UPSC CSE Prelims
New Technologies in News Previous Year Questions (PYQs)
Practice solved questions for New Technologies in News with detailed step-by-step solutions, key insights, and trend analysis for UPSC CSE PRELIMS.
Solved Previous Year Questions
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Consider the following statements with respect to the AI Impact Summit, 2026 held in New Delhi :
- The Summit's intellectual framework was based on three foundational Sutras : People, Planning, and Progress.
- The Preamble of the Summit stresses Democratising AI Resources, which acknowledges the Charter for Democratic Diffusion of AI as a binding framework to support locally relevant innovation and strengthen resilient AI ecosystems while respecting national laws.
- The New Delhi Declaration on AI Impact was structured around seven Chakras (Pillars), which included Access for Social Empowerment, AI for Science, and Secure and Trusted AI.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
Detailed Explanation:
Statements 1 and 2 are incorrect. The AI Impact Summit 2026 was based on the three Sutras of People, Planet, and Progress, not People, Planning, and Progress. Also, the Charter for Democratic Diffusion of AI was introduced as a voluntary, non-binding framework, not a binding one.
Statement 3 is correct. The New Delhi Declaration on AI Impact was organized around seven Chakras (Pillars), including Access for Social Empowerment, AI for Science, and Secure and Trusted AI.
Therefore, Option D (3 only) is correct.
The AI Impact Summit 2026 focused on promoting inclusive, responsible, and human-centric AI development. The New Delhi Declaration emphasized equitable access to AI resources, innovation, trust, safety, and global cooperation while respecting national priorities.
Which of the following statements with regard to the National Quantum Mission (NQM) is/are correct?
- It aims at developing intermediate-scale quantum computers with 50-1000 physical qubits.
- Its implementation includes setting up of four Thematic Hubs (T-Hubs) in academic and national R&D institutes across India.
Select the answer using the code given below:
Detailed Explanation:
Both statements are correct. The National Quantum Mission (NQM) aims to develop intermediate-scale quantum computers with 50–1000 physical qubits over an 8-year period.
The mission also establishes four Thematic Hubs (T-Hubs) in leading academic and R&D institutions to advance quantum computing, communication, sensing, and materials research.
Therefore, Option C (Both 1 and 2) is correct.
The National Quantum Mission (2023–2031) aims to make India a global leader in quantum technologies. It focuses on quantum computing, secure quantum communication, quantum sensors, and advanced quantum materials, which can revolutionize fields like cybersecurity, healthcare, finance, and defense.
Which of the following statements with regard to India's Deep Ocean Mission is/are correct?
- It was launched by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Government of India.
- Matsya-6000 has been designed to carry 3 people for deep sea exploration.
- Samudrayaan is a project under this mission.
Select the answer using the code given below:
Detailed Explanation:
Statement 1 is incorrect because the Deep Ocean Mission (DOM) is implemented by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), not the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
Statements 2 and 3 are correct. Matsya-6000 is designed to carry 3 people up to a depth of 6,000 meters, and Samudrayaan is India's manned deep-sea exploration project under the Deep Ocean Mission.
Therefore, Option B (2 and 3 only) is correct.
The Deep Ocean Mission is a flagship initiative aimed at exploring and utilizing ocean resources. Its major goals include deep-sea mining, marine biodiversity studies, underwater technology development, and climate research. Samudrayaan and Matsya-6000 are key components of this mission.
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Which of the following statements with regard to Black Boxes used in modern aircrafts is/are correct ?
- They carry a beacon emitting red light pulses to facilitate underwater detection.
- They record both the cockpit voice and flight data.
- Their memory units are made using either stainless steel or titanium.
Select the answer using the code given below :
Detailed Explanation:
Statement 1 is incorrect because black boxes use an Underwater Locator Beacon (ULB) that emits acoustic/ultrasonic signals, not red light pulses, for underwater detection.
Statements 2 and 3 are correct. Black boxes record both cockpit voice and flight data, and their crash-survivable memory units are protected by stainless steel or titanium.
Therefore, Option B (2 and 3 only) is correct.
A "black box" is the collective term for the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and Flight Data Recorder (FDR). These devices help investigators determine the cause of an aircraft accident. They are designed to survive extreme impact, fire, and deep-sea pressure.
