UPSC Prelims 2015 Science and Technology questions: topic-wise weightage
UPSC Prelims 2015 asked 9 science and technology questions in GS Paper I, spread over 3 topics. See the science and technology weightage for 2015 below, then attempt each question with the official answer and an explanation.
Science and Technology 2015: questions by topic
- Biology, health and biotechnology3
- Space technology3
- Physics and chemistry in daily life; energy and nuclear technology3
Counted from the 9 questions on this page, tagged by topic in the Battle IAS PYQ bank.
Seeing 9 Science and Technology questions spread over 3 topics can feel overwhelming. That's exactly why the Battle IAS PYQ Book maps every question topic by topic, so you know what to study first. Download free sample
Biology, health and biotechnology 3
With reference to the use of nano-technology in health sector, which of the following statements is/are correct?
- 1. Targeted drug delivery is made possible by nanotechnology.
- 2. Nanotechnology can largely contribute to gene therapy.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Answer (c) & explanation
Both are correct (c). Nanoparticles such as liposomes, dendrimers and gold particles can carry drugs straight to diseased cells like tumours, sparing healthy tissue (1). They also act as non-viral carriers of genes in gene therapy (2).
The lipid nanoparticles used in mRNA COVID-19 vaccines apply the same idea, wrapping fragile genetic material to carry it into cells. Nano-based diagnostics can also detect diseases earlier. Notice how a physics idea, the special behaviour of matter at the nanoscale, is reshaping medicine, though safety and toxicity questions remain.
Answer as per the official UPSC answer key.
The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee is constituted under the
Answer (c) & explanation
The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee works under the Rules, 1989 framed under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 (c). It sits in the Environment Ministry and approves the environmental release of GM organisms. The Food Safety Act (a), the GI Act (b) and the Wildlife Act (d) do not create it.
GEAC approved Bt cotton in 2002, India's only commercial GM crop so far, and conditionally approved GM mustard (DMH-11) for environmental release in 2022. It also cleared then put on hold Bt brinjal in 2009–10. Notice how biotech regulation balances innovation with biosafety.
Answer as per the official UPSC answer key.
H1N1 virus is sometimes mentioned in the news with reference to which one of the following diseases?
Answer (d) & explanation
H1N1 is the influenza A strain behind the 2009 swine flu pandemic (d), and it has returned in seasonal waves in India. H and N stand for the surface proteins haemagglutinin and neuraminidase. AIDS (a) is caused by HIV, dengue (c) by the dengue virus spread by the Aedes mosquito, and bird flu (b) is usually caused by H5N1.
The 2009 virus mixed genes from pig, bird and human flu viruses, which is why it was called swine flu. Notice how the One Health approach links human, animal and environmental health to prevent such outbreaks.
Answer as per the official UPSC answer key.
Space technology 3
With reference to ‘Near Field Communication (NFC) Technology’, which of the following statements is/are correct?
- 1. It is a contactless communication technology that uses electromagnetic radio fields.
- 2. NFC is designed for use by devices which can be at a distance of even a metre from each other.
- 3. NFC can use encryption when sending sensitive information.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Answer (c) & explanation
Statements 1 and 3 are correct (c). NFC is a contactless technology using electromagnetic radio fields at 13.56 MHz (1). It supports encryption for sensitive data such as tap-to-pay transactions (3). Statement 2 is wrong: NFC works only within about 4 cm, which is part of its security. A one-metre range is closer to some RFID or Bluetooth uses.
NFC powers contactless cards, phone wallets, metro cards and FASTag-like systems, though FASTag itself uses RFID. Notice how short range is a design choice for safety: a device must be held close on purpose.
Answer as per the official UPSC answer key.
The term ‘Goldilocks Zone’ is often seen in the news in the context of
Answer (c) & explanation
The Goldilocks zone, or habitable zone, is the band of orbits around a star where a planet is neither too hot nor too cold, so liquid water can exist. It is used in the search for Earth-like planets in outer space (c). It does not refer to habitable limits above Earth's surface (a), shale gas regions (b) or meteorites with precious metals (d).
