UPSC Science and Technology – Chapter 9: Biotechnology in Agriculture, Environment and Industry (28 MCQs)

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UPSC Science and Technology – Chapter 9: Biotechnology in Agriculture, Environment and Industry (28 MCQs) – 28 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 genome-edited rice varieties released by ICAR in May 2025 (DRR Dhan 100 'Kamala' and Pusa DST Rice 1) differ from Bt cotton mainly because they:

Correct Answer: B [contain no foreign DNA, since the rice plant's own genes were edited]

Explanation:

SDN-1 and SDN-2 genome editing alters the rice plant's own genes, so no foreign DNA is added.

2.  

Which organism forms a partnership with the water fern Azolla to fix nitrogen in paddy fields?

Correct Answer: A [Anabaena]

Explanation:

Anabaena, a blue-green alga, lives inside the leaf cavities of Azolla and fixes atmospheric nitrogen in flooded paddy fields.

3.  

Trichoderma is used in agriculture as a:

Correct Answer: A [biocontrol agent against soil-borne fungal diseases]

Explanation:

Trichoderma is a fungus that attacks and suppresses soil-borne fungal pathogens, so it is used as a biocontrol agent.

4.  

India's first second-generation (2G) ethanol plant was set up at:

Correct Answer: D [Panipat]

Explanation:

2022.

5.  

Oilzapper, developed in India, is used for:

Correct Answer: D [cleaning up oil spills and sludge]

Explanation:

Oilzapper is a TERI-developed mix of bacteria that feed on hydrocarbons, breaking down oil spills and oily sludge.

6.  

The Bt brinjal moratorium in India was imposed in:

Correct Answer: B [2010]

Explanation:

February 2010.

7.  

Third-generation biofuels are produced mainly from:

Correct Answer: A [algae]

Explanation:

Third-generation biofuels are made from algae, which grow fast on non-farm land and do not compete with food crops.

8.  

Swarna-Sub1, a flood-tolerant rice, was developed mainly through:

Correct Answer: B [marker-assisted selection]

Explanation:

Breeders crossed the Sub1 flood-tolerance gene into Swarna and used linked DNA markers to pick seedlings carrying it.

9.  

Biogas consists mainly of:

Correct Answer: D [methane]

Explanation:

Bacteria digesting dung and waste without oxygen produce a gas that is mostly methane, with carbon dioxide as the rest.

10.  

Consider the following statements:

1. Genome-edited rice varieties were released by ICAR in 2025.
2. Herbicide-tolerant Bt cotton is approved for commercial use in India.
3. Bt cotton carries genes from Bacillus thuringiensis.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Correct Answer: B [1 and 3 only]

Explanation:

ICAR released genome-edited rice in May 2025 and Bt cotton carries Cry genes, but herbicide-tolerant Bt cotton is unapproved.

11.  

Assertion (A): Activated sludge treatment lowers the BOD of sewage.

Reason (R): Microbes in the sludge break down the organic matter in sewage.

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

Explanation:

Microbes in activated sludge consume the organic matter in sewage, and this breakdown is exactly what lowers its BOD.

12.  

Phytoremediation means:

Correct Answer: A [using plants to remove pollutants such as heavy metals]

Explanation:

Phytoremediation uses plants to absorb, store or break down pollutants such as heavy metals from soil and water.

13.  

PLA, a biodegradable plastic, is made from:

Correct Answer: C [plant starch or sugar]

Explanation:

PLA (polylactic acid) is made by fermenting sugars from plant starch, such as corn, or from sugarcane into lactic acid.

14.  

Bollgard II differs from Bollgard I in that it:

Correct Answer: D [carries two Cry genes]

Explanation:

Bollgard II stacks two Cry genes (Cry1Ac and Cry2Ab), while Bollgard I carried a single Cry1Ac gene.

15.  

Which body cleared the environmental release of GM mustard DMH-11 in 2022?

Correct Answer: B [GEAC]

Explanation:

The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee under MoEFCC is the body that clears environmental release of GM crops; it cleared DMH-11 in 2022.

16.  

