Science and Technology in Independent India: RAS Prelims MCQs
68 RAS Prelims MCQs on science and technology in independent India cover the nuclear and space programmes, missile development, supercomputers, the IT industry and biotechnology. Homi Bhabha, Vikram Sarabhai, Satish Dhawan, A. P. J. Abdul Kalam and the institutions they built are asked with their works and locations.
Practice questions based on the RPSC RAS Prelims syllabus. They follow the exam pattern but are not past-paper questions.
Showing 11–20 of 68 questions
RAS PrelimsModern Indian History · Science and Technology in Independent India
Q11. Consider the following statements regarding India’s launch vehicles PSLV and GSLV: I. The PSLV is a four-stage launch vehicle utilizing both solid and liquid propulsion stages. II. The GSLV was developed primarily to place heavier satellites into Geostationary Transfer Orbits. III. The PSLV has never been used for interplanetary missions or lunar probes. IV. The development of indigenous cryogenic engine technology was critical for the success of the GSLV programme. Which of the above statement(s) is/are incorrect?
Explanation
The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle is a highly reliable four-stage rocket using solid and liquid propulsion. It has been successfully utilized beyond low earth orbit for historic interplanetary missions like the Mars Orbiter Mission and lunar probes like Chandrayaan-1. Therefore, claiming it has never been used for such missions is inaccurate, as it remains a versatile workhorse for ISRO operations.
RAS PrelimsModern Indian History · Science and Technology in Independent India
Q12. Which of the following was the first supercomputer developed indigenously by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) in 1991?
Explanation
The PARAM 8000 stands as the first indigenous supercomputer developed by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing. Launched in 1991, it utilized a parallel processing architecture to achieve high computational speeds. This development marked India’s entry into the elite group of nations capable of building supercomputers, providing a vital tool for scientific research, weather forecasting, and strategic applications.
RAS PrelimsModern Indian History · Science and Technology in Independent India
Q13. What was the primary geopolitical cause that accelerated India’s decision to indigenously develop the PARAM supercomputer?
Explanation
India’s drive to develop indigenous supercomputing was accelerated by geopolitical restrictions on technology transfer. During the late 1980s, the United States refused to export advanced Cray supercomputers, citing concerns related to nuclear research and strategic dual-use. This denial prompted the Indian government to establish C-DAC with the specific mission of building domestic high-performance computing capabilities to ensure technological sovereignty.
RAS PrelimsModern Indian History · Science and Technology in Independent India
Q14. Match the missiles developed by DRDO in List I with their correct operational types in List II.
Missile Name
Operational Type
A. Prithvi
i. Anti-tank guided missile
B. Trishul
ii. Intermediate-range ballistic missile
C. Nag
iii. Short-range surface-to-surface ballistic missile
D. Agni
iv. Short-range surface-to-air missile
Explanation
The Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme produced several distinct systems for defense. Prithvi is a short-range surface-to-surface ballistic missile, while Trishul serves as a short-range surface-to-air defense system. Nag was designed specifically as an anti-tank guided missile with fire-and-forget capabilities. Agni represents a series of intermediate to long-range ballistic missiles, forming a critical component of India’s strategic deterrent capabilities.
RAS PrelimsModern Indian History · Science and Technology in Independent India
Q15. In India’s three-stage nuclear power programme, the second stage involves the use of Fast Breeder Reactors (FBR). Which of the following fuels is bred in the blanket of the FBR to be used in the third stage of the programme?
Explanation
The second stage of the Indian nuclear power programme utilizes Fast Breeder Reactors. In these reactors, a blanket of thorium-232 is placed around the core. Through the process of neutron absorption, the thorium is converted into fissile uranium-233. This bred fuel is intended for use in the third stage of the programme, which focuses on utilizing India’s abundant thorium resources.
RAS PrelimsModern Indian History · Science and Technology in Independent India
Q16. Which of the following statements regarding the establishment of the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) post-independence is incorrect?
Explanation
The establishment of the Indian Institutes of Technology followed the recommendations of the Sarkar Committee. While IIT Bombay was indeed set up with significant help from the Soviet Union, it was not the first one established. That distinction belongs to IIT Kharagpur, which was inaugurated in 1951. The later Institutes of Technology Act of 1961 formally recognized these institutions nationwide.
RAS PrelimsModern Indian History · Science and Technology in Independent India
Q17. Consider the following key milestones in India’s post-independence scientific history: I. Adoption of the Scientific Policy Resolution II. Establishment of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) III. Launch of the Aryabhata satellite IV. First nuclear test at Pokhran V. Establishment of the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) Which of the above events occurred before 1980?
