UPSC Prelims
Science and Technology previous year questions
205 questions from 2012 to 2026, each with its answer.
UPSC Prelims 2026
- Which of the following statements with regard to genetic medicine is/are correct ? 1. Genetic medicines…
- Which of the following statements with regard to Large Language Models (LLMs) used in machine learning is/are…
- Which of the following statements with regard to stealth technology is/are correct ? 1. Stealth objects have a…
- Which of the following statements with regard to Black Boxes used in modern aircrafts is/are correct ? 1. They…
- Consider the following statements with regard to involvement of private entities in India's space programme :…
- Which of the following statements with regard to drone swarms is/are correct ? 1. They use Terahertz band of…
- Which of the following statements with regard to GenomeIndia Project is/are correct ? 1. It is a part of the…
- Which of the following statements with regard to the National Quantum Mission (NQM) is/are correct? 1. It aims…
- Which of the following statements with regard to India's Deep Ocean Mission is/are correct? 1. It was launched…
- Which of the following items of defence hardware is/are manufactured in India ? 1. Su-30 MKI Fighter Jets 2.…
- Which of the following statements about DHRUV64 is/are correct ? 1. It is the third chip fabricated under the…
- The Bureau of Indian Standard (BIS) recently introduced a national standard to test and assess bomb disposal…
- Which one of the following pairs of semiconductor plants in India and their locations is **not** correctly…
- Which of the following statements with regard to India's indigenous new high resolution weather model, the…
- Which of the following statements regarding the features of blockchain technology are correct? 1. Records…
- Which of the following statements about Rare Earth Elements (REEs) and Critical Minerals is/are correct ? 1.…
UPSC Prelims 2025
- Consider the following types of vehicles: I. Full battery electric vehicles II. Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles…
- With reference to Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), consider the following statements: I. All types of UAVs can…
- In the context of electric vehicle batteries, consider the following elements: I. Cobalt II. Graphite III.…
- Consider the following substances: I. Ethanol II. Nitroglycerine III. Urea. Coal gasification technology can…
- What is the common characteristic of the chemical substances generally known as CL20, HMX and LLM-105, which…
- Consider the following statements: I. It is expected that Majorana 1 chip will enable quantum computing. II.…
- With reference to monoclonal antibodies, often mentioned in news, consider the following statements: I. They…
- Consider the following statements: I. No virus can survive in ocean waters. II. No virus can infect bacteria.…
- Consider the following statements: Statement I: Scientific studies suggest that a shift is taking place in the…
- With reference to 'Direct Air Capture', an emerging technology, which of the following statements is/are…
- GPS-Aided Geo Augmented Navigation (GAGAN) uses a system of ground stations to provide necessary augmentation.…
- Consider the following statements regarding AI Action Summit held in Grand Palais, Paris in February 2025: I.…
- Consider the following statements: Statement I: Some rare earth elements are used in the manufacture of flat…
- Consider the following space missions: I. Axiom-4. II. SpaDeX. III. Gaganyaan. How many of the space missions…
- With reference to India's defence, consider the following pairs: Aircraft type — Description. I. Dornier-228 :…
- Artificial way of causing rainfall to reduce air pollution makes use of
UPSC Prelims 2024
- Consider the following: 1. Battery storage 2. Biomass generators 3. Fuel cells 4. Rooftop solar photovoltaic…
- Consider the following plants: 1. Groundnut 2. Horse-gram 3. Soybean. How many of the above belong to the pea…
- Which one of the following words/phrases is most appropriately used to denote "an interoperable network of 3D…
- With reference to radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs), consider the following statements: 1. RTGs…
- Consider the following statements: Statement-I: Giant stars live much longer than dwarf stars. Statement-II:…
- Which one of the following is synthesised in human body that dilates blood vessels and increases blood flow?
- Consider the following activities: 1. Identification of narcotics on passengers at airports or in aircraft 2.…
- Consider the following aircraft: 1. Rafale 2. MiG-29 3. Tejas MK-1. How many of the above are considered fifth…
- In which of the following are hydrogels used? 1. Controlled drug delivery in patients 2. Mobile…
- Which one of the following is the exhaust pipe emission from Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles, powered by hydrogen?
- Recently, the term "pumped-storage hydropower" is actually and appropriately discussed in the context of which…
- "Membrane Bioreactors" are often discussed in the context of:
UPSC Prelims 2023
- Consider the following statements: Statement-I: India, despite having uranium deposits, depends on coal for…
- Which of the following organisms perform waggle dance for others of their kin to indicate the direction and…
- Consider the following statements: 1. Some mushrooms have medicinal properties. 2. Some mushrooms have…
- Consider the following statements: 1. Some microorganisms can grow in environments with temperature above the…
- Consider the following heavy industries: 1. Fertilizer plants 2. Oil refineries 3. Steel plants. Green…
- 'Wolbachia method' is sometimes talked about with reference to which one of the following?