Nuclear polyhedrosis viruses are used in agriculture to:

Correct Answer: C [control caterpillar pests]

Explanation:

Nuclear polyhedrosis viruses infect and kill caterpillars such as Helicoverpa, so they serve as biopesticides.

17.  

Arrange the following in chronological order:

1. Release of genome-edited rice varieties by ICAR
2. Approval of Bt cotton
3. GEAC clearance for environmental release of GM mustard
4. Moratorium on Bt brinjal

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

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

Explanation:

2002, 2010, 2022, 2025.

18.  

In detergents, enzymes such as proteases and lipases are added to:

Correct Answer: B [break down protein and fat stains]

Explanation:

Proteases digest protein stains such as blood and egg, and lipases digest fat and oil stains.

19.  

Hybrid seed production in rice often makes use of:

Correct Answer: D [cytoplasmic male sterility]

Explanation:

Cytoplasmic male sterility gives female parent lines that cannot self-pollinate, so they set only hybrid seed.

20.  

The milk-clotting enzyme in rennet, used to make cheese and now often produced by genetically modified microbes, is:

Correct Answer: C [chymosin]

Explanation:

Chymosin, the main enzyme of rennet, clots milk protein for cheese; much of it now comes from GM microbes.

21.  
UPSC Prelims 2024

"Membrane Bioreactors" are often discussed in the context of:

Correct Answer: D [Wastewater treatment technologies]

Explanation:

A membrane bioreactor joins activated sludge treatment with membrane filtration to clean sewage and industrial wastewater.

22.  
UPSC Prelims 2023

'Aerial metagenomics' best refers to which one of the following situations?

Correct Answer: A [Collecting DNA samples from air in a habitat at one go]

Explanation:

Aerial metagenomics sequences all DNA fragments captured from a habitat's air at once to identify the species present.

23.  
UPSC Prelims 2021

Bollgard I and Bollgard II technologies are mentioned in the context of

Correct Answer: B [developing genetically modified crop plants]

Explanation:

Bt cotton.

24.  
UPSC Prelims 2018

With reference to the Genetically Modified mustard (GM mustard) developed in India, consider the following statements:

1. GM mustard has the genes of a soil bacterium that give the plant the property of pest-resistance to a wide variety of pests.
2. GM mustard has the genes that allow the plant cross-pollination and hybridization.
3. GM mustard has been developed jointly by the IARI and Punjab Agricultural University.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Correct Answer: B [2 only]

Explanation:

DMH-11 carries barnase-barstar genes that enable male sterility and hybrid seed, and it was developed at Delhi University.

25.  
UPSC Prelims 2018

Consider the following:

1. Birds
2. Dust blowing
3. Rain
4. Wind blowing

Which of the above spread plant diseases?

Correct Answer: D [1, 2, 3 and 4]

Explanation:

Birds, blowing dust, rain splash and wind all carry spores, bacteria or viruses from infected plants to healthy ones.

26.  
UPSC Prelims 2014

Consider the following techniques/phenomena:

1. Budding and grafting in fruit plants
2. Cytoplasmic male sterility
3. Gene silencing

Which of the above is/are used to create transgenic crops?

Correct Answer: B [2 and 3 only]

Explanation:

Cytoplasmic male sterility and gene silencing are used in developing transgenic crops; budding and grafting only join plant parts.

27.  
UPSC Prelims 2014

Consider the following statements:

1. Maize can be used for the production of starch.
2. Oil extracted from maize can be a feedstock for biodiesel.
3. Alcoholic beverages can be produced by using maize.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Correct Answer: D [1, 2 and 3]

Explanation:

Maize yields industrial starch, its oil can feed biodiesel making, and its grain is fermented for alcoholic beverages.

28.  
UPSC Prelims 2013

Mycorrhizal biotechnology has been used in rehabilitating degraded sites because mycorrhiza enables the plants to

1. Resist drought and increase the absorptive area
2. Tolerate extremes of pH
3. Resist disease infestation

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Correct Answer: D [1, 2 and 3]

Explanation:

Mycorrhizal fungi widen the root absorptive area, aid drought and pH tolerance and protect roots from pathogens.

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