Biotechnology: UPSC Previous Year Questions (Science and Technology)
2 previous year UPSC Prelims questions on Biotechnology (Science and Technology). Choose an option to see the answer and explanation.
Explanations state facts as of the year each question was asked; words like “recently” refer to that year.
Showing 1–2 of 2 questions
UPSC 2010Science and Technology · Biotechnology
Q1. With reference to the treatment of cancerous tumours, a tool called cyberknife has been making the news. In this context, which one of the following statements is not correct?
Explanation
CyberKnife is an advanced radiosurgery technology that allows real-time tracking and adjustment of radiation beams, ensuring precise targeting of tumors while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissues. These features make CyberKnife highly effective for treating tumors in sensitive areas such as the brain, spine, and lungs. Options (a), (b) and (c) are correct: CyberKnife is a non-invasive robotic radiosurgery system used to treat cancerous and non-cancerous tumors. It is a robotic image-guided system, capable of delivering extremely precise doses of radiation with sub-millimeter accuracy.
Option (d) is incorrect: CyberKnife is not designed to map the spread of tumors in the body. Its role is strictly limited to treating targeted tumor regions. Imaging techniques such as PET scans, CT scans, and MRIs are used to identify and map tumor spread, whereas CyberKnife focuses solely on delivering radiation therapy with exceptional precision.
UPSC 2010Science and Technology · Biotechnology
Q2. Genetically modified "golden rice" has been engineered to meet human nutritional requirements. Which one of the following statements best qualifies golden rice?
Explanation
Golden rice is a genetically modified variety of rice specifically engineered to address vitamin A deficiency. The grains of Golden rice are biofortified with beta-carotene, a precursor of vitamin A (pro-vitamin A). When consumed, beta-carotene is converted into vitamin A in the human body, making golden rice an important dietary intervention to combat vitamin A deficiency, particularly in developing countries where this deficiency is prevalent and can lead to serious health issues like blindness.
Answer key for these questions
Q
UPSC year
Correct answer
1
2010
(d) It can map the spread of tumour in the body.
2
2010
(b) Its grains contain pro-vitamin A which upon ingestion is converted to vitamin A in the human body
Frequently asked questions
How many previous year UPSC questions are there on Biotechnology?
This page covers 2 previous year UPSC Prelims GS Paper-I questions on Biotechnology (Science and Technology), asked from 1996 to 2025. Each has the correct answer and an explanation.
How should I use previous year UPSC questions for Prelims?
Attempt each question first, then open the answer and read the explanation for every option. Repeat by chapter, and track which statements UPSC reuses across years. Previous year questions show the exam pattern and difficulty level.
Which years are covered for Biotechnology?
Questions on Biotechnology (Science and Technology) are available for 19 years, from 1996 to 2025. Use the Year filter to practise a single paper.