- 'Aerial metagenomics' best refers to which one of the following situations?
- 'Microsatellite DNA' is used in the case of which one of the following?
- Consider the following statements: 1. Carbon fibres are used in the manufacture of components used in…
- Consider the following actions: 1. Detection of car crash/collision which results in the deployment of airbags…
- With reference to the role of biofilters in Recirculating Aquaculture System, consider the following…
- Consider the following pairs: Objects in space — Description: 1. Cepheids — Giant clouds of dust and gas in…
- Which one of the following countries has its own Satellite Navigation System?
- Consider the following statements: 1. Ballistic missiles are jet-propelled at subsonic speeds throughout their…
- With reference to green hydrogen, consider the following statements: 1. It can be used directly as a fuel for…
UPSC Prelims 2022
- With reference to Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, consider the following statements: 1. Private and public…
- Consider the following: 1. Aarogya Setu 2. CoWIN 3. DigiLocker 4. DIKSHA. Which of the above are built on top…
- With reference to Web 3.0, consider the following statements: 1. Web 3.0 technology enables people to control…
- With reference to "Software as a Service (SaaS)", consider the following statements: 1. SaaS buyers can…
- Which one of the following statements best reflects the idea behind the "Fractional Orbital Bombardment…
- Which one of the following is the context in which the term "qubit" is mentioned?
- Consider the following communication technologies: 1. Closed-circuit Television 2. Radio Frequency…
- Consider the following statements: 1. Biofilms can form on medical implants within human tissues. 2. Biofilms…
- Consider the following statements in respect of probiotics: 1. Probiotics are made of both bacteria and yeast.…
- In the context of vaccines manufactured to prevent COVID-19 pandemic, consider the following statements: 1.…
- If a major solar storm (solar flare) reaches the Earth, which of the following are the possible effects on the…
- With reference to polyethylene terephthalate, the use of which is so widespread in our daily lives, consider…
- With reference to Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs), consider the following statements: 1. They enable the digital…
- Which one of the following statements best describes the role of B cells and T cells in the human body?
- Consider the following statements: 1. Other than those made by humans, nanoparticles do not exist in nature.…
- Consider the following statements: DNA Barcoding can be a tool to: 1. assess the age of a plant or animal. 2.…
UPSC Prelims 2021
- Which one of the following is used in preparing a natural mosquito repellent?
- With reference to recent developments regarding 'Recombinant Vector Vaccine', consider the following…
- In the context of hereditary diseases, consider the following statements: 1. Passing on mitochondrial diseases…
- Bollgard I and Bollgard II technologies are mentioned in the context of
- In a pressure cooker, the temperature at which the food is cooked depends mainly upon which of the following?…
- Consider the following: 1. Bacteria 2. Fungi 3. Virus Which of the above can be cultured in…
- Consider the following statements: 1. Adenoviruses have single-stranded DNA genomes whereas retroviruses have…
- Water can dissolve more substances than any other liquid because
- With reference to street-lighting, how do sodium lamps differ from LED lamps? 1. Sodium lamps produce light in…
- The term 'ACE2' is talked about in the context of
- Bisphenol A (BPA), a cause of concern, is a structural/key component in the manufacture of which of the…
- 'Triclosan', considered harmful when exposed to high levels for a long time, is most likely present in which…
- Which one of the following is a reason why astronomical distances are measured in light-years?
UPSC Prelims 2020
- With reference to carbon nanotubes, consider the following statements: 1. They can be used as carriers of…
- Consider the following activities: 1. Spraying pesticides on a crop field 2. Inspecting the craters of active…
- "The experiment will employ a trio of spacecraft flying in formation in the shape of an equilateral triangle…
- Consider the following statements: 1. Genetic changes can be introduced in the cells that produce eggs or…
- What is the importance of using Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccines in India? 1. These vaccines are effective…
- In India, the term "Public Key Infrastructure" is used in the context of
- Which of the following statements are correct regarding the general difference between plant and animal cells?…
- In the context of recent advances in human reproductive technology, "Pronuclear Transfer" is used for
- With the present state of development, Artificial Intelligence can effectively do which of the following? 1.…
- With reference to Visible Light Communication (VLC) technology, which of the following statements are correct?…
- With reference to "Blockchain Technology", consider the following statements: 1. It is a public ledger that…
- With reference to solar water pumps, consider the following statements: 1. Solar power can be used for running…
- In India, why are some nuclear reactors kept under "IAEA Safeguards" while others are not?
