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BPSC 2018 — Science & Technology Questions with Answers
All 18 Science & Technology previous-year questions from BPSC 2018, each with the correct answer and a full explanation. Practise them as a free, timed mock test with instant scoring.
Practice Science & Technology as a timed test →- Q1.Defence Technology
What was the official code name assigned to the series of five nuclear bomb test explosions conducted by India at Pokhran in May 1998?
- a)Operation Smiling Buddha
- b)Operation Vijay
- c)Operation Shakti
- d)Operation Parakram
Explanation: The Pokhran-II tests executed in May 1998 were collectively codenamed Operation Shakti, marking India's entry as a declared state with nuclear weapon capabilities.
- Q2.Defence Technology
INS Kalvari, which was commissioned into the Indian Navy in December 2017, belongs to which of the following categories of naval vessels?
- a)Nuclear-powered Ballistic Submarine
- b)Scorpene-class Diesel-Electric Attack Submarine
- c)Anti-submarine Stealth Corvette
- d)Aircraft Carrier
Explanation: INS Kalvari is the first of six Scorpene-class diesel-electric attack submarines built indigenously in India under the strategic Project-75 program at Mazagon Dock Limited.
- Q3.Defence Technology
Which of the following indigenously developed anti-tank guided missiles (ATGM) has been designed and tested by the DRDO?
- a)Akash
- b)Nag
- c)Prithvi
- d)Astra
Explanation: Nag is a third-generation, fire-and-forget anti-tank guided missile created by DRDO under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme to destroy heavily armored enemy tanks.
- Q4.Cyber Security
The terms 'WannaCry, Petya and EternalBlue' sometimes mentioned in the news recently are related to which one of the following?
- a)Exoplanets
- b)Cryptocurrency
- c)Cyber attacks
- d)Mini satellites
Explanation: WannaCry and Petya are ransomware that spread globally in 2017 by exploiting the EternalBlue vulnerability in Microsoft Windows. All three terms are associated with cyber attacks.
- Q5.Agriculture Science
Consider the following: 1. Birds 2. Dust blowing 3. Rain 4. Wind blowing. Which of the above spread plant diseases?
- a)Indian Banks' Association
- b)National Securities Depository Limited
- c)National Payments Corporation of India
- d)Reserve Bank of India
Explanation: Plant pathogens can be dispersed by all these agents — birds, blowing dust, rain splash and wind all act as carriers of fungal spores, bacteria and viruses between plants.
- Q6.e-Governance
With reference to the 'Digital India' programme, consider the following statements about its aims: 1. To provide digital infrastructure as a utility to every citizen. 2. To make governance and services available on demand. 3. Digital empowerment of citizens.
- a)1 and 2 only
- b)2 and 3 only
- c)1 and 3 only
- d)1, 2 and 3
Explanation: Digital India rests on three vision areas: digital infrastructure as a core utility to every citizen, governance and services on demand, and digital empowerment of citizens. All three statements are correct.
- Q7.Space Technology
Consider the following statements about the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS): 1. IRNSS has three satellites in geostationary and four satellites in geosynchronous orbits. 2. IRNSS covers entire India and about 1500 km beyond its boundaries. 3. India will have its own satellite navigation system with full global coverage.
- a)1 only
- b)1 and 2 only
- c)2 and 3 only
- d)1, 2 and 3
Explanation: IRNSS (NavIC) has 3 geostationary and 4 geosynchronous satellites and provides regional coverage over India and ~1500 km around it — it is a regional, NOT a global, navigation system. So statements 1 and 2 are correct.
- Q8.Botany
Which of the following leaf modifications occur(s) in the desert areas to inhibit water loss?
- a)Child labour
- b)Adaptation of agricultural practices to global climate change
- c)Regulation of food prices and food security
- d)Gender parity at the workplace
Explanation: Desert (xerophytic) plants reduce transpiration through hard waxy leaves, reduced or absent leaves, and conversion of leaves into thorns. All listed modifications inhibit water loss.
