UPSC Science and Technology – Chapter 2: Achievements of Indians in Science and Technology (22 MCQs)

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UPSC Science and Technology – Chapter 2: Achievements of Indians in Science and Technology (22 MCQs) – 22 questions, subject: Science & Technology. 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 Raman effect, discovered on 28 February 1928, relates to:

Correct Answer: B [scattering of light]

Explanation:

The Raman effect is the change in wavelength of light scattered by molecules, which Raman reported on 28 February 1928.

2.  

Bosons are named after:

Correct Answer: C [Satyendra Nath Bose]

Explanation:

Bose–Einstein statistics, 1924.

3.  

The ionisation equation used to study the physics of stars was given by:

Correct Answer: D [Meghnad Saha]

Explanation:

1920.

4.  

Venkatraman Ramakrishnan won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry (2009) for work on the:

Correct Answer: A [structure and function of the ribosome]

Explanation:

Ramakrishnan shared the 2009 Chemistry Nobel for studies of the structure and function of the ribosome.

5.  

The Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR) was set up in 1962 under the leadership of:

Correct Answer: B [Vikram Sarabhai]

Explanation:

Vikram Sarabhai led INCOSPAR, set up in 1962, which became ISRO in 1969; he is the father of India's space programme.

6.  

India's three-stage nuclear power programme was designed to make use of India's large reserves of:

Correct Answer: B [thorium]

Explanation:

India has modest uranium but very large thorium reserves, so Bhabha's three-stage plan ends with thorium-based reactors.

7.  

SLV-3, India's first indigenous satellite launch vehicle, placed Rohini in orbit in:

Correct Answer: C [1980]

Explanation:

SLV-3, with A. P. J. Abdul Kalam as project director, placed the Rohini satellite in orbit in 1980.

8.  

The first winner of the World Food Prize (1987) was:

Correct Answer: B [M. S. Swaminathan]

Explanation:

M. S. Swaminathan received the first World Food Prize in 1987 for spreading high-yielding wheat and rice in India.

9.  

National Mathematics Day, 22 December, marks the birthday of:

Correct Answer: A [Srinivasa Ramanujan]

Explanation:

Srinivasa Ramanujan was born on 22 December 1887; the day has been National Mathematics Day since 2012.

10.  

Consider the following statements:

1. C. V. Raman did his Nobel-winning work in India.
2. Har Gobind Khorana won the Nobel Prize for interpreting the genetic code.
3. S. N. Bose won the Nobel Prize in Physics.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Correct Answer: B [1 and 2 only]

Explanation:

Raman did his Nobel work in Calcutta and Khorana interpreted the genetic code; S. N. Bose never received a Nobel Prize.

11.  

Assertion (A): Homi Bhabha is called the father of India's nuclear programme.

Reason (R): He founded TIFR, headed the Atomic Energy Commission and designed the three-stage nuclear power programme.

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

Explanation:

Bhabha founded TIFR, headed the Atomic Energy Commission and designed the three-stage plan, which is why he is called its father.

12.  

The crescograph, an instrument to measure plant growth, was invented by:

Correct Answer: C [Jagadish Chandra Bose]

Explanation:

Jagadish Chandra Bose devised the crescograph to record the minute growth and responses of plants.

13.  

Who is known as the "Missile Woman of India"?

Correct Answer: D [Tessy Thomas]

Explanation:

Tessy Thomas, project director for Agni missiles at DRDO, is popularly called the Missile Woman of India.

14.  

National Technology Day (11 May) commemorates:

Correct Answer: C [the Pokhran-II nuclear tests]

Explanation:

1998.

15.  

The Indian Statistical Institute was founded in 1931 by:

Correct Answer: B [P. C. Mahalanobis]

Explanation:

P. C. Mahalanobis founded the Indian Statistical Institute in Calcutta in 1931.

16.  

The Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar replaced earlier science awards including the:

Correct Answer: D [Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize]

Explanation:

The Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar (2023) replaced earlier science awards; its Vigyan Yuva award now carries the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar name.

17.  

Arrange the Nobel Prizes won by the following in chronological order:

1. S. Chandrasekhar
2. C. V. Raman
3. Venkatraman Ramakrishnan
4. Har Gobind Khorana

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

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

Explanation:

Raman 1930, Khorana 1968, Chandrasekhar 1983, Ramakrishnan 2009.

18.  

Which ancient Indian work gave rules for arithmetic with zero?

Correct Answer: D [Brahmasphutasiddhanta of Brahmagupta]

Explanation:

628 CE.

19.  

The first Indian woman to be elected a Fellow of the Royal Society, in 2019, was:

Correct Answer: A [Gagandeep Kang]

Explanation:

Gagandeep Kang, a rotavirus vaccine researcher, became the first Indian woman elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 2019.

20.  

The Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science (1876), where C. V. Raman did his Nobel-winning work, was founded by:

Correct Answer: C [Mahendralal Sircar]

Explanation:

Mahendralal Sircar founded the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science in Calcutta in 1876.

21.  
UPSC Prelims 2016

A recent movie titled The Man Who Knew Infinity is based on the biography of:

Correct Answer: A [S. Ramanujan]

Explanation:

the film is based on Robert Kanigel's biography of Srinivasa Ramanujan.

22.  
UPSC Prelims 2015

The Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development for 2014 was given to which one of the following?

Correct Answer: C [Indian Space Research Organisation]

Explanation:

ISRO, for the Mars Orbiter Mission and peaceful uses of space.

➤ Full notes, maps, tables, a reason for every option and Mains PYQs – U17 · Science and Technology (UPSC book, ₹249): www.shanmugamiasacademy.in/study-materials/upsc-science-technology

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