Explanation
Several major scientific milestones occurred in the early decades after independence. The Scientific Policy Resolution was adopted in 1958, and ISRO was established in 1969. The first nuclear test at Pokhran took place in 1974, followed by the launch of the Aryabhata satellite in 1975. In contrast, the Department of Biotechnology was not established until 1986, after the 1980 threshold.
RAS PrelimsModern Indian History · Science and Technology in Independent India
Q18. The series of five nuclear bomb test explosions conducted by India at the Pokhran Test Range in May 1998 was carried out under the leadership of which Prime Minister?
Explanation
The series of five nuclear tests in May 1998, known as Operation Shakti, occurred under the political leadership of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. These tests confirmed India’s capability to deploy thermonuclear weapons and established the nation as a full-fledged nuclear-armed state. The event had significant geopolitical implications, leading to international sanctions while simultaneously strengthening the country’s national security posture.
RAS PrelimsModern Indian History · Science and Technology in Independent India
Q19. Consider the following statements regarding the Information Technology revolution in India: Statement I: The Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) scheme was established in 1991 to encourage, promote, and boost software exports. Statement II: The Indian IT industry initially grew rapidly by catering exclusively to the domestic market before expanding to global outsourcing. Identify the correct statement from the options below.
Explanation
The Software Technology Parks of India scheme was launched in 1991 to boost software exports through tax incentives and infrastructure support. Unlike many industries, the Indian IT sector did not rely on the domestic market first. Instead, it grew rapidly by focusing on global outsourcing and international service delivery, leveraging skilled labor to meet the demands of foreign clients successfully.
RAS PrelimsModern Indian History · Science and Technology in Independent India
Q20. The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) operates a wide network of national laboratories. Which of the following is NOT a laboratory operating under the CSIR network?
Explanation
The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research oversees numerous national laboratories like the National Chemical Laboratory and National Physical Laboratory. These institutions focus on civil scientific research and industrial development. In contrast, the Defence Research and Development Laboratory is a major facility under the Defence Research and Development Organisation. Its primary mandate involves the design and development of missile systems.
Answer key for these questions
Q
Correct answer
11
(b) III only
12
(c) PARAM 8000
13
(d) The US refusal to export Cray supercomputers to India due to nuclear proliferation concerns
14
(a) A-iii, B-iv, C-i, D-ii
15
(b) Uranium-233
16
(b) The first IIT was established in Bombay with assistance from the Soviet Union.
17
(a) I, II, III, and IV
18
(c) Atal Bihari Vajpayee
19
(a) Statement I is correct and Statement II is incorrect
20
(b) Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), Hyderabad
Key facts from Science and Technology in Independent India
Homi J. Bhabha was the principal architect of India’s three-stage nuclear power programme.
Vikram Sarabhai, father of the Indian space programme, founded the Physical Research Laboratory at Ahmedabad.
Aryabhata, India’s first satellite, was launched in 1975 on a Soviet Kosmos-3M rocket; the Satish Dhawan Space Centre is at Sriharikota.
The Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme was launched in 1983 with A. P. J. Abdul Kalam as its architect; he earlier worked on SLV-3.
Texas Instruments set up its R&D centre in Bangalore in 1985, which started the growth of the IT industry there.
A cryogenic engine uses liquid hydrogen as fuel and liquid oxygen as oxidiser; PARAM, Anupam and PACE are Indian supercomputers.
Frequently asked questions
How many RAS Prelims practice MCQs are there on Science and Technology in Independent India?
This page has 68 practice MCQs on Science and Technology in Independent India (Modern Indian History). Each has the correct answer, and most have an explanation.
What is the three-stage nuclear power programme?
The plan devised by Homi J. Bhabha to use India’s limited uranium and large thorium reserves in three stages: natural uranium reactors, fast breeder reactors and, finally, thorium-based reactors. It remains the basis of India’s nuclear energy policy.
Which rocket launched Aryabhata?
A Soviet Kosmos-3M rocket, in April 1975. Aryabhata was India’s first satellite, built by ISRO, and it was launched from the Soviet Union because India had no launch vehicle of that capability at the time.
What is the IGMDP?
The Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme, launched in 1983 under DRDO with Dr A. P. J. Abdul Kalam as its chief architect. It developed missiles such as Prithvi, Agni, Trishul, Akash and Nag.