- Q9.Space Technology
With reference to India's satellite launch vehicles, consider the following statements: 1. PSLVs launch satellites useful for Earth resources monitoring whereas GSLVs are designed mainly to launch communication satellites. 2. Satellites launched by PSLV appear to remain permanently fixed in the same position in the sky, as viewed from a particular location on Earth. 3. GSLV Mk III is a four-staged launch vehicle with the first and third stages using solid rocket motors; and the second and fourth stages using liquid rocket engines.
- a)1 only
- b)2 and 3 only
- c)1 and 2 only
- d)3 only
Explanation: Only statement 1 is correct. PSLV mainly places satellites in polar/sun-synchronous orbits (not geostationary, so statement 2 is wrong). GSLV Mk III is a three-stage vehicle, so statement 3 is wrong.
- Q10.Space & Navigation
In which of the following areas can GPS technology be used? 1. Mobile phone operations 2. Banking operations 3. Controlling the power grids Select the correct answer using the code given below:
- a)1 only
- b)2 and 3 only
- c)1 and 3 only
- d)1, 2 and 3
- Q11.Cyber Security
The terms 'WannaCry, Petya and EternalBlue' sometimes mentioned in the news recently are related to
- a)Exoplanets
- b)Cryptocurrency
- c)Cyber attacks
- d)Mini satellites
- Q12.Space
With reference to the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), consider the following statements: 1. IRNSS has three satellites in geostationary and four satellites in geosynchronous orbits. 2. IRNSS covers entire India and about 5500 sq. km beyond its borders. 3. India will have its own satellite navigation system with full global coverage by the middle of 2019. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- a)1 only
- b)1 and 2 only
- c)2 and 3 only
- d)None
- Q13.Physics
Consider the following phenomena: 1. Light is affected by gravity. 2. The Universe is constantly expanding. 3. Matter warps its surrounding space-time. Which of the above is/are the prediction/predictions of Albert Einstein's General Theory of Relativity, often discussed in media?
- a)1 and 2 only
- b)3 only
- c)1 and 3 only
- d)1, 2 and 3
- Q14.Biotechnology
With reference to the Genetically Modified mustard (GM mustard) developed in India, consider the following statements: 1. GM mustard has the genes of a soil bacterium that give the plant the property of pest-resistance to a wide variety of pests. 2. GM mustard has the genes that allow the plant cross-pollination and hybridization. 3. GM mustard has been developed jointly by the IARI and Punjab Agricultural University. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- a)1 and 3 only
- b)2 only
- c)2 and 3 only
- d)1, 2 and 3
- Q15.Emerging Technologies
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?
- a)1 and 3 only
- b)2 only
- c)2 and 3 only
- d)1, 2 and 3
- Q16.Emerging Communication Technologies
When the alarm of your smartphone rings in the morning, you wake up and tap it to stop the alarm which causes your geyser to be switched on automatically. The smart mirror in your bathroom shows the day's weather and also indicates the level of water in your overhead tank. After you take some groceries from your refrigerator for making breakfast, it recognises the shortage of stock in it and places an order for the supply of fresh grocery items. When you step out of your house and lock the door, all lights, fans, geysers and AC machines get switched off automatically. On your way to office, your car warns you about traffic congestion ahead and suggests an alternative route, and if you are late for a meeting, it sends a message to your office accordingly. In the context of emerging communication technologies, which one of the following terms best applies to the above scenario?
- a)Border Gateway Protocol
- b)Internet of Things
- c)Internet Protocol
- d)Virtual Private Network
- Q17.Manufacturing Technologies
"3D printing" has applications in which of the following? 1. Preparation of confectionery items 2. Manufacture of bionic ears 3. Automotive industry 4. Reconstructive surgeries 5. Data processing technologies Select the correct answer using the code given below:
- a)1, 3 and 4 only
- b)2, 3 and 5 only
- c)1 and 4 only
- d)1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
- Q18.Space
With reference to India's satellite launch vehicles, consider the following statements: 1. PSLVs launch the satellites useful for Earth resources monitoring whereas GSLVs are designed mainly to launch communication satellites. 2. Satellites launched by PSLV appear to remain permanently fixed in the same position in the sky, as viewed from a particular location on Earth. 3. GSLV Mk III is a four-staged launch vehicle with the first and third stages using solid rocket motors; and the second and fourth stages using liquid rocket engines. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- a)1 only
- b)2 and 3
- c)1 and 2
- d)3 only
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