UPSC Prelims 2016
Science & Technology Previous Year Questions (PYQs)
Explore 12 solved UPSC Prelims 2016 Science & Technology questions with detailed step-by-step bilingual solutions, option analysis, and answer keys.
In the context of the developments in bioinformatics, the term ‘transcriptome’, sometimes seen in the news, refers to -
Detailed Explanation:
The transcriptome refers to the complete set of RNA transcripts (especially mRNA molecules) produced by the genome of an organism under specific circumstances or in a specific cell.
Unlike the static genome, the transcriptome is dynamic and reflects which genes are actively being expressed at any given time, making it crucial for understanding gene regulation, cellular functions, and responses to environmental stimuli.
Consider the following statements regarding: The Mangalyaan launched by ISRO
- is also called the Mars Orbiter Mission
- made India the second country to have a spacecraft orbit the Mars after USA
- made India the only country to be successful in making its spacecraft orbit the Mars in its very first attempt
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Detailed Explanation:
✅ Statement 1 – Correct: Mangalyaan is officially called the Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM), launched by ISRO in 2013.
❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: India was the fourth space agency to reach Mars orbit, after the Soviet Union, NASA (USA), and the European Space Agency.
✅ Statement 3 – Correct: India became the first nation to successfully orbit Mars on its maiden attempt, a unique achievement as all previous Mars missions by other nations had failed in their first attempts.
Regarding ‘DigiLocker’, sometimes seen in the news, which of the following statements is/are correct?
- It is a digital locker system offered by the Government under Digital India Programme.
- It allows you to access your e-documents irrespective of your physical location.
Select the correct answer using the code given below
Detailed Explanation:
✅ Statement 1 – Correct: DigiLocker is a cloud-based digital locker system launched by the Government of India under the Digital India Programme in 2015 to provide secure storage for e-documents and reduce reliance on physical documents.
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: DigiLocker allows users to access their e-documents from anywhere using internet connectivity, eliminating the need to carry physical documents.
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‘Project Loon’, sometimes seen in the news, is related to -
Detailed Explanation:
Project Loon was a Google initiative that used high-altitude balloons in the stratosphere to provide internet connectivity to remote and underserved areas, functioning as floating cell towers.
The project was discontinued in January 2021 due to commercial viability challenges, despite its technological success in delivering wireless internet access.
Why does the Government of India promote the use of ‘Neem-coated Urea’ in agriculture?
Detailed Explanation:
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: Neem coating acts as a nitrification inhibitor, slowing down the conversion of urea to nitrate, thereby reducing nitrogen losses through leaching, volatilization and denitrification, and ensuring gradual nitrogen release for better crop uptake.
❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: Neem coating does not enhance nitrogen fixation by soil microorganisms; it primarily inhibits nitrification.
❌ Statement 3 – Incorrect: While neem-coated urea reduces nitrous oxide emissions by minimizing denitrification, it does not eliminate greenhouse gas release completely.
❌ Statement 4 – Incorrect: Neem-coated urea is not a weedicide-fertilizer combination; neem acts as a nitrification inhibitor, not a weedicide.
With reference to ‘LiFi’, recently in the news, which of the following statements is/are correct?
- It uses light as the medium for high-speed data transmission.
- It is a wireless technology and is many times faster than ‘WiFi’.
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 3 — Both 1 and 2
✅ Statement 1 – Correct: LiFi (Light Fidelity) uses visible light waves from LED bulbs for high-speed data transmission through rapid flickering invisible to human eyes.
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: LiFi is a wireless technology with theoretical speeds exceeding 100 Gbps, significantly faster than WiFi's current maximum of 11 Gbps.
With reference to ‘Bitcoins’ sometimes seen in the news, which of the following statements is/are correct?
- Bitcoins are tracked by the Central Banks of the countries.
- Anyone with a Bitcoin address can send and receive Bitcoins from anyone else with a Bitcoin address.
- Online payments can be sent without either side knowing the identity of the other.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 2 — 2 and 3 only
❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: Bitcoins are not tracked by Central Banks. Bitcoin operates on a decentralized blockchain network without central authority oversight. Central Banks do not maintain or monitor Bitcoin transactions.
