caesium clocks together with active hydrogen masers.
2. ISRO, and not CSIR-NPL, is the body mandated by an Act of Parliament to function as India's National Metrology Institute and custodian of national measurement standards.
3. The project envisages dissemination of IST from five Legal Metrology laboratories located across India.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- The National Primary Timescale from which IST is realised is maintained at CSIR-NPL and consists of a bank of caesium clocks together with active hydrogen masers.
- ISRO, and not CSIR-NPL, is the body mandated by an Act of Parliament to function as India's National Metrology Institute and custodian of national measurement standards.
- The project envisages dissemination of IST from five Legal Metrology laboratories located across India.
- A. 1 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q5. Indian Standard Time, as adopted as the legal time reference for India, is best described as which one of the following?
- A. The local mean solar time of the 82°30′E meridian, which remains permanently and exactly identical to UTC+5:30 at every instant
- B. The arithmetic mean of the local solar times of all Indian States and Union Territories, recomputed afresh each year by CSIR-NPL
- C. Global Positioning System time advanced by 5 hours 30 minutes, generated entirely independently of any terrestrial atomic clock in India
- D. Coordinated Universal Time advanced by 5 hours 30 minutes, realised through a bank of atomic clocks and kept traceable to UTC
Q6. Which one of the following statements about the authority under which Indian Standard Time is realised and maintained in India is correct?
- A. It is realised by the Bureau of Indian Standards, New Delhi, which is designated the National Metrology Institute of India
- B. It is realised at CSIR-National Physical Laboratory, New Delhi, which is mandated as India's National Metrology Institute by an Act of Parliament
- C. It is realised at CSIR-National Physical Laboratory, New Delhi, which functions under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution
- D. It is realised by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bengaluru, which is the custodian of national measurement standards in India
Q7. Under the Design Linked Incentive (DLI) Scheme of the Semicon India Programme, the 'Deployment Linked Incentive' component means:
- A. An incentive of 6% to 4% of net sales turnover over five years, subject to a ceiling per application, for eligible semiconductor designs
- B. An incentive of up to 50% of eligible expenditure incurred on design, subject to a ceiling per application, for eligible semiconductor designs
- C. A reimbursement of up to 50% of the cost of deploying fabrication equipment, subject to a ceiling per approved fabrication facility
- D. A grant of 6% to 4% of the project cost released over five years, subject to a ceiling per approved packaging and testing facility
Q8. The Semicon India Programme is operationalised through a dedicated executing body. Which one of the following correctly identifies that body and its institutional location?
- A. India Semiconductor Mission, set up as a specialised and independent business division within Digital India Corporation
- B. Semiconductor Laboratory, Mohali, functioning as an autonomous society for fabrication and chip prototyping
- C. Centre for Development of Advanced Computing, functioning as a scientific research and development society
- D. National Informatics Centre, functioning as the attached technology office for programme delivery
Q9. With reference to India's climate-resilient agriculture research effort, consider the following statements:
1. More than 2,900 climate-resilient crop varieties were released during 2014-2025 under the National Agricultural Research System led by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research.
2. Location-specific climate-resilient technologies have been demonstrated through Krishi Vigyan Kendras in more than 400 model Climate Resilient Villages.
3. District Agriculture Contingency Plans have been prepared only for those districts categorised as 'very high' in climate vulnerability, and not for the full set of districts assessed.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- More than 2,900 climate-resilient crop varieties were released during 2014-2025 under the National Agricultural Research System led by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research.
- Location-specific climate-resilient technologies have been demonstrated through Krishi Vigyan Kendras in more than 400 model Climate Resilient Villages.
- District Agriculture Contingency Plans have been prepared only for those districts categorised as 'very high' in climate vulnerability, and not for the full set of districts assessed.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 1 and 3 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q10. The first in NITI Aayog's series of regional consultative meetings on 'Ease of Doing Research & Development' was hosted at which one of the following venues?
- A. Raj Bhawan, Lucknow
- B. CSIR–Indian Institute of Petroleum, Dehradun
- C. Science City, Ahmedabad
- D. Indian Institute of Technology, Jammu
Q11. With reference to India's Gross Expenditure on Research and Development (GERD), consider the following statements:
1. GERD as a share of GDP rose from about 0.66 per cent in 2019–20 to about 0.84 per cent in 2023–24.
2. In absolute terms, GERD rose from about ₹1.33 lakh crore in 2019–20 to about ₹2.45 lakh crore in 2023–24.
3. The share of government in GERD rose from about 33.8 per cent in 2019–20 to about 51.8 per cent in 2023–24.
4. In 2020–21, India's GERD-to-GDP ratio was lower than that of Brazil, the Russian Federation and China, but higher than that of South Africa.
Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?
- GERD as a share of GDP rose from about 0.66 per cent in 2019–20 to about 0.84 per cent in 2023–24.
- In absolute terms, GERD rose from about ₹1.33 lakh crore in 2019–20 to about ₹2.45 lakh crore in 2023–24.
- The share of government in GERD rose from about 33.8 per cent in 2019–20 to about 51.8 per cent in 2023–24.
- In 2020–21, India's GERD-to-GDP ratio was lower than that of Brazil, the Russian Federation and China, but higher than that of South Africa.
- A. 1 and 3 only
- B. 3 only
- C. 3 and 4 only
- D. 2 and 4 only
Q12. In the Government's compilation of R&D expenditure for 2020–21, among how many Central Government 'major scientific agencies' was such expenditure distributed, and which agency accounted for the maximum share?
- A. Ten agencies; the Defence Research and Development Organisation
- B. Twelve agencies; the Department of Atomic Energy
- C. Twelve agencies; the Defence Research and Development Organisation
- D. Fifteen agencies; the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research
Q13. NITI Aayog's assessment of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation's grant portfolio found its funding heavily concentrated in the Indian Institutes of Technology. Approximately what share of ANRF funding did it place with the IITs?
- A. About 40 per cent
- B. About 55 per cent
- C. About 65 per cent
- D. About 80 per cent
Q14. With reference to NITI Aayog's reports on 'Ease of Doing Research & Development in India', consider the following as areas on which their recommendations are focused:
1. Funding mechanisms for research
2. Institutional governance of research bodies
3. Regulatory frameworks governing research
4. Binding annual patent-filing targets for every centrally funded institution
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?
- Funding mechanisms for research
- Institutional governance of research bodies
- Regulatory frameworks governing research
- Binding annual patent-filing targets for every centrally funded institution
- A. 1 and 3 only
- B. 2 and 4 only
- C. 1, 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Q15. Consider the following statements regarding the reports on 'Ease of Doing Research & Development in India' released by NITI Aayog in 2026:
1. The release consisted of two documents — a main report and a separate survey report.
2. They were the outcome of an exercise of about nine months that drew on outreach to over 400 institutional leaders and inputs from over 850 scientists and researchers.
3. They recommended raising India's investment in research and development from about 0.64 per cent of GDP to at least 2 per cent of GDP within the next four to five years.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- The release consisted of two documents — a main report and a separate survey report.
- They were the outcome of an exercise of about nine months that drew on outreach to over 400 institutional leaders and inputs from over 850 scientists and researchers.
- They recommended raising India's investment in research and development from about 0.64 per cent of GDP to at least 2 per cent of GDP within the next four to five years.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q16. The Chairperson of the erstwhile Science and Engineering Research Board was, ex officio, which one of the following?
- A. The Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India
- B. The Director-General of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research
- C. The Secretary of the Department of Biotechnology
- D. The Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology
Q17. Which one of the following correctly states the number of pre-existing statutory research boards repealed and dissolved by the Anusandhan National Research Foundation Act, 2023, along with the year of the Act that had created that board?
- A. One board, created by an Act of 2008
- B. One board, created by an Act of 2011
- C. Two boards, created by Acts of 2008 and 2011
- D. Two boards, created by Acts of 1958 and 2008
Q18. Of the ₹50,000 crore that the Anusandhan National Research Foundation is expected to mobilise during 2023–28, the single largest share is expected to come from which one of the following?
- A. The Central Government's budgetary provision routed through the Department of Science and Technology
- B. Donations from public sector enterprises, private industry and philanthropic foundations
- C. Corporate Social Responsibility contributions mandated under the Companies Act, 2013
- D. Loans and technical assistance from multilateral institutions such as the World Bank
Q19. The Anusandhan National Research Foundation Act, 2023 provides for the constitution of how many distinct funds, through which the Foundation's ₹50,000 crore target for 2023–28 is to be mobilised?
- A. Two
- B. Three
- C. Four
- D. Six
Q20. Which one of the following is the administrative department for the Anusandhan National Research Foundation?
- A. The Department of Higher Education under the Ministry of Education
- B. The Department of Scientific and Industrial Research under the Ministry of Science and Technology
- C. The Department of Science and Technology under the Ministry of Science and Technology
- D. The Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser under the Cabinet Secretariat
Q21. Under the Anusandhan National Research Foundation Act, 2023, the 'Executive Council' of the Foundation is best described as which one of the following?
