Recent Advances, Indian Contributors and Indigenization: RAS Prelims MCQs
154 RAS Prelims MCQs on recent advances, Indian contributors and indigenisation cover Indian scientists and their work, recent technology and defence indigenisation. C. V. Raman, Ramanujan, Kalam, Bhabha, Khorana, mRNA vaccines, the Bhashini mission, INS Vikrant and defence exports are asked as facts, pairs and statements.
Practice questions based on the RPSC RAS Prelims syllabus. They follow the exam pattern but are not past-paper questions.
Showing 131–140 of 154 questions
RAS PrelimsScience and Technology · Recent Advances, Indian Contributors and Indigenization
Q131. Read the following statements and select the correct option: Assertion (A): Many initial semiconductor investments in India are focused on ATMP/ OSAT facilities rather than full-fledged Fabrication units. Reason (R): ATMP facilities require relatively lower initial capital expenditure, have faster setup times, and help build a foundational talent pool compared to complex Fabs.
Explanation
The National Green Hydrogen Mission is fundamentally linked to India’s renewable energy growth because green hydrogen is defined by its production process. To be considered ‘green’, hydrogen must be produced through the electrolysis of water powered entirely by renewable sources like solar or wind. Therefore, expanding renewable capacity is a necessary prerequisite for achieving the mission’s goal of large-scale green hydrogen production.
RAS PrelimsScience and Technology · Recent Advances, Indian Contributors and Indigenization
Q132. A key feature of the Indian Space Policy 2023 is the clear delineation of roles. Under this policy, what is the specific focus assigned to ISRO?
Explanation
Under the 2023 Space Policy, ISRO’s role has been redefined to focus on the frontiers of science and technology. By delegating routine satellite manufacturing and launch services to the private sector and NSIL, ISRO can dedicate its resources to high-end R&D. This includes developing next-generation launch vehicles, conducting interplanetary missions, and leading human spaceflight programs like Gaganyaan, ensuring India stays at the cutting edge of global space exploration.
RAS PrelimsScience and Technology · Recent Advances, Indian Contributors and Indigenization
Q133. Which of the following statements correctly differentiates the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) from the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV)?
Explanation
The Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) is specifically engineered for the rapidly growing market of mini and micro-satellites. Unlike the larger PSLV, which takes months to prepare, the SSLV can be integrated and launched within a few days by a small team. This high flexibility and low cost make it an ideal choice for commercial customers looking for frequent and affordable access to low Earth orbit.
RAS PrelimsScience and Technology · Recent Advances, Indian Contributors and Indigenization
Q134. Match the space entity in List I with its mandate or activity in List II and select the correct answer.
Space Entity
Mandate/Activity
A. ISRO
i. Private space startup developing launch vehicles
B. IN-SPACe
ii. Advanced space research and planetary missions
C. NSIL
iii. Commercialization of space technologies and launch services
D. Skyroot Aerospace
iv. Authorization and regulation of private space sector
Explanation
The Indian space ecosystem involves various specialized entities. ISRO focuses on advanced research and planetary missions, while IN-SPACe regulates and authorizes private sector participation. NSIL handles the commercialization of technologies and launch services. Meanwhile, private startups like Skyroot Aerospace are actively developing their own launch vehicles, demonstrating the success of recent reforms in opening up the space sector to competitive private innovation and development.
RAS PrelimsScience and Technology · Recent Advances, Indian Contributors and Indigenization
Q135. Consider the following statements: Statement I: Vikram-S, launched in 2022, was India’s first privately developed rocket. Statement II: The launch of Vikram-S marked the entry of Indian private startups into the launch vehicle sector, ending ISRO’s monopoly. Which of the following is correct?
Explanation
The 2022 launch of the Vikram-S rocket, developed by the startup Skyroot Aerospace, was a historic moment for India. It was the first time a rocket designed and built by a private company was successfully launched from an Indian spaceport. This event signaled the end of ISRO’s role as the sole operator of launch vehicles and proved that Indian startups could develop sophisticated aerospace technologies independently.
RAS PrelimsScience and Technology · Recent Advances, Indian Contributors and Indigenization
Q136. Identify the odd one out among the entities contributing to the Indian space economy.
Explanation
The Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) is an integral research and development unit of ISRO, focused on rocket engine technology. In contrast, Agnikul Cosmos, Pixxel, and Bellatrix Aerospace are all private Indian space startups. These private companies represent the new wave of commercial innovation in the space sector, working on launch vehicles, Earth observation satellites, and advanced propulsion systems independently of the traditional government-led framework.