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: Anyone with a Bitcoin address can send and receive Bitcoins from anyone else with a Bitcoin address. No intermediary or bank approval is required for peer-to-peer transactions.
✅ Statement 3 – Correct: Online payments can be sent without either side knowing the identity of the other. Bitcoin addresses are pseudonymous—only the addresses appear on the blockchain, not the real identities of users.
India is an important member of the ‘International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor’. If this experiment succeeds, what is the immediate advantage for India?
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 4 — It can build fusion reactors for power generation
ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor) is a collaborative project to demonstrate nuclear fusion as a viable energy source by merging hydrogen isotopes at extremely high temperatures.
India's participation provides access to fusion technology, research expertise, and engineering know-how needed to eventually build its own fusion reactors for clean, abundant power generation.
Why other options are incorrect:
• Option 1: Thorium utilization relates to advanced fission reactors, not fusion technology
• Option 2: Satellite navigation involves space technology (NAVIC/IRNSS), unrelated to ITER
• Option 3: ITER focuses on fusion, not improving existing fission reactor efficiency
With reference to ‘Astrosat’, the astronomical observatory launched by India, which of the following statements is/are correct?
- Other than the USA and Russia, India is the only country to have launched a similar observatory into space.
- Astrosat is a 2000 kg satellite placed in an orbit at 1650 km above the surface of the Earth.
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 4 — Neither 1 nor 2
❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: India is the 5th country to launch a space observatory, not the 3rd. USA, Russia, Japan, and Europe (ESA) had already launched similar observatories before AstroSat.
❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: AstroSat has a mass of approximately 1513 kg (not 2000 kg) and was placed in a 650 km orbit (not 1650 km) above Earth's surface by PSLV-C30 in September 2015.
Which of the following statements is/are correct? Viruses can infect -
- Bacteria
- Fungi
- Plants
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 4 — 1, 2 and 3
✅ Statement 1 – Correct: Bacteriophages (phages) are viruses that infect bacteria by injecting their genetic material into bacterial cells.
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: Mycoviruses are viruses that specifically infect fungi, often causing latent infections without visible symptoms.
✅ Statement 3 – Correct: Plant viruses infect various plant species by hijacking cellular machinery, causing diseases like mosaic patterns and stunted growth.
What is ‘Greased Lightning-10 (GL-10)’, recently in the news?
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 1 — Electric plane tested by NASA
Greased Lightning-10 (GL-10) is an experimental hybrid-electric aircraft developed by NASA to test distributed electric propulsion and vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) capabilities.
The GL-10 is a subscale, remotely-piloted aircraft that can take off like a helicopter and transition to fixed-wing flight, demonstrating future applications in unmanned cargo transport and surveillance.
Which one of the following is the best description of ‘INS Astradharini’, that was in the news recently?
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 3 — Torpedo launch and recovery vessel
INS Astradharini is India's first indigenously designed and built Torpedo Launch and Recovery Vessel (TLRV), commissioned in 2015 with 95% indigenous content.
It serves as a specialized platform for technical trials of underwater weapons like torpedoes and mines developed by NSTL, featuring a catamaran hull design for enhanced stability during weapon recovery operations.
UPSC Prelims 2016 - Science & Technology Chapter-wise Distribution
Space Technology
3 Qs (25%)Information & Communication Technology
3 Qs (25%)Biotechnology
2 Qs (16.7%)Defence Technology
1 Qs (8.3%)Nuclear Science & Technology
1 Qs (8.3%)Agriculture Science & Technology
1 Qs (8.3%)Science & Technology Current Affairs
1 Qs (8.3%)UPSC Prelims 2016 - Science & Technology Questions FAQs
Q1 How many Science & Technology questions were asked in UPSC Prelims 2016?
Q2 What is the chapter-wise question distribution for Science & Technology in UPSC Prelims 2016?
- Space Technology: 3 questions (25%)
- Information & Communication Technology: 3 questions (25%)
- Biotechnology: 2 questions (16.7%)
- Defence Technology: 1 questions (8.3%)
- Nuclear Science & Technology: 1 questions (8.3%)
- Agriculture Science & Technology: 1 questions (8.3%)
- Science & Technology Current Affairs: 1 questions (8.3%)