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 61–70 of 154 questions
RAS PrelimsScience and Technology · Recent Advances, Indian Contributors and Indigenization
Q61. Consider the following statements about Jagadish Chandra Bose: I. He founded the Bose Institute in Calcutta in 1917. II. He was a pioneer of Bengali science fiction. III. He firmly believed that there is no distinct boundary between the living and the non-living. IV. His research in plant physiology was initially met with resistance by orthodox Western biologists. V. He exclusively published his research in Indian journals to avoid Western scrutiny. Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
J.C. Bose was a multifaceted visionary who established the Bose Institute and wrote early Bengali science fiction.
RAS PrelimsScience and Technology · Recent Advances, Indian Contributors and Indigenization
Q62. The Saha ionization equation, formulated by Meghnad Saha, is fundamentally applied in astrophysics to determine which of the following?
Explanation
The Saha ionization equation is a fundamental tool in astrophysics that relates the ionization state of an element to the temperature and pressure of a gas. By applying this equation to the observed spectral lines of stars, astronomers can determine their surface temperatures and chemical compositions. This breakthrough allowed for the quantitative physical classification of stars based on their actual properties.
RAS PrelimsScience and Technology · Recent Advances, Indian Contributors and Indigenization
Q63. What is the core concept of thermal ionization as described by Meghnad Saha?
Explanation
Thermal ionization is the process where atoms in a gas become ionized due to high-energy thermal collisions. Meghnad Saha’s theory explains that as temperature increases, atoms move faster and collide more violently. These collisions eventually overcome the binding energy of the electrons, causing them to be ejected. This concept is vital for understanding the plasma state found in stellar atmospheres.
RAS PrelimsScience and Technology · Recent Advances, Indian Contributors and Indigenization
Q64. Apart from his contributions to astrophysics, Meghnad Saha played a critical role in civil administration by chairing which important committee in 1952?
Explanation
Beyond his scientific achievements, Meghnad Saha was deeply involved in national planning and civil reform. In 1952, he chaired the Indian Calendar Reform Committee, which sought to standardize the various traditional calendars used across the country. His efforts led to the adoption of the Indian National Calendar, based on scientific astronomical principles, which is still used by the government.
RAS PrelimsScience and Technology · Recent Advances, Indian Contributors and Indigenization
Q65. Identify the correct pair representing Meghnad Saha’s scientific legacy.
Explanation
Meghnad Saha’s most enduring legacy is the Saha equation, which provides the mathematical link between a gas’s temperature, pressure, and its degree of ionization. This equation transformed astrophysics from a descriptive science into a quantitative physical discipline. While other scientists worked on white dwarfs and fermions, Saha’s specific focus on ionization remains the cornerstone for analyzing the spectra of celestial bodies.
RAS PrelimsScience and Technology · Recent Advances, Indian Contributors and Indigenization
Q66. Arrange the following steps in the logical application of the Saha ionization equation to classify stars: A. Observation of absorption lines in a star’s spectrum B. Calculation of the star’s surface temperature C. Determination of the ionization states of elements present D. Measurement of the intensity of specific spectral lines
Explanation
To classify a star using Saha’s theory, astronomers first observe the absorption lines in the stellar spectrum. They then measure the intensity of these specific lines to gauge the abundance of different elements. By applying the Saha equation, they determine the ionization states of those elements, which finally allows for an accurate calculation of the star’s actual surface temperature.
RAS PrelimsScience and Technology · Recent Advances, Indian Contributors and Indigenization
Q67. Which of the following statements regarding Meghnad Saha’s institutional foundations is incorrect?
Explanation
Meghnad Saha was a key figure in building India’s scientific infrastructure, founding the Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics and the journal ‘Science and Culture’. He also helped establish the National Academy of Sciences. However, he was not the architect of the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore; that institution was founded earlier through the vision of Jamsetji Tata and Swami Vivekananda.
RAS PrelimsScience and Technology · Recent Advances, Indian Contributors and Indigenization
Q68. Consider the following statements: Statement I: According to the Saha ionization equation, an increase in temperature increases the degree of ionization of a gas. Statement II: An increase in the electron pressure in the stellar atmosphere also increases the degree of ionization. Which of the following is correct?
Explanation
According to the Saha equation, increasing the temperature of a gas provides more energy for ionization, thereby increasing the degree of ionization. However, an increase in electron pressure actually drives the reaction in the opposite direction, promoting the recombination of ions and electrons into neutral atoms. Therefore, higher electron pressure leads to a lower degree of ionization in a stellar atmosphere.
RAS PrelimsScience and Technology · Recent Advances, Indian Contributors and Indigenization
Q69. Identify the odd one out among astrophysical concepts that are unrelated to the direct application of the Saha equation.
Explanation
The Saha equation is primarily used to understand the physical conditions of stellar surfaces. It is essential for spectral classification, determining photospheric temperatures, and analyzing the composition of the solar chromosphere. The Hubble constant, however, relates to the rate of expansion of the universe and large-scale cosmic distances, which is a field of cosmology independent of stellar ionization physics.
RAS PrelimsScience and Technology · Recent Advances, Indian Contributors and Indigenization
Q70. What was the primary effect of Meghnad Saha’s interpretation of solar spectrum lines on the field of astrophysics?
Explanation
Before Saha’s work, stellar spectroscopy was largely a tool for cataloging stars without understanding the underlying physics. His interpretation of spectral lines allowed scientists to calculate the actual temperature and pressure of stellar gases. This shift enabled astronomers to build physical models of stars, marking the birth of modern astrophysics where observations are linked to fundamental thermodynamic and atomic principles.
Answer key for these questions
Q
Correct answer
61
(a) I, II, III, and IV only
62
(d) The physical and chemical state of stellar atmospheres.
63
(a) At extremely high temperatures, collisions between atoms are energetic enough to strip electrons from them, creating ions and free electrons
64
(c) The Indian Calendar Reform Committee
65
(a) Saha equation - Links the ionization state of an element to temperature and pressure
66
(a) A, D, C, B
67
(b) He was the chief architect of the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore
68
(c) Statement I is correct but Statement II is incorrect
69
(d) Calculation of the expanding universe’s Hubble constant
70
(a) It shifted astrophysics from merely observing stellar spectra to understanding the physical conditions producing them
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.
