Q21. Which of the following best describes India’s three-stage nuclear power programme formulated by Homi J. Bhabha?
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 21–30 of 154 questions
Q22. Which of the following statements regarding the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) is incorrect?
Explanation
The Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) was established in 1945 specifically for advanced research in physics and mathematics. Founded by Homi Bhabha with support from the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust, it was never an agricultural research center. It started at the Indian Institute of Science before moving to Mumbai, eventually becoming the cradle of India’s nuclear and space programs.
Q23. Identify the odd one out concerning the stages of India’s nuclear power programme as envisioned by Homi Bhabha.
Explanation
Bhabha’s three stages use Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors, Fast Breeder Reactors and thorium-based reactors such as the AHWR. Boiling water reactors for desalination are not a stage, so A is the odd one out.
Q24. Consider the following statements regarding Homi J. Bhabha’s scientific contributions:
Statement I: He worked extensively on the cascade theory of cosmic ray showers with Walter Heitler.
Statement II: His research demonstrated that the cosmic ray particles interact with the atmosphere to create a shower of secondary particles.
Which of the following is correct?
Statement I: He worked extensively on the cascade theory of cosmic ray showers with Walter Heitler.
Statement II: His research demonstrated that the cosmic ray particles interact with the atmosphere to create a shower of secondary particles.
Which of the following is correct?
Explanation
Homi Bhabha made significant contributions to cosmic ray research, notably developing the cascade theory with Walter Heitler. This theory explains how high-energy cosmic rays from space interact with the Earth’s atmosphere to produce a shower of secondary particles. Their mathematical model accurately described the multiplication and absorption of these particles, providing deep insights into high-energy atmospheric physics processes.
Q25. What was the most appropriate reason for Homi J. Bhabha focusing the ultimate stage of India’s nuclear programme on Thorium?
Explanation
The decision to center the final stage of India’s nuclear programme on thorium is driven by resource availability. India holds some of the world’s largest thorium deposits, primarily in the coastal monazite sands. Since domestic uranium reserves are relatively scarce, utilizing thorium ensures that the country can maintain a long-term, indigenous, and sustainable supply of carbon-free nuclear energy.
Q26. Consider the following statements regarding Homi J. Bhabha and India’s nuclear journey:
I. He presided over the first United Nations Conference on the Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy in 1955.
II. He established the Trombay Atomic Energy Establishment.
III. He advocated for the development of nuclear weapons aggressively since 1947.
IV. He died in a tragic plane crash near Mont Blanc in 1966.
V. Apsara, Asia’s first nuclear reactor, was built under his guidance.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
I. He presided over the first United Nations Conference on the Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy in 1955.
II. He established the Trombay Atomic Energy Establishment.
III. He advocated for the development of nuclear weapons aggressively since 1947.
IV. He died in a tragic plane crash near Mont Blanc in 1966.
V. Apsara, Asia’s first nuclear reactor, was built under his guidance.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
Homi Bhabha was a globally respected scientist who presided over the first UN conference on peaceful atomic energy. He founded the Trombay establishment and guided the construction of the Apsara reactor. Despite his tragic death in 1966, his legacy remains. Notably, he prioritized peaceful applications of nuclear energy during his tenure, rather than aggressive weaponization from the start.
Q27. Who is widely regarded as the father of the Indian space programme?
Explanation
Vikram Sarabhai is celebrated as the father of the Indian space programme due to his visionary leadership in establishing the necessary infrastructure. He convinced the government of the importance of space research for a developing nation. His efforts led to the creation of the Indian National Committee for Space Research and eventually the Indian Space Research Organisation.
Q28. The SITE experiment, championed by Vikram Sarabhai, was a monumental step in using technology for societal development. What does SITE stand for?
Explanation
The Satellite Instructional Television Experiment (SITE) was a pioneering project led by Vikram Sarabhai to use satellite technology for mass education. Conducted in the mid-1970s, it broadcast educational programs to thousands of Indian villages. This experiment demonstrated that satellites could effectively deliver information on health, agriculture, and family planning to remote areas, proving the societal value of space technology.
Q29. The Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), often called the cradle of India’s space programme, was founded by Vikram Sarabhai in 1947 in which city?
Explanation
Vikram Sarabhai founded the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) in Ahmedabad in 1947. Initially focusing on cosmic rays and the properties of the upper atmosphere, PRL became the foundational institute where India’s space program was conceived. It provided the intellectual and technical environment necessary to train the first generation of space scientists, earning it the nickname "cradle of space science.
Q30. Which of the following institutions is an exception and was NOT founded or significantly shaped by Vikram Sarabhai?
Explanation
Vikram Sarabhai was a prolific institution builder who founded the Physical Research Laboratory, IIM Ahmedabad, and the National Institute of Design. He also established the Community Science Centre to promote scientific awareness. However, the Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre in Kolkata is a research unit focused on nuclear physics and was not among the primary institutions established by Sarabhai.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 21 | (d) Use of natural uranium, followed by plutonium, and eventually thorium |
| 22 | (a) It was primarily focused on agricultural research before shifting to nuclear physics. |
| 23 | (a) Boiling Water Reactors for desalination |
| 24 | (a) Both Statement I and Statement II are correct |
| 25 | (b) India has vast reserves of monazite sands containing thorium, but limited natural uranium resources. |
| 26 | (b) I, II, IV, and V only |
| 27 | (a) Vikram Sarabhai |
| 28 | (b) Satellite Instructional Television Experiment |
| 29 | (b) Ahmedabad |
| 30 | (a) Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre (VECC), Kolkata |
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.