The name comes from the fairy tale in which Goldilocks picks porridge that is "just right". Missions such as Kepler, TESS and the James Webb Space Telescope study such planets. Notice how astronomy meets biology in the search for life.
Answer as per the official UPSC answer key.
In which of the following activities are Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) satellites used?
- 1. Assessment of crop productivity
- 2. Locating groundwater resources
- 3. Mineral exploration
- 4. Telecommunications
- 5. Traffic studies
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Answer (a) & explanation
IRS satellites, such as Resourcesat, Cartosat and Oceansat, image the earth for crop production forecasts (1), groundwater prospect maps (2) and mineral and geological mapping (3). So the answer is (a). Telecommunication (4) is the job of the GSAT/INSAT series, and UPSC's key does not count traffic studies (5).
IRS data also supports forest mapping, urban planning, disaster monitoring and the FASAL crop forecasting programme. Bhuvan is ISRO's geoportal that shares this data. Notice how India built its space programme around development needs.
Answer as per the official UPSC answer key.
Physics and chemistry in daily life; energy and nuclear technology 3
In the context of modern scientific research, consider the following statements about ‘IceCube’, a particle detector located at South Pole, which was recently in the news :
- 1. It is the world’s largest neutrino detector, encompassing a cubic kilometre of ice.
- 2. It is a powerful telescope to search for dark matter.
- 3. It is buried deep in the ice.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer (d) & explanation
All three are correct (d). IceCube, at the Amundsen–Scott South Pole station, has thousands of light sensors spread through a cubic kilometre of ice, making it the world's largest neutrino detector (1). It also searches for dark matter particles (2). Its sensors are buried 1.5–2.5 km deep in the ice (3), where the ice is very clear and shielded from other radiation.
Neutrinos are nearly massless particles that pass through matter almost untouched, so they carry information from distant cosmic events. India's proposed India-based Neutrino Observatory planned to study them under a mountain in Tamil Nadu.
Answer as per the official UPSC answer key.
With reference to ‘fuel cells’ in which hydrogen-rich fuel and oxygen are used to generate electricity, consider the following statements :
- 1. If pure hydrogen is used as a fuel, the fuel cell emits heat and water as by-products.
- 2. Fuel cells can be used for powering buildings and not for small devices like laptop computers.
- 3. Fuel cells produce electricity in the form of Alternating Current (AC).
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer (a) & explanation
Only statement 1 is correct (a). A hydrogen fuel cell combines hydrogen and oxygen electrochemically and gives off only water and heat (1). Statement 2 is wrong: fuel cells come in all sizes, from micro cells for laptops to megawatt units for buildings. Statement 3 is wrong: their output is direct current, which an inverter converts to AC.
Fuel cells are clean at the point of use, but their green credentials depend on how the hydrogen is made. India's National Green Hydrogen Mission (2023) aims for 5 million tonnes a year by 2030. Notice how this links chemistry to clean energy policy.
Answer as per the official UPSC answer key.
With reference to the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited (IREDA), which of the following statements is/are correct?
- 1. It is a Public Limited Government Company.
- 2. It is a Non-Banking Financial Company.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Answer (c) & explanation
Both are correct (c). IREDA (1987), under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, is a public limited government company (1). It is registered with the RBI as a Non-Banking Financial Company that lends to renewable energy and energy-efficiency projects (2).
IREDA was listed on the stock exchanges in 2023 and became a Navratna company in 2024. It helps finance India's goal of 500 GW of non-fossil capacity by 2030. Notice how specialised lenders bridge the gap between policy targets and actual projects on the ground.
Answer as per the official UPSC answer key.
All years by topic
Every question from 2011 to 2026, grouped by syllabus topic, with year-wise trends.