- In India, under cyber insurance for individuals, which of the following benefits are generally covered, in…
UPSC Prelims 2019
- With reference to communications technologies, what is/are the difference/differences between LTE (Long-Term…
- Which of the following adopted a law on data protection and privacy for its citizens known as 'General Data…
- Consider the following statements: 1. According to the Indian Patents Act, a biological process to create a…
- In the context of digital technologies for entertainment, consider the following statements: 1. In Augmented…
- The word 'Denisovan' is sometimes mentioned in media in reference to
- With reference to the recent developments in science, which one of the following statements is not correct?
- Consider the following statements: A digital signature is 1. an electronic record that identifies the…
- In the context of wearable technology, which of the following tasks is/are accomplished by wearable devices?…
- 'RNA interference (RNAi)' technology has gained popularity in the last few years. Why? 1. It is used in…
- Recently, scientists observed the merger of giant 'blackholes' billions of light-years away from the Earth.…
- Which of the following are the reasons for the occurrence of multi-drug resistance in microbial pathogens in…
- What is Cas9 protein that is often mentioned in news?
- Which one of the following statements is not correct?
- Atal Innovation Mission is set up under the
- In the context of proposals to the use of hydrogen-enriched CNG (H-CNG) as fuel for buses in public transport,…
- Why are dewdrops not formed on a cloudy night?
- For the measurement/estimation of which of the following are satellite images/remote sensing data used? 1.…
UPSC Prelims 2018
- Which of the following leaf modifications occur(s) in the desert areas to inhibit water loss? 1. Hard and waxy…
- What is/are the consequence/consequences of a country becoming the member of the 'Nuclear Suppliers Group'? 1.…
- The identity platform 'Aadhaar' provides open "Application Programming Interfaces (APIs)". What does it imply?…
- In the Indian context, what is the implication of ratifying the 'Additional Protocol' with the 'International…
- Which of the following is/are the aim/aims of "Digital India" Plan of the Government of India? 1. Formation of…
- What is "Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD)", sometimes seen in the news?
- In which of the following areas can GPS technology be used? 1. Mobile phone operations 2. Banking operations…
- Consider the following statements: 1. The Earth's magnetic field has reversed every few hundred thousand…
- The terms 'WannaCry, Petya and EternalBlue' sometimes mentioned in the news recently are related to
- With reference to the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), consider the following statements:…
- Consider the following statements: 1. Light is affected by gravity. 2. The Universe is constantly expanding.…
- With reference to the Genetically Modified mustard (GM mustard) developed in India, consider the following…
- When the alarm of your smartphone rings in the morning, you wake up and tap it to stop the alarm which causes…
- "3D printing" has applications in which of the following? 1. Preparation of confectionery items 2. Manufacture…
- With reference to India's satellite launch vehicles, consider the following statements: 1. PSLVs launch the…
UPSC Prelims 2017
- Consider the following pairs: Commonly used/consumed materials - Unwanted or controversial chemicals likely to…
- Organic Light Emitting Diodes (OLEDs) are used to create digital display in many devices. What are the…
- What is the application of Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer Technology?
- In India, it is legally mandatory for which of the following to report on cyber security incidents? 1. Service…
- What is the purpose of 'evolved Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (eLISA)' project?
- Consider the following statements: 1. In tropical regions, Zika virus disease is transmitted by the same…
- The terms 'Event Horizon', 'Singularity', 'String Theory' and 'Standard Model' are sometimes seen in the news…
- With reference to agriculture in India, how can the technique of 'genome sequencing', often seen in the news,…
- Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding Smart India Hackathon 2017? 1. It is a centrally…
UPSC Prelims 2016
- India is an important member of the 'International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor'. If this experiment…
- Regarding 'DigiLocker', sometimes seen in the news, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. It is…
- With reference to 'Astrosat', the astronomical observatory launched by India, which of the following…
- Consider the following statements: The Mangalyaan launched by ISRO 1. is also called the Mars Orbiter Mission…
- With reference to 'LiFi', recently in the news, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. It uses…
- In the context of the developments in Bioinformatics, the term 'transcriptome', sometimes seen in the news,…
- 'Project Loon', sometimes seen in the news, is related to
- What is 'Greased Lightning-10 (GL-10)', recently in the news?
