Sunday Science Sprint: 12 PYQ-Style MCQs on Space, Biotech and Defence Tech

Quick Answer: This Sunday Science Sprint delivers 12 verified, PYQ-style multiple-choice questions covering this week’s high-yield revision areas — space technology, biotechnology and defence technology. Each question mirrors the framing used in UPSC Prelims, SSC CGL and Banking exams, followed by a full answer key with one-line explanations, a PYQ trend analysis and five revision pointers to lock in the facts.

Quiz Instructions and Marking Scheme

Format: 12 questions, 4 options each. Award yourself +1 for every correct answer and apply −0.33 (UPSC pattern) or −0.25 (SSC/Banking pattern) for every wrong answer, depending on your target exam. Attempt all questions in one timed sitting of 15 minutes for realistic exam practice.

Section A: Space Technology MCQs (Q1–Q4)

Q1. Which launch vehicle is ISRO’s primary workhorse for placing satellites in polar orbits?

1. GSLV Mk III
2. PSLV
3. SSLV
4. LVM3

Q2. Aditya-L1, India’s solar observatory mission, is placed at which location?

1. Low Earth Orbit
2. Geostationary Orbit
3. Halo orbit around the L1 Lagrange point
4. Lunar orbit

Q3. Consider the following pairs — satellite type and primary application:

1. Cartosat — Earth observation and mapping
2. INSAT — Communication and broadcasting
3. RISAT — Radar imaging in all-weather conditions

How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

1. Only one
2. Only two
3. All three
4. None

Q4. Which of the following statements about Gaganyaan, India’s human spaceflight programme, is correct?

1. It aims to send three astronauts into low Earth orbit aboard an LVM3 rocket
2. It is a joint mission with NASA to the International Space Station
3. It uses the PSLV rocket to carry crew
4. It targets a landing on the lunar south pole

Section B: Biotechnology MCQs (Q5–Q8)

Q5. Bt cotton, approved for commercial cultivation in India, provides resistance against which pest?

1. Locusts
2. Bollworm
3. Aphids
4. Stem borers

Q6. The technology used in the Covishield and Covaxin vaccines differs in which of the following ways?

1. Covishield uses mRNA technology; Covaxin uses a viral vector
2. Covishield uses a viral vector platform; Covaxin uses an inactivated whole-virus platform
3. Both use mRNA technology
4. Both use recombinant protein subunits

Q7. The Human Genome Project, completed in 2003, aimed to:

1. Clone human organs for transplantation
2. Determine the complete DNA sequence of the human genome
3. Create synthetic human chromosomes
4. Map only disease-causing genes

Q8. Which institution is India’s apex body for biotechnology research and development?

1. CSIR
2. ICAR
3. Department of Biotechnology (DBT)
4. NITI Aayog

Section C: Defence Technology MCQs (Q9–Q12)

Q9. Agni-V, developed by DRDO, is best classified as:

1. A short-range ballistic missile
2. An intercontinental-range ballistic missile (surface-to-surface)
3. A cruise missile
4. An anti-tank guided missile

Q10. Which of the following missile–category pairs is/are correctly matched?

1. BrahMos — Supersonic cruise missile
2. Akash — Surface-to-air missile
3. Nag — Anti-tank guided missile

Options:

1. 1 and 2 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 1 and 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3

Q11. The TEJAS Light Combat Aircraft is developed by which organisation’s design bureau?

1. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)
2. Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) under DRDO
3. Bharat Dynamics Limited
4. Bharat Earth Movers Limited

Q12. Mission Shakti, demonstrated in 2019, showcased India’s capability in:

1. Anti-satellite (ASAT) warfare
2. Submarine-launched nuclear missiles
3. Hypersonic glide vehicles
4. Directed-energy weapons

Answer Key with Quick Explanations

PYQ Trend Analysis: How Science Tech Is Asked

In UPSC Prelims, science and technology typically contributes 10–15 questions, with space technology (missions, orbits, launch vehicles), biotechnology (GM crops, vaccines, genome editing) and defence indigenisation being the recurring themes. SSC CGL and CHSL lean towards static facts — full forms, firsts, ranges and institutions — while Banking and CLAT ask application-level current affairs. Statement-based and “how many pairs are correct” formats dominate UPSC; one-liner factual recall dominates SSC. Verify every development against ISRO, DRDO and PIB releases, and cross-check with NCERT basics for concept clarity.

Common Mistakes Aspirants Make in Science MCQs

• PSLV vs GSLV confusion: PSLV places satellites in polar/SSO orbits; GSLV and LVM3 carry heavier payloads to geostationary transfer orbit. Examiners exploit this pair constantly.
• Missile classification traps: BrahMos is a cruise missile, not ballistic; Agni series are ballistic, not cruise. Range-based classification (Prithvi = short range, Agni-V = longest range) is a favourite trap.
• GM crop overreach: Only Bt cotton is commercially approved in India — options sneak in Bt brinjal (under moratorium) and GM mustard as distractors.
• Vaccine platform mixing: mRNA (never used in India’s approved vaccines), viral vector and inactivated platforms are deliberately jumbled across options.
• Institution mix-ups: ADA designs Tejas, HAL produces it; DBT funds biotech, CSIR does broader industrial research. Read “developed by” vs “manufactured by” carefully.

This Week’s Revision Pointers

1. Gaganyaan’s human-rated LVM3 will carry a three-member crew to low Earth orbit — remember the rocket, orbit and crew size triplet.
2. Aditya-L1’s seven payloads study the solar corona, solar wind and chromosphere from the L1 halo orbit — a current-affairs favourite.
3. Bt cotton remains India’s sole approved GM crop; GM mustard is approved for environmental release but not yet commercial cultivation.
4. BrahMos has been extended and tested from ships, submarines, land and Sukhoi-30MKI aircraft — note its multi-platform nature.
5. DRDO’s TEJAS Mk1A and Akash-NG represent the indigenisation push — link them to Atmanirbhar Bharat in answers.

Score Yourself: Performance Benchmarks

Frequently Asked Questions

How many science and technology questions appear in UPSC Prelims?

Typically 10–15 questions yearly come from science, technology and current-affairs-linked tech sections, making it one of the highest-scoring areas when prepared systematically through PYQs and weekly current affairs.

Are current affairs-based MCQs asked in SSC exams?

Yes. SSC CGL and CHSL general awareness papers combine static science (biology, physics, chemistry basics) with recent developments in space, defence and biotechnology announced via PIB and ministry releases.

How should I revise science and technology for competitive exams?

Combine NCERT basics (Classes 6–12 for SSC; focused science-tech reading for UPSC) with weekly current-affairs quizzes, PYQ analysis of the last 5–10 years, and a running notes register of missions, missiles and institutions.

What is the best source for space and defence technology current affairs?

Primary sources are PIB releases, the official ISRO and DRDO websites, and the Ministry of Defence’s year-end review — supplemented by reliable exam-focused compilations that convert these into PYQ-pattern MCQs.

Related reading

• Nobel Prize Season 2026: How the Awards Work and Which Categories Exams Ask About
• ISRO's Gaganyaan Mission Explained: Crew Module, LVM3 and Human-Rating for UPSC & SSC

Related explainers

Synchronized and Considered Orbits: Satellites, Launch Vehicles and Key Terms for Exams

Nobel Prize Season 2026: How the Awards Work and Which Categories Exams Ask About

ISRO’s Gaganyaan Mission Explained: Crew Module, LVM3 and Human-Rating for UPSC & SSC