Which of the following statements with regard to India's indigenous new high resolution weather model, the 'Bharat Forecast System,' is/are correct?
- Its objective is to generate forecasts at the Panchayats cluster level.
- It was developed by IIT Delhi.
Select the answer using the code given below:
Detailed Explanation:
Statement 1 — Correct. A primary objective of the Bharat Forecast System (BFS) is to generate hyper-local weather forecasts down to the Panchayat cluster level (village and block level) to aid:
- Rural communities
- Agriculture planning
- Disaster management
It operates on an ultra-fine 6 km × 6 km grid (upgraded from India's previous 12 km resolution models) — making it the highest-resolution operational global weather model used by any national meteorological agency in the world.
Statement 2 — Incorrect. BFS was indigenously developed by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune — an autonomous institute under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) — NOT IIT Delhi.
It is powered by:
| Supercomputer | Location |
|---|---|
| Arka | IITM, Pune |
| Arunika | NCMRWF, Noida |
Key Trick: "IIT Delhi" vs "IITM Pune" — a deliberate acronym confusion trap. IITM = Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, not IIT.
Consider the following statements:
I. Indian Railways have prepared a National Rail Plan (NRP) to create a future ready railway system by 2028.
II. 'Kavach' is an Automatic Train Protection system developed in collaboration with Germany.
III. 'Kavach' system consists of RFID tags fitted on track in station section.
Which of the statements given above are not correct?
Detailed Explanation:
The question asks for the statements that are not correct.
-
Statement I is Incorrect: The National Rail Plan (NRP) aims to create a future-ready railway system by 2030, not 2028.
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Statement II is Incorrect: Kavach is an indigenous Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system developed under the Make in India initiative, not in collaboration with Germany.
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Statement III is Correct: Kavach uses RFID tags fitted on tracks and station sections to continuously monitor train location and movement.
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Therefore, Statements I and II are not correct, making Option A the correct answer.
Statement-wise Analysis
| Statement | Status | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| I. NRP aims for a future-ready railway system by 2028 | ❌ Incorrect | The target year is 2030, not 2028. |
| II. Kavach was developed with Germany | ❌ Incorrect | Kavach is an indigenously developed Indian system. |
| III. Kavach uses RFID tags on tracks | ✅ Correct | RFID tags help identify train location and improve safety. |
Kavach System
What is Kavach?
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Kavach is India's indigenous Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system.
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Developed under the Make in India initiative by Indian Railways.
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Designed to prevent train collisions and improve railway safety.
Key Features
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Automatic braking if the driver fails to respond.
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Prevents Signal Passed At Danger (SPAD).
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Real-time train location monitoring.
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Uses RFID tags, radio communication, and onboard equipment.
National Rail Plan (NRP)
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Released by Indian Railways.
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Vision to create a future-ready railway network by 2030.
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Focuses on capacity enhancement, freight share increase, and modernization.
Recently, the term "pumped-storage hydropower" is actually and appropriately discussed in the context of which one of the following?
Detailed Explanation:
Correct Answer: ✅ Long Duration Energy Storage (Option C)
Pumped-Storage Hydropower (PSH) is often called a "water battery." It stores excess electricity by pumping water from a lower reservoir to a higher reservoir and releases it later to generate electricity when demand increases.
This technology is increasingly important for integrating renewable energy sources like solar and wind, which are intermittent in nature.
❌ Irrigation of terraced crop fields: PSH is designed for energy storage, not agricultural irrigation.
❌ Lift irrigation of cereal crops: Although pumps are used, the primary objective of PSH is electricity storage and grid balancing.
✅ Long Duration Energy Storage: PSH is one of the world's most widely used and mature technologies for storing electricity over long periods.
❌ Rainwater harvesting system: Rainwater harvesting focuses on water conservation, not electricity storage.
Short Notes: Pumped-Storage Hydropower (PSH)
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PSH is the largest grid-scale energy storage technology in the world.
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It uses two reservoirs at different elevations.
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During low demand, water is pumped uphill using surplus electricity.
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During peak demand, water flows downhill through turbines to generate power.
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Round-trip efficiency is generally around 70–80%.
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PSH helps integrate solar and wind energy into the power grid.
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It provides long-duration energy storage and grid stability.
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India is promoting PSH projects to support its renewable energy transition.
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