47 practice questions on Emerging Technologies from the Science & Technology section of the UPSC Prelims syllabus.
47 come with a written explanation and 17 are actual previous year questions.
Try the sample set below - the answer stays hidden until you ask for it.
6 Easy24 Medium17 Hard17 from past papers
Sample questions
Q1
Previous year questionmedium
Consider the following statements :
I. It is expected that Majorana 1 chip will enable quantum computing.
II. Majorana 1 chip has been introduced by Amazon Web Services (AWS).
III. Deep learning is a subset of machine learning.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
AI and II only
BII and III only
CI and III only
DI, II and III
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: C - I and III only
The Majorana 1 chip is designed to advance quantum computing using topological qubits, so statement I is correct, but it was introduced by Microsoft, not Amazon Web Services, so statement II is wrong. Deep learning, which uses multilayered neural networks, is indeed a subset of machine learning, validating statement III. Hence only I and III are correct.
Q2
Previous year questionmedium
With reference to 'Bitcoins', sometimes seen in the news, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. Bitcoins are tracked by the Central Banks of the countries.
2. Anyone with a Bitcoin address can send and receive Bitcoins from anyone else with a Bitcoin address.
3. Online payments can be sent without either side knowing the identity of the other.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
A1 and 2 only
B2 and 3 only
C3 only
D1, 2 and 3
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B - 2 and 3 only
Bitcoin is a decentralised cryptocurrency that operates without any central authority, so it is not tracked or controlled by central banks, making statement 1 incorrect. Anyone holding a Bitcoin address can send and receive Bitcoins to and from any other address on the peer-to-peer network, so statement 2 is correct, and because addresses are pseudonymous, payments can be made without either party knowing the other's real identity, making statement 3 correct. With statements 2 and 3 valid, the answer is (b). Options (a), (c) and (d) wrongly include the central-bank tracking claim or omit a correct statement.
Q3
Previous year questionmedium
With reference to 'LiFi', recently in the news, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. It uses light as the medium for high-speed data transmission.
2. It is a wireless technology and is several times faster than 'WiFi'.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
A1 only
B2 only
CBoth 1 and 2
DNeither 1 nor 2
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: C - Both 1 and 2
LiFi (Light Fidelity) transmits data by modulating visible light from LED sources, so statement 1 correctly describes light as its medium. It is a wireless optical technology capable of data rates many times higher than conventional radio-based WiFi, so statement 2 is also correct. Because both descriptions are accurate, 'Both 1 and 2' is the answer.
Q4
Previous year questioneasy
In the context of wearable technology, which of the following tasks is/are accomplished by wearable devices?
1. Location identification of a person
2. Sleep monitoring of a person
3. Assisting the hearing impaired person
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
A1 only
B2 and 3 only
C3 only
D1, 2 and 3
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: D - 1, 2 and 3
Modern wearables can perform all three functions: GPS-enabled devices identify a person's location, fitness bands and smartwatches track sleep patterns, and hearing aids and similar wearables assist the hearing impaired. Since all three statements describe genuine wearable capabilities, the answer is 1, 2 and 3.
Q5
Previous year questionmedium
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?
A1 and 3 only
B2 only
C2 and 3 only
D1, 2 and 3
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B - 2 only
Only pair 2 is correctly matched. Blockchain is a distributed ledger technology that underpins digital and cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, so pair 2 is right. Pair 1 is wrong because the Belle II experiment is a particle physics experiment studying the behaviour of subatomic particles at the SuperKEKB collider, not artificial intelligence. Pair 3 is wrong because CRISPR-Cas9 is a gene-editing tool used in molecular biology and genetics, not particle physics. Hence only 2 is correct.
Q6
Previous year questionmedium
With reference to "Blockchain Technology", consider the following statements:
1. It is a public ledger that everyone can inspect, but which no single user controls.
2. The structure and design of blockchain is such that all the data in it are about cryptocurrency only.
3. Applications that depend on basic features of blockchain can be developed without anybody's permission.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A1 only
B1 and 2 only
C2 only
D1 and 3 only
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: D - 1 and 3 only
Statements 1 and 3 are correct: a blockchain is a distributed public ledger that anyone can inspect but no single user controls, and permissionless blockchains allow applications to be built without anyone's approval. Statement 2 is wrong because blockchain can store any kind of data and supports many applications beyond cryptocurrency, such as supply-chain and land records. Hence the correct answer is 1 and 3 only.
Q7
Previous year questioneasy
Which one of the following words/phrases is most appropriately used to denote "an interoperable network of 3D virtual worlds that can be accessed simultaneously by millions of users, who can exert property rights over virtual items"?
ABig data analytics
BCryptography
CMetaverse
DVirtual matrix
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: C - Metaverse
The Metaverse is precisely defined as an interoperable network of persistent 3D virtual worlds that millions of users can access simultaneously through avatars, interacting in real time and holding property rights over virtual items (often via blockchain-based tokens such as NFTs). It combines virtual reality, augmented reality and digital asset technologies. Big data analytics is wrong because it refers to processing large datasets to extract insights, not virtual worlds. Cryptography is wrong because it is the science of securing information through encryption. Virtual matrix is not an established technical term for such a network; it is a distractor. Hence 'Metaverse' is the correct answer.
Q8
Previous year questionmedium
Consider the following activities:
1. Spraying pesticides on a crop field
2. Inspecting the craters of active volcanoes
3. Collecting breath samples from spouting whales for DNA analysis
At the present level of technology, which of the above activities can be successfully carried out by using drones?
A1 and 2 only
B2 and 3 only
C1 and 3 only
D1, 2 and 3
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: D - 1, 2 and 3
All three activities are feasible with current drone technology: agricultural drones spray pesticides over crop fields, drones safely inspect the craters of active volcanoes where humans cannot go, and specially fitted drones collect the blow (breath) spray from whales for DNA and microbiome analysis. Since each application has been demonstrated, the correct answer is 1, 2 and 3.
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