Q1001. What was the primary effect of Dr. Kalam’s leadership in the IGMDP on India’s defence sector?
Science and Technology: RAS Prelims MCQs
1113 RAS Prelims practice MCQs on science and technology are on this page, in 6 chapters. They cover the basics of everyday science, computers and information technology, defence and space technology in India, genetics, biotechnology and nanotechnology, science and technology policies and government programmes, and recent advances with Indian contributors and indigenisation. Each question has an answer and an explanation.
Practice questions based on the RPSC RAS Prelims syllabus. They follow the exam pattern but are not past-paper questions.
Showing 1001–1010 of 1113 questions
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Q1002. Which of the following is the most appropriate description of Dr. Kalam’s Technology Vision 2020?
Explanation
Technology Vision 2020 was a comprehensive roadmap developed by Dr. Kalam to transition India into a developed nation by the year 2020. The vision focused on achieving self-reliance in critical areas like food security, healthcare, infrastructure, and strategic industries. He believed that by leveraging technological innovations, India could eliminate poverty and become a global economic power with a high quality of life.
Q1003. Consider the following statements regarding Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam’s career:
I. He started his career by designing a small hovercraft at DRDO.
II. He was the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India from 1999 to 2001.
III. He served as the 11th President of India from 2002 to 2007.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
I. He started his career by designing a small hovercraft at DRDO.
II. He was the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India from 1999 to 2001.
III. He served as the 11th President of India from 2002 to 2007.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
Dr. Kalam’s career spanned various high-profile roles, beginning as a scientist designing hovercrafts and moving to lead strategic defense projects. He served as the Principal Scientific Adviser to the government, providing crucial technical guidance. His journey culminated in his election as the 11th President of India, where he became widely known as the "People’s President" due to his popularity.
Q1004. Har Gobind Khorana shared the 1968 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his research detailing how:
Explanation
Har Gobind Khorana’s Nobel-winning research focused on deciphering the genetic code. He experimentally demonstrated how the sequence of four types of nucleotides in DNA and RNA acts as a set of instructions for building proteins. By determining which specific combinations of nucleotides produce which amino acids, his work provided the foundational understanding of how life’s biological blueprint is expressed.
Q1005. Which of the following definitions best describes an oligonucleotide, a molecule extensively synthesized by H.G. Khorana?
Explanation
An oligonucleotide is a short string of nucleotides, typically fewer than fifty, that can be synthesized chemically. Dr. Khorana pioneered the methods to create these molecules with precise sequences. Today, oligonucleotides are indispensable tools in modern science, used in various applications such as genetic testing, drug development, and as primers for the polymerase chain reaction to amplify DNA.
Q1006. Identify the correct pair regarding Har Gobind Khorana’s discoveries.
Explanation
Khorana’s work confirmed that the genetic code is read in groups of three nucleotides, known as codons. Each triplet corresponds to a specific amino acid used to build proteins. This discovery was essential for understanding the translation process. While he identified these triplets, AUG is known as the universal start codon, and UAA is one of the standard stop codons.
Q1007. Select the correct sequence of fundamental biological processes that H.G. Khorana’s research helped elucidate:
A. Translation of mRNA into an amino acid sequence
B. Transcription of DNA into mRNA
C. Folding of the polypeptide chain into a functional protein
A. Translation of mRNA into an amino acid sequence
B. Transcription of DNA into mRNA
C. Folding of the polypeptide chain into a functional protein
Explanation
The flow of genetic information follows a specific sequence known as the central dogma of molecular biology. First, information from DNA is transcribed into messenger RNA. This mRNA is then translated into a specific sequence of amino acids to form a polypeptide chain. Finally, this chain folds into a three-dimensional structure to become a functional protein capable of biological activity.
Q1008. Which of the following statements about Har Gobind Khorana’s Nobel Prize is incorrect?
Explanation
Har Gobind Khorana shared the 1968 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, not Chemistry. He was honored alongside Robert Holley and Marshall Nirenberg for their collective work on the genetic code and protein synthesis. Their research deciphered how the 64 possible three-letter codons direct the assembly of proteins, which are the essential building blocks of all living organisms.
Q1009. Consider the following statements:
Statement I: H.G. Khorana was the first scientist to chemically synthesize oligonucleotides.
Statement II: His techniques laid the foundational groundwork for the development of the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR).
Which of the following is correct?
Statement I: H.G. Khorana was the first scientist to chemically synthesize oligonucleotides.
Statement II: His techniques laid the foundational groundwork for the development of the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR).
Which of the following is correct?
Explanation
Dr. Khorana was a pioneer in the chemical synthesis of oligonucleotides, developing techniques that allowed for precise control over nucleic acid sequences. These methods were foundational to the later development of the Polymerase Chain Reaction, which revolutionized genetic research. His ability to build DNA from scratch transformed molecular biology, providing the essential tools needed for modern genetic engineering and analysis.
Q1010. Identify the odd one out regarding the scientific fields heavily influenced by Har Gobind Khorana’s research.
Explanation
Har Gobind Khorana’s research in chemical biology and genetics laid the groundwork for several modern scientific fields. His work is central to molecular genetics, genetic engineering, and the broader biotechnology industry. These fields rely on the ability to read, synthesize, and manipulate genetic material. Plate tectonics, however, is a branch of geology concerned with the Earth’s crustal movements and is unrelated.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 1001 | (b) Achieving indigenous capability in strategic and tactical missiles |
| 1002 | (b) Transforming India through science, technology, and economic growth |
| 1003 | (d) I, II, and III |
| 1004 | (c) The order of nucleotides in nucleic acids dictates the synthesis of proteins |
| 1005 | (c) A short, single-stranded synthetic sequence of nucleic acids (DNA or RNA) |
| 1006 | (b) Nucleotide triplets code for specific amino acids |
| 1007 | (c) B, A, C |
| 1008 | (a) He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for synthesizing the first artificial protein. |
| 1009 | (a) Both Statement I and Statement II are correct |
| 1010 | (a) Plate tectonics |
Key facts from Science and Technology
- The RPSC paper is General Knowledge and General Science, so science questions come with a strong dose of applied and recent topics.
- Everyday science questions test the laws and terms of physics, chemistry and biology through examples.
- Defence and space questions pair a missile, satellite or mission with its year and organisation.
- Policy questions ask for the year, the body and the aim of schemes like STIP, the National Quantum Mission and BioE3.
- Health, environment and agriculture are on a separate page, with their own chapters.
Frequently asked questions
How many RAS Prelims practice MCQs are there on Science and Technology?
This page has 1113 practice MCQs on Science and Technology. Each has the correct answer, and most have an explanation.
Which chapters does the science and technology set cover?
Six chapters: basics of everyday science; computers, information and communication technology; defence and space technology in India; genetics, biotechnology and nanotechnology; science and technology policies and government programmes; and recent advances, Indian contributors and indigenisation.
Is science and technology part of the RAS Prelims syllabus?
Yes. The RPSC paper is called General Knowledge and General Science, and its syllabus lists science and technology topics along with environment, health, agriculture and government programmes, so questions can come from any of these areas.
How should I prepare science for RAS Prelims?
Revise the concepts by examples, then learn the missions, schemes and scientists with their year and organisation. Attempt each chapter, read the explanations and keep a list of the facts you missed.