Most Important Topics For Science & Technology- UPSC Prelims & Mains
Sep 15, 2021
Science and technology is one of the most important subjects for UPSC Prelims and Mains, and it is also the most relevant. In today’s world, where technological advancement is the only way forward, science and technology holds a high position, and UPSC aspirants should study this subject thoroughly.
UPSC understands this subject's importance and has included it in the Prelims and Mains syllabus. Not only that, Science and Technology questions are asked in the interview round as well. This is because science and technology is used everywhere, from green energy and agriculture to e-governance.
But what should aspirants study in this vast subject? There are a few topics that aspirants have to pay particular importance to. This subject contains some high-priority topics that will make this topic easier to understand for aspirants from a non-science background.
Science & Technology is undoubtedly one of the most important subjects of the Civil Services Examination. With all the technological advancements in the 21st century and how they are transforming our lives, the study of Science & Technology during the UPSC exam preparation has become crucial for aspiring Civil Servants.
The UPSC has laid particular emphasis on the subject with its inclusion in the Prelims and Mains syllabus. It won't be wrong to state that the questions related to Science & Technology are often asked in the Interview round also to ensure that aspirants have a basic understanding of technological developments.
For instance, e-governance is related to Science & Technology!
With all being said, the subject's preparation is often considered a "Challenge'', especially by aspirants with a non-science background. They are often unaware of the high-priority and other important topics of the subject. But not now!
In this article, we will share some of the essential topics that candidates must study on priority.
Navigate further to know more about it.
Crucial Topics for Science & Technology
Questions from Science and Technology topics are either Current Affairs driven or basic in nature. To score more in the section, it is imperative to keep a close watch on the recent developments in Science and Technology, especially in domains mentioned in the Prelims and Mains syllabus, such as General Science and Technology.
Besides that, candidates should prepare for the following important topics intensively to gain an edge in their preparation:
| Topics | Sub-topics |
| Biotechnology | Definition and Explanation Transgenic and Cisgenic Organisms Bt Brinjal Bt Cotton Genetic Pollution Concerns about Genetically Modified Crops |
| Information Technology | Important Terms in IT Cyber Warfare Blockchain Technology Automation Artificial Intelligence |
| Achievements of Indians in Science & Technology | Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Satyendra Nath Bose Meghnad Saha Homi Jehangir Bhabha Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Vikram Sarabhai Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya Har Gobind Khorana Tessy Thomas C.N.R. Rao |
| Awareness in Different Fields | IT & Computers Space Nanotechnology Biotechnology Robotics Defense Nuclear |
| Issues Related to Intellectual Property Rights(IPR) | Need for Intellectual Property Rights Types of IPR IPR Regime in India International Agreements Related to IPRs Geographical Indicators Recent Issues - Evergreening, Compulsory Licensing, Prominent Cases, etc. |
Also read these important topics for your UPSC Exam:
| What is Antimicrobial Resistance? | What is The Concept Behind Winter Solstice? | What is Deepfake Technology? |
| UPSC Essentials: Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) and India’s Membership | Allogeneic Stem Cells | Acids, Bases and Salts- NCERT Notes UPSC |
| Metals and Nonmetals- NCERT Notes UPSC | Near Field Communication (NFC) Technology | Technology is no Panacea for Custodial Deaths |
| What is the Science behind Volcanic Eruptions? | What is Base Editing? What is End-to-End Encryption? | What are the Challenges of Adopting Green Hydrogen Technology? |
Practical Tips for Science & Technology Preparation
Tip#1 Refer NCERTs (Class VI to XII) to build a strong foundation and understand the basic concepts/terms of Science & Technology. It is essential to have a conceptual understanding before advancing to prepare the complex syllabus at the Mains level.
Getting your basics strong becomes more vital if you have chosen an optional related to Science and Technology.
Tip#2 There is no better way to prepare for the subject than referring to and solving previous years’ question papers. They are the best learning material to acquaint you with the exam pattern and the types of questions frequently asked in the exam.
Tip#3 Science & Technology preparation should be aligned with Current Affairs. It is observed that the questions related to the subject are often asked from the current /recent developments. Hence, any news related to the science field should not be missed.
For instance, advancement in Artificial Intelligence, Space Exploration Missions, advancement in Medical Technology, etc.
Tip#4 Regularly visit the official websites of the Ministry of Science and Technology https://dst.gov.in/ and PIB for the latest updates/developments or anything related to the field.
Tip#5 Last but not least, Multiple revisions and referring to self-prepared notes are vital to score good marks in the exam. These two aspects are the perfect ingredients for adequate exam preparation.
Few Science and Technology Questions asked in past year UPSC Prelims Paper
Q.1 Recombinant DNA technology (Genetic Engineering) allows genes to be transferred
1. Across different species of plants
2. From animals to plants
3. From microorganisms to higher organisms
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
1. 1 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 1 and 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: A
Q. 2 India-based Neutrino Observatory is included by the Planning Commission as a mega-science project under the 11th five-Year Plan. In this context, consider the following statements:
1. Neutrinos are chargeless elementary particles that travel close to the speed of light.
2. Neutrinos are created in nuclear reactions of beta decay.
3. Neutrinos have a negligible, but nonzero mass.
4. Trillions of neutrinos pass through the human body every second.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
a. 1 and 3 only
b. 1, 2 and 3 only
c. 2, 3 and 4 only
d. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer: D
Q.3 With the present state of development, Artificial Intelligence can effectively do which of the following?
1. Bring down electricity consumption in industrial units
2. Create meaningful short stories and songs
3. Disease diagnosis
4. Text-to-speech conversion
5. Wireless transmission of electrical energy
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
a. 1, 2, 3 and 5 only
b. 1, 3, and 4 only
c. 2, 4, and 5 only
d. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
Answer: D
Q.4 With reference to visible light communication (VLC) technology, which of the following statements are correct?
1. VLC uses electromagnetic spectrum wavelengths 375 to 780nm.
2. VLC is known as long-range optical wireless communication.
3. VLC can transmit large amounts of data faster than Bluetooth.
4. VLC has no electromagnetic interference.
Select the correct answer using the code given below
a. 1, 2 and 3 only
b. 1, 2 and 4 only
c. 1, 3 and 4 only
d. 2, 3 and 4 only
Q.5 'Neutrino' has been quite frequent in news due to important scientific research. What are the possible sources of neutrinos?
1. Big Bang
2. Cosmic Rays
3. Supernova
4. Nuclear Bomb
5. Geological Reactions
6. Nuclear Reactors
7. Sun
Correct codes are-
a. 1, 2, 4, 6 and 7 only
b. 1, 2, 3, 5 and 7 only
c. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 only
d. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7
Answer: D
Kick start your Science and Technology preparation with PrepLadder and get access to the most comprehensive learning material for its preparation.
On PrepLadder, you will get everything you need to ace Civil Services Exam on one single platform.
This includes concise, effective, and well-planned video lectures by our Dream Team for UPSC, a well-structured and high yield QBank, highly competitive PrepTests based on real exam patterns, and Previous Year Papers in the form of tests.
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All the best for your exam.
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Raminder Singh
Raminder is a Content Manager at PrepLadder. He has worked in several aspects of the education industry throughout his career and has assisted numerous candidates in cracking major competitive exams.
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Crucial Topics for Science & Technology
Practical Tips for Science & Technology Preparation
Few Science and Technology Questions asked in past year UPSC Prelims Paper