Ragini Chopra (MSc, Biological Sciences, Science, Science & Technology Faculty UPSC)

Science and Technology Mains PYQs UPSC

Science & Technology Syllabus : UPSC Mains

Topic 1 – Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life.      

Topic 2 – Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology and issues relating to intellectual property rights.              

Topic 3 – Achievements of Indians in Science & Technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology. 

Science & Technology Mains PYQs UPSC – Year wise Marks Weightage (2013 – 2024)

Science and Technology Mains PYQs UPSC – Year wise & Topic wise Collection (2013 – 2024)

Science and Technology Mains PYQs UPSC (Topic 1 & 2)

Topic 1 – Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life.      

Topic 2 – Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology and issues relating to intellectual property rights.              

UPSC 2024

1. What is the technology being employed for electronic toll collection on highways? What are its advantages and limitations? What are the proposed changes that will make this process seamless? Would this transition carry any potential hazards? (Answer in 150 words) (10 Marks)
2. Describe the context and salient features of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023. (Answer in 150 words) (10 Marks)
3. What is the present world scenario of intellectual property rights with respect to life materials? Although, India is second in the world to file patents, still only a few have been commercialized. Explain the reasons behind this less commercialization. (Answer in 150 words) (10 Marks)
4. The world is facing an acute shortage of clean and safe freshwater. What are the alternative technologies which can solve this crisis? Briefly discuss any three such technologies citing their key merits and demerits. (Answer in 250 words) (15 Marks)
5. What are asteroids? How real is the threat of them causing extinction of life? What strategies have been developed to prevent such a catastrophe? (Answer in 250 words) (15 Marks)

UPSC 2023

1. Introduce the concept of Artificial Intelligence (AI). How does AI help clinical diagnosis? Do you perceive any threat to privacy of the individual in the use of AI in the healthcare? (Answer in 150 words) (10 Marks)
2. Discuss several ways in which microorganisms can help in meeting the current fuel shortage. (Answer in 150 words) (10 Marks)
3. What is the main task of India’s third moon mission which could not be achieved in its earlier mission? List the countries that have achieved this task. Introduce the subsystems in the spacecraft launched and explain the role of the ‘Virtual Launch Control Centre’ at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre which contributed to the successful launch from Sriharikota. (Answer in 250 words) (15 Marks)

UPSC 2022

1. Launched on 25th December, 2021, James Webb Space Telescope has been much in the news since then. What are its unique features which make it superior to its predecessor Space Telescopes? What are the key goals of this mission? What potential benefits does it hold for the human race? (Answer in 250 words) (15 Marks)
2. What is the basic principle behind vaccine development? How do vaccines work? What approaches were adopted by the Indian vaccine manufacturers to produce COVID-19 vaccines? (Answer in 250 words) (15 Marks)

UPSC 2021

1. How is the S-400 air defence system technically superior to any other system presently available in the world? (Answer in 250 words) (15 Marks)
2. What are the research and developmental achievements in applied biotechnology? How will these achievements help to uplift the poorer sections of the society? (Answer in 250 words) (15 Marks)
3. The Nobel Prize in Physics of 2014 was jointly awarded to Akasaki, Amano and Nakamura for the invention of Blue LEDs in the 1990s. How has this invention impacted the everyday life of human beings? (Answer in 250 words) (15 Marks)

UPSC 2020

1. What do you understand by nanotechnology and how is it helping in the health sector? (Answer in 150 words) (10 Marks)
2. How is science interwoven deeply with our lives? What are the striking changes in agriculture triggered off by the science-based technologies? (Answer in 150 words) (10 Marks)
3. COVID-19 pandemic has caused unprecedented devastation worldwide. However, technological advancements are being availed readily to win over the crisis. Give an account of how technology was sought to aid management to the pandemic. (Answer in 250 words) (15 Marks)

UPSC 2019

1. What is the Cyber Dome Project? Explain how it can be useful in controlling internet crimes in India. (Answer in 150 words) (10 Marks)
2. How can biotechnology improve the living standards of farmers? (Answer in 250 words) (15 Marks)
3. How is the government of India protecting traditional knowledge of medicine from patenting by pharmaceutical companies? (Answer in 250 words) (15 Marks)

UPSC 2018

1. Why is there so much activity in the field of biotechnology in our country? How has this activity benefitted the field of biopharma? (Answer in 250 words) (15 Marks)
2. With growing energy needs should India keep on expanding its nuclear energy programme? Discuss the facts and fears associated with nuclear energy? (Answer in 250 words) (15 Marks)

