Q971. Srinivasa Ramanujan made significant contributions to mathematical analysis, number theory, infinite series, and continued fractions. His work on Mock theta functions is currently finding applications in which modern scientific field?
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.
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Q972. Which of the following best defines the concept of highly composite numbers, a field extensively studied by Ramanujan?
Explanation
Highly composite numbers were a major area of research for Ramanujan. These are integers that have a higher count of divisors than any integer preceding them in the number sequence. His detailed study of these numbers provided deep insights into the distribution of divisors and has significant implications in number theory, helping mathematicians understand the nature of composite integers.
Q973. Select the correct chronological order of events in the life of Srinivasa Ramanujan from the given options:
A. Elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society
B. Began formal collaboration with G.H. Hardy in England
C. Published his first paper in the Journal of the Indian Mathematical Society
D. Returned to India due to declining health
A. Elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society
B. Began formal collaboration with G.H. Hardy in England
C. Published his first paper in the Journal of the Indian Mathematical Society
D. Returned to India due to declining health
Explanation
Srinivasa Ramanujan’s career followed a specific timeline starting with his early publications in India. He first published in the Journal of the Indian Mathematical Society before moving to England to collaborate with G.H. Hardy. His excellence led to his election as a Fellow of the Royal Society, but declining health eventually forced his return to India in 1919.
Q974. Which of the following is the most appropriate description of Ramanujan’s approach to mathematics?
Explanation
Ramanujan possessed a unique and intuitive approach to mathematics, often stating results and identities without documenting the intermediate logical steps or formal proofs. He claimed his insights were revealed to him through divine inspiration. While Western mathematicians initially found this method unconventional, subsequent verification proved that most of his complex theorems and identities were remarkably accurate and revolutionary.
Q975. Consider the following statements regarding Ramanujan’s work:
Statement I: He independently discovered results originally obtained by Gauss, Kummer, and others.
Statement II: His research focused entirely on applied mathematics and mechanical engineering problems.
Which of the following is correct?
Statement I: He independently discovered results originally obtained by Gauss, Kummer, and others.
Statement II: His research focused entirely on applied mathematics and mechanical engineering problems.
Which of the following is correct?
Explanation
Ramanujan independently discovered many advanced mathematical results that had been previously established by famous European mathematicians, often using entirely original methods. However, his work was centered on pure mathematics, including number theory and infinite series, rather than applied mathematics or mechanical engineering.
Q976. Which of the following fields of mathematics is an exception and was NOT a primary focus of Srinivasa Ramanujan’s research?
Explanation
Srinivasa Ramanujan specialized in pure mathematics, making legendary contributions to the study of the partition function, elliptic integrals, and hypergeometric series. These areas form the core of his mathematical legacy. Statistical mechanics, while a significant field of science involving mathematical principles, was not a primary focus of his research; instead, it was more closely associated with Satyendra Nath Bose.
Q977. What was the direct effect of the collaboration between Srinivasa Ramanujan and the English mathematician G.H. Hardy?
Explanation
The partnership between Ramanujan and G.H. Hardy was instrumental in bringing Ramanujan’s genius to the global stage. Hardy provided the necessary formal framework and rigorous proof-writing that the mathematical community required. This collaboration resulted in the systematic publication of Ramanujan’s intuitive results in prestigious journals, ensuring his groundbreaking theorems were recognized, preserved, and studied by mathematicians worldwide.
Q978. Consider the following statements regarding Srinivasa Ramanujan:
I. He was completely self-taught in advanced mathematics.
II. He was the first Indian to be elected a Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge.
III. National Mathematics Day in India is celebrated on his birth anniversary, December 22.
IV. He won the Fields Medal for his work on prime numbers.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
I. He was completely self-taught in advanced mathematics.
II. He was the first Indian to be elected a Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge.
III. National Mathematics Day in India is celebrated on his birth anniversary, December 22.
IV. He won the Fields Medal for his work on prime numbers.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
Ramanujan was largely self-taught and became the first Indian Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge. His birth anniversary on December 22 is honored as National Mathematics Day. While he made profound contributions to prime number theory, he did not win the Fields Medal, as the award was established in 1936, years after his untimely death in 1920.
Q979. Who among the following is universally acknowledged as the father of the Indian nuclear programme?
Explanation
Homi Jehangir Bhabha is universally recognized as the visionary leader who established India’s nuclear research infrastructure. He founded the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research and the Atomic Energy Establishment at Trombay. His strategic planning and scientific excellence laid the groundwork for India to achieve self-reliance in nuclear energy, earning him the title of the father of the programme.
Q980. Which of the following best describes India’s three-stage nuclear power programme formulated by Homi J. Bhabha?
Explanation
India’s nuclear strategy, designed by Homi Bhabha, consists of three distinct stages to maximize domestic resources. The first stage uses natural uranium in heavy water reactors. The second stage utilizes plutonium produced in the first stage to fuel fast breeder reactors. The final stage aims to use India’s vast thorium reserves to achieve long-term, sustainable energy independence.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 971 | (b) Black hole thermodynamics and string theory |
| 972 | (c) Positive integers possessing more divisors than any smaller positive integer |
| 973 | (a) C, B, A, D |
| 974 | (b) Relying on intuition and insight, often omitting formal proofs |
| 975 | (c) Statement I is correct but Statement II is incorrect |
| 976 | (a) Statistical mechanics |
| 977 | (c) The formalization and global publication of his intuitive theorems |
| 978 | (a) I, II, and III only |
| 979 | (c) Homi J. Bhabha |
| 980 | (d) Use of natural uranium, followed by plutonium, and eventually thorium |
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.