Q41. Which of the following books is an exception and was NOT written or co-authored by Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam?
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 41–50 of 154 questions
Q42. What was the primary effect of Dr. Kalam’s leadership in the IGMDP on India’s defence sector?
Explanation
Under Dr. Kalam’s leadership, the IGMDP transformed India from a nation dependent on imported missile technology to one with a robust indigenous defense base. The program successfully developed a range of missiles, providing the armed forces with critical strategic and tactical assets. This shift enhanced national security and demonstrated India’s ability to develop high-end technology despite international sanctions and restrictions.
Q43. 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.
Q44. 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.
Q45. 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.
Q46. 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.
Q47. 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.
Q48. 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.
Q49. 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.
Q50. 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.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 41 | (a) The Discovery of India |
| 42 | (b) Achieving indigenous capability in strategic and tactical missiles |
| 43 | (b) Transforming India through science, technology, and economic growth |
| 44 | (d) I, II, and III |
| 45 | (c) The order of nucleotides in nucleic acids dictates the synthesis of proteins |
| 46 | (c) A short, single-stranded synthetic sequence of nucleic acids (DNA or RNA) |
| 47 | (b) Nucleotide triplets code for specific amino acids |
| 48 | (c) B, A, C |
| 49 | (a) He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for synthesizing the first artificial protein. |
| 50 | (a) Both Statement I and Statement II are correct |
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.