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Science & TechnologyMediumAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2018, GS Paper I

Consider the following pairs : Terms sometimes seen in news — Context/Topic 1. Belle II experiment — Artificial Intelligence 2. Blockchain technology — Digital/Cryptocurrency 3. CRISPR-Cas9 — Particle Physics Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched ?

  1. A.1 and 3 only
  2. B.2 only
  3. C.2 and 3 only
  4. D.1, 2 and 3

Correct answer

B. 2 only

Explanation

The correct answer is B, 2 only. Only blockchain is matched with its right field. Belle II is a particle physics experiment at the SuperKEKB electron-positron collider in Tsukuba, Japan; it studies B mesons to look for physics beyond the Standard Model, and Indian institutes such as TIFR take part in it. It has nothing to do with artificial intelligence, so pair 1 is wrong. Blockchain is a shared, tamper-proof digital ledger, and it is the technology on which Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies run, so pair 2 is correct. CRISPR-Cas9 is a gene-editing tool that uses the Cas9 enzyme to cut DNA at a chosen spot; its developers, Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer Doudna, won the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. It belongs to biotechnology, not particle physics, so pair 3 is wrong. Option A is wrong because both its pairs are mismatched. Option C is wrong because it includes pair 3. Option D is wrong because pairs 1 and 3 are wrong. Exam tip: the question swaps the fields: Belle II = particle physics, CRISPR-Cas9 = gene editing.

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Q2.Science & TechnologyAsked in: CDS · CDS-I 2025, GKMedium

"Million Minds Augmenting National Aspirations and Knowledge" (MANAK), a scheme under the flagship programme, Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE), caters to :

  1. A.The college students studying in the undergraduate programme in the age group of 19 - 25 years.
  2. B.The research scholars in recognized research laboratories of national importance.
  3. C.The college teachers of the country.
  4. D.The school children studying in classes 6 - 10 in the age group of 10 - 15 years.
Show answer
Correct answer: D. The school children studying in classes 6 - 10 in the age group of 10 - 15 years.

INSPIRE-MANAK is the school-level part of INSPIRE. INSPIRE is run by the Department of Science and Technology to draw young talent into science.

Q3.Science & TechnologyAsked in: CDS · CDS-II 2016, GKMedium

Which one of the following statements is not correct?

  1. A.BrahMos is a supersonic cruise missile made by India and Russian Federation.
  2. B.The name BrahMos came from two rivers, Brahmaputra of India and Moskva of Russia.
  3. C.Indian military scientists were capable of integrating BrahMos cruise missile with Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter.
  4. D.Defence Research and Development Organization is the manufacturer of Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter.
Show answer
Correct answer: D. Defence Research and Development Organization is the manufacturer of Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter.

The Sukhoi-30 MKI is not made by DRDO; it was designed by Russia's Sukhoi bureau and is built in India under licence by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) at Nashik.

Q4.Science & TechnologyAsked in: CDS · CDS-II 2018, GKEasy

'Tejas' is the name of which one of the following?

  1. A.Main battle tank
  2. B.Nuclear submarine
  3. C.Light combat aircraft
  4. D.Aircraft carrier
Show answer
Correct answer: C. Light combat aircraft

Tejas is India's indigenous single-engine light combat aircraft built for the Indian Air Force. The Light Combat Aircraft programme was started in the 1980s to replace the ageing MiG-21 fleet.

Q5.Science & TechnologyAsked in: CDS · CDS-I 2024, GKMedium

Which one of the following is an indigenous assault rifle developed by DRDO?

  1. A.Heckler
  2. B.T91
  3. C.Tikka
  4. D.Ugram
Show answer
Correct answer: D. Ugram

Ugram is a 7.62 mm assault rifle designed in India by DRDO for the armed forces and police. Ugram was developed by the Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE), Pune, a DRDO laboratory, together with a private Hyderabad firm, Dvipa Armour India, and it was unveiled in January 2024.