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 541–550 of 1113 questions
Browse Science and Technology chapters
RAS PrelimsScience and Technology · Defence and Space Technology in India
Q541. Consider the following statements: Statement I: The lunar south pole is a region of high scientific interest because of permanently shadowed craters that may contain water ice. Statement II: India is the fourth country to land on the Moon, but the first to land near the lunar south pole. Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
The region near the moon’s south pole is highly valued by scientists because it contains craters that are always in shadow and may hold frozen water. Studying this area is essential for future long-term missions. By landing there, the country became the first to reach this specific part of the moon, although it was the fourth nation overall to achieve a soft landing on the lunar surface. This feat demonstrated exceptional technical precision and advanced capability in deep space exploration.
RAS PrelimsScience and Technology · Defence and Space Technology in India
Q542. Conceptually, what was the significance of the "hop experiment" performed by the Vikram lander before it went to sleep?
Explanation
Before the lander was shut down for the lunar night, it performed a brief maneuver where it fired its engines and lifted off the surface to move a short distance. This unexpected test was a major success as it proved that the vehicle could take off again after landing. This capability is a fundamental step toward future missions that aim to collect samples and bring them back to Earth or launch vehicles from the surface of another celestial body for exploration.
RAS PrelimsScience and Technology · Defence and Space Technology in India
Q543. Which of the following countries did NOT achieve a soft landing on the Moon before India?
Explanation
While several major nations had reached the lunar surface in the past, including the Soviet Union, the United States, and China, others were still working toward this goal. At the time of the successful landing in 2023, this particular East Asian nation had not yet achieved a soft landing on the moon. This achievement placed the country in a very select group of global powers with the technology and expertise to successfully land and operate vehicles on another world’s surface.
RAS PrelimsScience and Technology · Defence and Space Technology in India
Q544. To commemorate the success of Chandrayaan-3, August 23 has been declared in India as:
Explanation
To honor the historic success of the mission that landed near the moon’s south pole, the government designated this day as a special annual celebration. It serves to inspire future generations and recognize the immense hard work of the scientists and engineers involved in the space program. This day commemorates the nation’s growth into a leading spacefaring power and its commitment to exploring the frontiers of science and technology for the benefit of all humanity through peaceful space research.
RAS PrelimsScience and Technology · Defence and Space Technology in India
Q545. The cause of the Vikram lander and Pragyan rover permanently losing communication after 14 Earth days was:
Explanation
The mission was designed to operate for one lunar day, which lasts about two Earth weeks. When the sun went down at the landing site, the vehicles lost their source of energy and were exposed to extreme cold that they were not built to survive. While there was hope that they might wake up when the sun returned, the damage from the freezing night meant they stayed silent. This was the planned end for the primary phase of the successful mission.
RAS PrelimsScience and Technology · Defence and Space Technology in India
Q546. Identify the odd one out among the following Indian space missions:
Explanation
Most of the listed missions are part of a series dedicated to exploring the moon. This particular mission stands out because its target is a completely different planet. While the others have successfully reached or orbited the moon, this one is a future project aimed at studying the atmosphere and surface of Venus. This difference in target and mission class makes it the clear exception in a list otherwise focused on the country’s long-running and successful lunar exploration program.
RAS PrelimsScience and Technology · Defence and Space Technology in India
Q547. Consider the following statements regarding the Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan): I. It was launched in 2013 using the PSLV-C25. II. It made India the first Asian nation to reach Martian orbit. III. It made ISRO the first space agency to succeed in a Mars mission on its maiden attempt. IV. The total cost of the mission was approximately Rs 450 crore. V. It included a lander named ‘Mars-Vikram’. Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
The mission to the red planet was launched in 2013 and achieved several major records. It made the nation the first in Asia to reach Mars and the first in the world to succeed on its initial attempt. The mission was also famous for being extremely cost-effective. However, it was an orbiter-only mission and did not include any landing vehicle. All statements regarding its launch date, cost, and historical significance are accurate, while the claim about a lander is incorrect.
RAS PrelimsScience and Technology · Defence and Space Technology in India
Q548. Mangalyaan (MOM) was launched from Sriharikota on:
Explanation
On this day, the mission to explore the red planet began with a successful lift-off from the national spaceport. The spacecraft started its journey using a reliable polar launch vehicle, which placed it into an initial orbit around Earth before it headed for Mars. This event marked the beginning of one of the most successful and celebrated chapters in the country’s space history, eventually leading to a perfect entry into Martian orbit nearly a year later in 2014.
RAS PrelimsScience and Technology · Defence and Space Technology in India
Q549. A globally recognized hallmark of the Mars Orbiter Mission was its cost-effectiveness. The mission’s approximate cost of $74 million was famously compared to:
Explanation
One of the most talked-about aspects of the mission was how little it cost compared to other deep space projects. The total expense was famously noted to be less than the amount spent on producing a major space-themed film in the United States. This achievement highlighted the efficiency and ingenuity of the national space agency, showing that high-quality scientific exploration could be done at a fraction of the cost typically associated with such ambitious interplanetary missions in other countries.
RAS PrelimsScience and Technology · Defence and Space Technology in India
Q550. Consider the following statements: Statement I: India became the fourth space agency globally to reach Mars, after Roscosmos, NASA, and the European Space Agency. Statement II: The Mars Orbiter Mission was designed for an operational life of 10 years but lasted only 6 months. Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
The successful arrival at the red planet placed the nation among a very small group of global agencies that have reached Mars. While the mission was originally designed to last for only six months, its performance was so good that it continued to operate and send data for many years. Suggestions that it failed early are completely false, as the spacecraft far outlived its expected lifespan, providing a wealth of information about the Martian atmosphere and surface features during its operation.
Answer key for these questions
Q
Correct answer
541
(c) Both statements are correct.
542
(a) Engine firing for tech validation of future return missions.
543
(c) Japan
544
(d) National Space Day
545
(c) Lunar night onset, freezing temperatures, and no solar power.
546
(b) Shukrayaan-1
547
(a) I, II, III, and IV only
548
(a) November 5, 2013
549
(c) The budget of the Hollywood movie ‘Gravity’.
550
(a) Statement I is correct but Statement II is incorrect.
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.