RAS PrelimsScience and Technology · Recent Advances, Indian Contributors and Indigenization
Q137. What is the expected cause-and-effect outcome of the successful privatization and commercialization of the SSLV program?
Explanation
Privatizing the manufacturing of the SSLV allows ISRO to transfer its proven technology to industrial partners who can produce the rockets at a larger scale and lower cost. This commercial approach makes Indian launch services more competitive in the global market. By freeing ISRO from routine production tasks, it also enables the agency to focus its budget and expertise on developing newer, more advanced space technologies.
RAS PrelimsScience and Technology · Recent Advances, Indian Contributors and Indigenization
Q138. Consider the following statements regarding India’s Space Economy: I. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) up to 100% is now allowed under the automatic route for manufacturing satellite components and systems. II. The space economy reforms aim to increase India’s share in the global space economy from the current ~2% to around 9-10% in the future. III. NITI Aayog strictly prohibits private startups from using ISRO’s testing facilities. Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
Recent reforms have opened the space sector to significant foreign investment, with 100% FDI allowed for manufacturing satellite components. This policy aims to boost India’s global market share in the space economy. To support this growth, the government actively encourages private startups to utilize ISRO’s world-class testing and launch facilities, providing them with the necessary tools to validate their technologies without building expensive infrastructure from scratch.
RAS PrelimsScience and Technology · Recent Advances, Indian Contributors and Indigenization
Q139. The 500 MWe Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR), a critical component of India’s nuclear power programme, is located at which site?
Explanation
The Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) is located at the Madras Atomic Power Station site in Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu. This 500 MWe reactor is a key milestone in India’s nuclear energy strategy, as it marks the transition to the second stage of the three-stage power programme. It is designed to produce more fuel than it consumes, ensuring long-term sustainability and efficient utilization of India’s nuclear resources.
RAS PrelimsScience and Technology · Recent Advances, Indian Contributors and Indigenization
Q140. In the context of India’s nuclear energy, what defines a "closed fuel cycle"?
Explanation
A "closed fuel cycle" is a strategy where spent nuclear fuel is not treated as waste but as a valuable resource. The used fuel is chemically reprocessed to recover fissile materials like plutonium, which are then used to manufacture new fuel for different types of reactors, such as fast breeders. this approach maximizes energy extraction from uranium and minimizes the volume of long-lived radioactive waste that requires permanent disposal.
Answer key for these questions
Q
Correct answer
131
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
132
(c) To step away from commercial manufacturing and focus on advanced research, development of new technologies, and deep space exploration
133
(d) SSLV is designed to be assembled on demand with quick turnaround time and lower cost to cater to the growing small satellite market.
134
(c) A-ii, B-iv, C-iii, D-i
135
(a) Both Statement I and Statement II are correct
136
(a) Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC)
137
(c) Transferring manufacturing to private sectors lowers costs via mass production.
138
(a) I and II only
139
(d) Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu
140
(b) Reprocessing spent fuel to extract materials for subsequent reactor stages
Key facts from Recent Advances, Indian Contributors and Indigenization
C. V. Raman won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930 for the scattering of light; National Science Day on 28 February marks the discovery of the Raman Effect.
The IGMDP began in 1983; Kalam promoted PURA, the Provision of Urban Amenities to Rural Areas.
Homi J. Bhabha is the father of the Indian nuclear programme, and his three-stage plan uses PHWRs, fast breeder reactors and thorium reactors.
Har Gobind Khorana showed that nucleotide triplets code for specific amino acids.
mRNA vaccines do not enter the nucleus or alter the genome; the cell breaks down the mRNA after making the viral protein.
Bhashini uses AI to break language barriers; INS Vikrant (IAC-1) is the first Indigenous Aircraft Carrier; India is seeking export orders for ATAGS artillery.
Frequently asked questions
How many RAS Prelims practice MCQs are there on Recent Advances, Indian Contributors and Indigenization?
This page has 154 practice MCQs on Recent Advances, Indian Contributors and Indigenization (Science and Technology). Each has the correct answer, and most have an explanation.
Why is National Science Day celebrated on 28 February?
To commemorate the discovery of the Raman Effect on 28 February 1928 by C. V. Raman. He won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930 for his work on the scattering of light.
What does PURA stand for?
Provision of Urban Amenities to Rural Areas, a concept advocated by Dr A. P. J. Abdul Kalam. It aimed to give villages the roads, connectivity and services of towns so that rural development would be balanced.
Do mRNA vaccines change human DNA?
No. mRNA vaccines do not enter the nucleus of the cell or integrate with the human genome. The cell uses the instruction to make the viral protein and then breaks down the mRNA.