- Which of the following statements is/are correct? Viruses can infect 1. bacteria 2. fungi 3. plants Select the…
- With reference to 'Bitcoins', sometimes seen in the news, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1.…
UPSC Prelims 2015
- Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding National Innovation Foundation-India (NIF)? 1. NIF…
- With reference to the use of nanotechnology in health sector, which of the following statements is/are…
- In the context of modern scientific research, consider the following statements about 'IceCube', a particle…
- With reference to 'Near Field Communication (NFC) Technology', which of the following statements is/are…
- The term 'Goldilocks Zone' is often seen in the news in the context of
- In which of the following activities are Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) satellites used? 1. Assessment of crop…
- The term 'IndARC', sometimes in the news, is the name of
- H1N1 virus is sometimes mentioned in the news with reference to which one of the following diseases?
- With reference to bio-toilets used by the Indian Railways, consider the following statements: 1. The…
- With reference to 'fuel cells' in which hydrogen-rich fuel and oxygen are used to generate electricity,…
UPSC Prelims 2014
- With reference to Agni-IV Missile, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. It is a…
- With reference to two non-conventional energy sources called 'coalbed methane' and 'shale gas', consider the…
- Consider the following pairs — Vitamin : Deficiency disease. 1. Vitamin C : Scurvy 2. Vitamin D : Rickets 3.…
- There is some concern regarding the nanoparticles of some chemical elements that are used by the industry in…
- Which one of the following is the process involved in photosynthesis?
- In addition to fingerprint scanning, which of the following can be used in the biometric identification of a…
- Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding vegetative propagation of plants? 1. Vegetative…
- Which of the following pairs is/are correctly matched? Spacecraft — Purpose: 1. Cassini-Huygens : Orbiting the…
- Which of the following is/are the example/examples of chemical change? 1. Crystallization of sodium chloride…
- Consider the following techniques/phenomena: 1. Budding and grafting in fruit plants 2. Cytoplasmic male…
- Consider the following statements: 1. Maize can be used for the production of starch. 2. Oil extracted from…
- Among the following organisms, which one does not belong to the class of other three?
- With reference to technology for solar power production, consider the following statements: 1. 'Photovoltaics'…
- Consider the following diseases: 1. Diphtheria 2. Chickenpox 3. Smallpox. Which of the above diseases has/have…
UPSC Prelims 2013
- During a thunderstorm, the thunder in the skies is produced by the 1. Meeting of cumulonimbus clouds in the…
- Fruits stored in a cold chamber exhibit longer storage life because
- Ball bearings are used in bicycles, cars, etc., because
- Consider the following statements: 1. Size of the sun at dusk 2. Colour of the sun at dawn 3. Moon being…
- Rainbow is produced when sunlight falls on drops of rain. Which of the following physical phenomena are…
- Many transplanted seedlings do not grow because
- Which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. Viruses lack enzymes necessary for the generation of…
- Which of the following leaf modifications occurs/occur in desert areas to inhibit water loss? 1. Hard and waxy…
- The known forces of nature can be divided into four classes, viz., gravity, electromagnetism, weak nuclear…
- The efforts to detect the existence of Higgs boson particle have become frequent news in the recent past. What…
- Recombinant DNA technology (Genetic Engineering) allows genes to be transferred 1. across different species of…
- Improper handling and storage of cereal grains and oilseeds result in the production of toxins known as…
- Consider the following organisms: 1. Agaricus 2. Nostoc 3. Spirogyra Which of the above is/are used as…
- Which of the following diseases can be transmitted from one person to another through tattooing? 1.…
- Consider the following minerals: 1. Calcium 2. Iron 3. Sodium Which of the minerals given above is/are…
UPSC Prelims 2012
- What is the role of ultraviolet (UV) radiation in the water purification systems? 1. It inactivates/kills the…
- Graphene is frequently in news recently. What is its importance? 1. It is a two-dimensional material and has…
- Lead, ingested or inhaled, is a health hazard. After the addition of lead to petrol has been banned, what…
- With reference to 'stem cells', frequently in the news, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1.…
- A team of scientists at Brookhaven National Laboratory including those from India created the heaviest…
- Which of the following is/are cited by the scientists as evidence/evidences for the continued expansion of…
- Electrically charged particles from space travelling at speeds of several hundred km/sec can severely harm…
- To meet its rapidly growing energy demand, some opine that India should pursue research and development on…
- Which one of the following sets of elements was primarily responsible for the origin of life on the Earth?
- What are the reasons for the people's resistance to the introduction of Bt brinjal in India? 1. Bt brinjal has…
- Other than resistance to pests, what are the prospects for which genetically engineered plants have been…
- Recently, there has been a concern over the short supply of a group of elements called 'rare earth metals'.…
- Consider the following statements: If there were no phenomenon of capillarity 1. It would be difficult to use…