Miscellaneous: UPSC Previous Year Questions (Science and Technology)
2 previous year UPSC Prelims questions on Miscellaneous (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 2015Science and Technology · Miscellaneous
Q1. With reference to ‘fuel cells’ in which hydrogen-rich fuel and oxygen are used to generate electricity, consider the following statements: 1. If pure hydrogen is used as a fuel, the fuel cell emits heat and water as by-products. 2. Fuel cells can be used for powering buildings and not for small devices like laptop computers. 3. Fuel cells produce electricity in the form of Alternating Current (AC). Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation
Statement 1 is correct: In a hydrogen fuel cell, hydrogen (H₂) reacts with oxygen (O₂) from the air in an electrochemical reaction. This process generates electricity along with water (H₂O) and heat as by-products. Since no harmful emissions are released, this is considered a clean energy technology.
Statement 2 is incorrect: Fuel cells are highly adaptable and can be designed for various applications, ranging from powering large buildings and vehicles to smaller portable devices such as laptops. Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFCs) are particularly suitable for portable devices due to their compact size and efficiency.
Statement 3 is incorrect: Fuel cells generate electricity in the form of Direct Current (DC). However, many applications require Alternating Current (AC) to operate and thus an inverter is typically used to convert the DC produced by the fuel cell into AC.
UPSC 2015Science and Technology · Miscellaneous
Q2. Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding National Innovation Foundation-India (NIF)? 1. NIF is an autonomous body of the Department of Science and Technology under the Central Government. 2. NIF is an initiative to strengthen the highly advanced scientific research in India’s scientific institutions in collaboration with highly advanced foreign scientific institutions. Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Explanation
Statement 1 is correct: The National Innovation Foundation-India (NIF) was established in 2000 with the support of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India. In 2010 NIF became an autonomous body under the DST.
Statement 2 is incorrect: NIF’s primary mission is to strengthen grassroots technological innovations and outstanding traditional knowledge in India. It focuses on scouting, supporting, and scaling up innovations developed by individuals and local communities at the grassroots level rather than concentrating on advanced scientific research in collaboration with foreign institutions. Its primary goal is to support and scale up innovations by common people, especially in rural areas.
Answer key for these questions
Q
UPSC year
Correct answer
1
2015
(a) 1 only
2
2015
(a) 1 only
Frequently asked questions
How many previous year UPSC questions are there on Miscellaneous?
This page covers 2 previous year UPSC Prelims GS Paper-I questions on Miscellaneous (Science and Technology), asked from 2011 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 Miscellaneous?
Questions on Miscellaneous (Science and Technology) are available for 15 years, from 2011 to 2025. Use the Year filter to practise a single paper.
