UPSC Post-Independence India – Chapter 9: Science, Technology and Education after Independence (22 MCQs)

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UPSC Post-Independence India – Chapter 9: Science, Technology and Education after Independence (22 MCQs) – 22 questions, subject: History. Every question has the correct answer with a one-line explanation; tap "Show Answer". Free practice for TNPSC, UPSC, SSC, Bank and RRB exams – Shanmugam IAS Academy, Coimbatore.

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1.  

The Atomic Energy Commission of India was first set up in:

Correct Answer: A [1948]

Explanation:

The Atomic Energy Commission was set up on 10 August 1948, months after the Atomic Energy Act of April 1948.

2.  

The Atomic Energy Establishment, Trombay, was renamed after:

Correct Answer: B [Homi J. Bhabha]

Explanation:

The Atomic Energy Establishment, Trombay, was renamed the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) in 1967 after Homi J. Bhabha.

3.  

India's first satellite, Aryabhata, was launched in:

Correct Answer: C [1975]

Explanation:

Aryabhata was launched from the Soviet Union on 19 April 1975; the project was led by U.R. Rao.

4.  

The first sounding rocket in India was launched from:

Correct Answer: D [Thumba]

Explanation:

India's first sounding rocket was launched from Thumba, near Thiruvananthapuram, in 1963.

5.  

The University Education Commission of 1948–49 was chaired by:

Correct Answer: B [S. Radhakrishnan]

Explanation:

S. Radhakrishnan chaired the 1948–49 University Education Commission, which recommended setting up a University Grants Commission.

6.  

The first IIT was set up in 1951 at:

Correct Answer: D [Kharagpur]

Explanation:

IIT Kharagpur opened in 1951 in the former Hijli detention camp as the first IIT.

7.  

The National Policy on Education of 1968 is known for adopting:

Correct Answer: C [the three-language formula]

Explanation:

NPE 1968, India's first national education policy, adopted the three-language formula and free compulsory education up to 14.

8.  

The Scientific Policy Resolution was adopted in:

Correct Answer: D [1958]

Explanation:

The Scientific Policy Resolution was adopted by Parliament on 4 March 1958.

9.  

The Pokhran test of 1974 was led by:

Correct Answer: D [Raja Ramanna]

Explanation:

Raja Ramanna led the team behind the 18 May 1974 Pokhran 'peaceful nuclear explosion'.

10.  

Consider the following statements:

1. The University Grants Commission became a statutory body in 1956.
2. The Kothari Commission recommended the 10+2+3 pattern of education.
3. The 42nd Amendment moved education from the Concurrent List to the State List.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Correct Answer: B [1 and 2 only]

Explanation:

Statements 1 and 2 are true; statement 3 reverses the change, as education moved from the State List to the Concurrent List.

11.  

Assertion (A): Homi Bhabha planned a three-stage nuclear power programme.

Reason (R): India has limited uranium but large thorium reserves.

Correct Answer: A [Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A]

Explanation:

The three stages were designed to stretch scarce uranium and finally use India's large thorium reserves, so R explains A.

12.  

INCOSPAR, the forerunner of ISRO, was founded under:

Correct Answer: D [Vikram Sarabhai]

Explanation:

INCOSPAR, the forerunner of ISRO, was founded in 1962 under Vikram Sarabhai.

13.  

The Satellite Instructional Television Experiment (1975–76) was used mainly for:

Correct Answer: B [educational television in villages]

Explanation:

SITE used NASA's ATS-6 satellite to beam educational television programmes to about 2,400 villages in 1975–76.

14.  

The first research reactor in India, built at Trombay in 1956, was:

Correct Answer: C [Apsara]

Explanation:

Apsara, at Trombay, reached criticality in August 1956 and was the first research reactor in Asia.

15.  

The Secondary Education Commission (1952–53) was chaired by:

Correct Answer: C [A. Lakshmanaswami Mudaliar]

Explanation:

A. Lakshmanaswami Mudaliar chaired the 1952–53 Secondary Education Commission, which recommended diversified secondary courses.

16.  

The first Director of CSIR, after whom a major science prize is named, was:

Correct Answer: A [Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar]

Explanation:

Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar was CSIR's first Director, and the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar science prize is named after him.

17.  

Arrange the following in chronological order:

1. IIT Kharagpur opened
2. Aryabhata launched
3. ISRO formed
4. Atomic Energy Commission set up

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Correct Answer: C [4-1-3-2]

Explanation:

Order: Atomic Energy Commission set up (1948) → IIT Kharagpur opened (1951) → ISRO formed (1969) → Aryabhata launched (1975).

18.  

The project director of SLV-3, which placed Rohini in orbit in 1980, was:

Correct Answer: A [A.P.J. Abdul Kalam]

Explanation:

A.P.J. Abdul Kalam was project director of SLV-3, which placed Rohini in orbit from Sriharikota on 18 July 1980.

19.  

Which of the following was a major gap in education in the first decades after independence?

Correct Answer: B [Low mass literacy and weak primary schooling]

Explanation:

Literacy was only about 18% in 1951 and 43% in 1981, and primary education stayed underfunded.

20.  

The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) was set up in:

Correct Answer: C [1961]

Explanation:

The NCERT was set up in 1961 to advise governments on school education, curricula and textbooks.

21.  
UPSC Prelims 1998

Match the names of outstanding Indian scientists given in List I with area of their specialized work given in List II and select the correct answer by using the codes given below the lists:

List I – A. Dr. Raja Ramanna; B. Dr. M.S. Swaminathan; C. Prof. U.R Rao; D. Prof. Meghnad Saha

List II – 1. Plant chemistry; 2. Nuclear physics; 3. Thermodynamics & astrophysics; 4. Space research; 5. Agricultural science

Correct Answer: C [A-2; B-5; C-4; D-3]

Explanation:

Ramanna (nuclear physics), Swaminathan (agricultural science), Rao (space research), Saha (astrophysics).

22.  
UPSC Prelims 2009

Under the administration of which one of the following is the Department of Atomic Energy?

Correct Answer: A [Prime Minister's Office]

Explanation:

the DAE was placed under the direct charge of the Prime Minister on 3 August 1954.

➤ Full notes, maps, tables, a reason for every option and Mains PYQs – U04 · Post-Independence India (UPSC book, ₹249): www.shanmugamiasacademy.in/study-materials/upsc-post-independence-india

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