UPSC 2017

1. Stem cell therapy is gaining popularity in India to treat a wide variety of medical conditions including Leukaemia, Thalassemia, damaged cornea and several burns. Describe briefly what stem cell therapy is and what advantages it has over other treatments? (Answer in 150 words) (10 Marks)
2. Give an account of the growth and development of nuclear science and technology in India. What is theadvantage of fast breeder reactor programme in India? (15 Marks, 250 Words)

UPSC 2015

1. India’s Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL) which has a database containing formatted information on more than 2 million medicinal formulations is proving a powerful weapon in the country’s fight against erroneous patents. Discuss the pros and cons making this database publicly available under open-source licensing. (Answer in 200 words) (12.5 Marks)
2. What are the areas of prohibitive labour that can be sustainably managed by robots? Discuss the initiatives that can propel research in premier research institutes for substantive and gainful innovation. (Answer in 200 words) (12.5 Marks)

UPSC 2014

1. In a globalised world, intellectual property rights assume significance and are a source of litigation. Broadly distinguish between the terms – copyrights, patents and trade secrets. (Answer in 200 words) (12.5 Marks)

UPSC 2013

1. What do you understand by Umpire Decision Review System in Cricket? Discuss its various components. Explain how silicone tape on the edge of a bat may fool the system? (Answer in 200 words) (10 Marks)
2. What is an FRP composite material? How are they manufactured? Discuss their applications in aviation and automobile industry. (Answer in 100 words) (05 Marks)
3. Bring out the circumstances in 2005 which forced amendment to section 3(d) in the Indian Patent Law, 1970. Discuss how it has been utilized by the Supreme court in its judgment rejecting Novartis patent application for “Glivec”. Discuss briefly the pros and cons of the decision. (Answer in 200 words) (10 Marks)
4. What is digital signature? What does its authentication mean? Giver various salient built-in features of a digital signature. (Answer in 100 words) (05 Marks)
5. How does the 3D printing technology work? List out the advantages and disadvantages of the technology. (Answer in 100 words) (05 Marks)
6. What do you understand by fixed dose drug combinations (FDCs)? Discuss their merits and demerits. (Answer in 200 words) (10 Marks)

Science and Technology Mains PYQs UPSC (Topic 3)

Topic 3 – Achievements of Indians in Science & Technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology. 

UPSC 2020

1. COVID-19 pandemic has caused unprecedented devastation worldwide. However, technological advancements are being availed readily to win over the crisis. Give an account of how technology was sought to aid management of the pandemic. (Answer in 250 words) (15 Marks)

UPSC 2019

1. What is India’s plan to have its own space station and how will it benefit our space programme? (Answer in 150 words) (10 Marks)

UPSC 2018

1. Discuss the work of ‘Bose-Einstein Statistics’ done by Prof. Satyendra Nath Bose and show how it revolutionized the field of Physics. (Answer in 150 words) (10 Marks)

UPSC 2017

1. India has achieved remarkable successes in unmanned space missions including the Chandrayaan and Mars Orbiter Mission, but has not ventured into manned space mission, both in terms of technology and logistics? Explain critically. (Answer in 150 words) (10 Marks)

UPSC 2016

1. Discuss India’s achievements in the field of Space Science and Technology. How the application of this technology has helped India in its socio-economic development? (Answer in 200 words) (12.5 Marks)
2. Why is nanotechnology one of the key technologies of the 21st century? Describe the salient features of Indian Government’s Mission on Nanoscience and Technology and the scope of its application in the development process of the country. (Answer in 200 words) (12.5 Marks)

UPSC 2015

1. What do you understand by ‘Standard Positioning Systems’ and ‘Protection Positioning Systems’ in the GPS era? Discuss the advantages India perceives from its ambitious IRNSS programme employing just seven satellites. (Answer in 200 words) (12.5 Marks)

UPSC 2014

1. Scientific research in Indian universities is declining, because a career in science is not as attractive as our business operations, engineering or administration, and the universities are becoming consumer oriented. Critically comment. (Answer in 200 words) (12.5 Marks)
2. Can overuse and the availability of antibiotics without doctor’s prescription, the contributors to the emergence of drug-resistant diseases in India? What are the available mechanisms for monitoring and control? Critically discuss the various issues involved. (Answer in 200 words) (12.5 Marks)

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