- A. The apex policy organ that gives strategic direction to research and innovation, presided over ex officio by the Prime Minister
- B. The body that scrutinises grant applications and manages the Foundation's finances, headed by the Principal Scientific Adviser
- C. The disciplinary peer-review panel of six natural-science members nominated by the Union Minister of Education
- D. The inter-ministerial committee of Secretaries constituted to release the Foundation's annual budgetary grant
Q22. Under India's National Monsoon Mission launched in 2012, the sub-mission dealing with prediction on the extended range to seasonal time scale is coordinated by which one of the following institutions?
- A. National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting, Noida
- B. Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services, Hyderabad
- C. National Centre for Earth Science Studies, Thiruvananthapuram
- D. Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune
Q23. Multicentre clinical research validating Ayurvedic management of rheumatoid arthritis in India has been carried out under the aegis of which apex research council?
- A. The Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences under the Ministry of Ayush
- B. The National Commission for Indian System of Medicine under the Ministry of Ayush
- C. The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
- D. The Department of Health Research under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Q24. India's apex body for the formulation, coordination and promotion of biomedical research, set up in 1911, functioned at its inception under which name?
- A. The Central Research Institute, established at Kasauli for vaccine research
- B. The Indian Medical Research Board, constituted under the Indian Medical Service
- C. The Indian Research Fund Association, funded by the Government of India
- D. The Haffkine Institute, established at Bombay for plague research
Q25. Consider the following statements comparing Skyroot Aerospace's launch vehicles:
1. Vikram-S, flown in November 2022, was a sub-orbital test flight, whereas Vikram-1 achieved orbital insertion.
2. Vikram-1 is designed to carry payloads of up to about 350 kg, while Vikram-2 is designed for about 1,000 kg to low Earth orbit.
3. The maiden mission of Vikram-1 placed its satellites in a geostationary transfer orbit, unlike the low Earth orbit targeted by Vikram-S.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- Vikram-S, flown in November 2022, was a sub-orbital test flight, whereas Vikram-1 achieved orbital insertion.
- Vikram-1 is designed to carry payloads of up to about 350 kg, while Vikram-2 is designed for about 1,000 kg to low Earth orbit.
- The maiden mission of Vikram-1 placed its satellites in a geostationary transfer orbit, unlike the low Earth orbit targeted by Vikram-S.
- A. 1 only
- B. 1 and 2 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q26. The requirement that an Indian entity obtain IN-SPACe authorisation for the planned re-entry of a space object, with or without recovery, was first laid down in which one of the following?
- A. The Indian Space Policy, 2023
- B. The Debris-Free Space Missions initiative announced in April 2024
- C. The Space Activities Bill, 2017
- D. The Satellite Communications Norms, Guidelines and Procedures, 2024
Q27. Authorisation for the planned re-entry of a space object by an Indian entity is granted by which one of the following?
- A. NewSpace India Limited, the commercial arm of the Department of Space
- B. Antrix Corporation Limited, the marketing arm of ISRO
- C. IN-SPACe, an autonomous agency under the Department of Space
- D. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation, Ministry of Civil Aviation
Q28. Which one of the following was the first privately built Indian launch vehicle to place satellites into orbit?
- A. Vikram-S, the sub-orbital demonstrator flown from Sriharikota in November 2022
- B. Agnibaan SOrTeD, flown by Agnikul Cosmos from a private launchpad at Sriharikota
- C. SSLV-D3, the small satellite launch vehicle that carried EOS-08 in August 2024
- D. Vikram-1, flown from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in July 2026
Q29. Before a planned re-entry is executed, IN-SPACe issues an advisory note to the authorised operator. This advisory note is primarily meant to enable which one of the following?
- A. Coordination of orbital slots and radio frequencies with the International Telecommunication Union
- B. Issue of Notices to Air Missions and maritime danger-zone notifications for the impact area
- C. Transfer of third-party liability for the re-entry from the operator to the Government of India
- D. Exemption from amending the authorisation when the re-entry trajectory is subsequently changed
Q30. Consider the following pairs relating to India's private orbital launch and its space regulator:
1. IN-SPACe — headquartered at Bopal in Ahmedabad, Gujarat
2. Skyroot Aerospace — the Hyderabad-based company that built Vikram-1
3. RAMAN-I — the solid motor that powers the first stage of Vikram-1
4. Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota — the site from which Vikram-1 lifted off
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?
- IN-SPACe — headquartered at Bopal in Ahmedabad, Gujarat
- Skyroot Aerospace — the Hyderabad-based company that built Vikram-1
- RAMAN-I — the solid motor that powers the first stage of Vikram-1
- Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota — the site from which Vikram-1 lifted off
- A. 1, 3 and 4
- B. 1 and 2
- C. 2 and 4
- D. 3 only