Scientific Institutions & Missions MCQs for UPSC Prelims
33 practice questions on Scientific Institutions & Missions from the Science & Technology section of the UPSC Prelims syllabus.
33 come with a written explanation and 11 are actual previous year questions.
Try the sample set below - the answer stays hidden until you ask for it.
11 Easy15 Medium7 Hard11 from past papers
Sample questions
Q1
Previous year questionhard
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?
A1 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 statements are correct. IceCube, at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, instruments a full cubic kilometre of Antarctic ice with thousands of digital optical modules, making it the largest neutrino detector ever built. Its sensor strings are sunk between roughly 1450 and 2450 metres beneath the surface, so it is literally buried deep in the ice. Beyond detecting astrophysical neutrinos, it also functions as a telescope in the search for dark matter, looking for neutrino signatures that would result from dark matter particle annihilation. Hence 1, 2 and 3.
Q2
Previous year questionmedium
India is an important member of the 'International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor'. If this experiment succeeds, what is the immediate advantage for India?
AIt can use thorium in place of uranium for power generation
BIt can attain a global role in satellite navigation
CIt can drastically improve the efficiency of its fission reactors in power generation
DIt can build fusion reactors for power generation
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: D - It can build fusion reactors for power generation
ITER, being built at Cadarache in France with India as one of the seven partners, is a tokamak project to demonstrate that nuclear fusion of hydrogen isotopes can be sustained as a net energy source. If it succeeds, member countries including India gain the technology base to build fusion reactors for electricity generation. Thorium utilisation relates to India's three-stage fission programme, not fusion; satellite navigation is the domain of ISRO's NavIC project; and ITER deals with fusion, so it cannot improve the efficiency of existing fission reactors.
Q3
Previous year questionhard
Consider the following space missions :
I. Axiom-4
II. SpaDeX
III. Gaganyaan
How many of the space missions given above encourage and support microgravity research?
AOnly one
BOnly two
CAll the three
DNone
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B - Only two
The Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station and India's Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme both involve crewed orbital activity that supports microgravity experiments, so two missions qualify. SpaDeX is a space docking experiment designed to demonstrate rendezvous and docking technology, not primarily microgravity research. Hence only two of the missions support microgravity research.
Q4
Previous year questionmedium
Which of the following pairs is/are correctly matched? Spacecraft Purpose 1. Cassini-Huygens: Orbiting the Venus and transmitting data to the Earth 2. Messenger: Mapping and investigating
the Mercury 3. Voyager 1 and 2: Exploring the outer solar system Select the correct answer using the code given below.
A1 only
B2 and 3 only
C1 and 3 only
D1, 2 and 3
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B - 2 and 3 only
Pairs 2 and 3 are correct: Messenger mapped and investigated Mercury, and Voyager 1 and 2 explore the outer solar system. Pair 1 is wrong because Cassini-Huygens studied Saturn and its moon Titan, not Venus. Hence 2 and 3 only.
Q5
Previous year questionhard
What is 'Greased Lightning-10 (GL-10)', recently in the news?
AElectric plane tested by NASA
BSolar-powered two-seater aircraft designed by Japan
CSpace observatory launched by China
DReusable rocket designed by ISRO
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A - Electric plane tested by NASA
Greased Lightning-10 (GL-10) is a battery-powered, tilt-wing electric aircraft prototype developed and flight-tested by NASA, capable of vertical take-off and forward flight, so option (a) is correct. It is an electric, not a solar, design and was built in the United States rather than Japan, ruling out option (b). It is an aircraft, not a space observatory, so the China-launched observatory in option (c) is wrong. It has no connection to ISRO or to reusable launch vehicles, eliminating option (d).
Q6
Previous year questionhard
"The experiment will employ a trio of spacecraft flying in formation in the shape of an equilateral triangle that has sides one million kilometres long, with lasers shining between the craft." The experiment in question refers to
AVoyager-2
BNew Horizons
CLISA Pathfinder
DEvolved LISA
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: D - Evolved LISA
The description of three spacecraft flying in an equilateral-triangle formation with sides of a million kilometres, exchanging laser beams to detect gravitational waves, refers to the Evolved LISA (eLISA) space-based gravitational-wave observatory. Voyager-2 is a single interstellar probe and New Horizons explored Pluto, so neither fits. LISA Pathfinder was only a single-spacecraft technology demonstrator, not the three-craft interferometer described, so the answer is Evolved LISA.
Q7
Previous year questionmedium
The term 'IndARC', sometimes seen in the news, is the name of
Aan indigenously developed radar system inducted into Indian Defence
BIndia's satellite to provide services to the countries of Indian Ocean Rim
Ca scientific establishment set up by India in Antarctic region
DIndia's underwater observatory to scientifically study the Arctic region
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: D - India's underwater observatory to scientifically study the Arctic region
IndARC is India's first underwater (multi-sensor moored) observatory, deployed in the Kongsfjorden fjord off Svalbard to study the Arctic, supporting polar climate research linked to the Indian monsoon. It is not a radar system, not a communications satellite for the Indian Ocean Rim, and not an Antarctic station (India's Antarctic stations are Maitri and Bharati), so the other three options are wrong.
Q8
Previous year questionmedium
A team of scientists at Brookhaven National Laboratory including those from India created the heaviest anti-matter (anti-helium nucleus). What is/are the implication/implications of the creation of anti-matter?
1. It will make mineral prospecting and oil exploration easier and cheaper.
2. It will help probe the possibility of the existence of stars and galaxies made of anti-matter.
3. It will help understand the evolution of the universe.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
A1 only
B2 and 3 only
C3 only
D1, 2 and 3
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B - 2 and 3 only
Statements 2 and 3 are correct. Creating and studying heavy anti-matter nuclei like anti-helium helps physicists estimate how often such nuclei arise naturally, which is essential for interpreting cosmic ray searches for anti-matter stars and galaxies, and it informs our understanding of why the universe became matter-dominated after the Big Bang, that is, the evolution of the universe. Statement 1 is wrong because anti-matter production is enormously expensive and has no application in mineral prospecting or oil exploration; those rely on seismic, magnetic and gravimetric surveys. Hence (b).
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