Test: Science & Technology - 1 - UPSC MCQ

• Wearable devices such as smart watches can track GPS location of a person and monitor his heart rate and sleeping pattern so 1 and 2 are right. There is only one option D where they’re together.
• But just to crosscheck validity of third statement: 2018-Feb the Hindu: ReSound company’s newest product, a hearing aid, LiNX 3D was named an Honoree in both the Accessible Tech and Wearable Tech categories at Consumer Electronics Show (CES), in Las Vegas. So #3 is right = Answer D: 1, 2 and 3.

As per the Corporate Affairs Ministry website, Digital Signature means an electronic signature useful to authenticate the identity of the sender of a message or the signer of an electronic document. This ensures that the original content of the document is not changed. So #3 is right. The other statements are related to Digital Signature Certificates (DSC) which is a separate mechanism.

2017-August, theHindu:

• Virtual Reality: computer-generated simulation of real-life environments that are primarily achieved with the use of headsets. When worn, the user’s vision and hearing are stimulated to provide realistic experiences.
• Augmented Reality: superimposition of computer generated images on existing environments to make them more interactive. It is utilised in the form of applications for mobile devices such as Pokemon GO. So, #2 is wrong. This eliminates A and C. Based on the same sentence, #3 is correct. So, B is the answer.

2017-Sept, India Today

• VoLTE allows an operator to offer both voice and data over a 4G LTE network. The big advantage of VoLTE is that call quality is superior to 3G and 2G connections (through which voice is usually routed) as much more data can be transferred via 4G.
• From above statement, we can infer: VOLTE associated with 4g so #1 is wrong. VOLTE allows both data and voice so #2 is wrong.

Using RNA-interference technology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) scientists have made major breakthroughs in introducing resistance to many viruses in various crops. So, #4 is right and we are left with option A or D.
RNA-i is being explored as a form of treatment for a variety of diseases, including hepatitis, AIDS, Huntington disease, and cancer. So, #2 is right, therefore answer is A.

• Scientists at University of Texas created First Living Organism With ‘Artificial’ DNA. So, B is eliminated. (Because we are required to find wrong option, whereas B is right.)
• DNA replication can also be performed in vitro (outside a cell). So, C is eliminated.
• Cell division of Chlamydomonas is usually achieved in the laboratory by alternation of light and dark periods. So, D is eliminated. Thus we are left with answer A.

National IPR Policy 2016 shifted the Copyright Office and its statutory body Intellectual Property Appellate Board (IPAB) from HRD ministry to commerce ministry.
India Patent Act: Chapter 2: Inventions not patentable: Bullet (j): plants and animals in whole or any part thereof, including seeds, varieties and species. So, #1 is wrong, #3 is right, answer is C.

2018-Sept, IndianExpress:

• China’s HY-1C marine satellite is expected to improve China’s ocean remote sensing capability. It can detect chlorophyll and suspended sediment concentrations and dissolved organic matter, which can affect ocean colour, as well as temperatures on the sea surface. So that means Remote Sensing can help in both statement 1 and statement 3. There is only one such option D.

Bioprinting process in which living tissues can be 3d-printed using stem-cell containing bioink. This means 3D printing has applications in bionic ears (#2) and reconstructive surgeries (#4). There is only one option where 2 and 4 are together i.e. Option D: all statements correct.

Wannacry ransomware locks user's devices and prevents them from accessing data and software until a certain ransom is paid to its creator. Like WannaCry, "Petya" worm spreads rapidly through networks that use Microsoft Windows, and demands $300 paid in bitcoin to unlock your infected P(C) EternalBlue is the name given to a software vulnerability in Microsoft's Windows operating system, because of which aforementioned ransomwares spread So, all these terms are related to cybersecurity.

• 2018: Government's EASE framework for Public sector Banks provides for developing mobile app to locate nearest ATMs (so that can be possible only via GPS.) In 2016, PNB bank had already launched android mobile apps enabling the customer to locate nearest PNB ATM using GPS. so, yes second statement is right, GPS can indeed be used in Banking operations.
• 2016: The Department of Telecom has mandated that mobile phones sold in India will come with a dedicated 'panic button' and Global Positioning System (GPS) facility that can be used to send out a signal in case of distress. This is aimed at improving the safety of women and ensuring a quick response from security agencies. So, first statement is right. Thus we are left with correct answer, D: 1, 2 and 3.

The IoT is the network of physical objects which are accessed through the Internet. Internet of Things (IoT) has a broad scope, a heart patient can do heart monitoring easily, farm animals can be easily sensed with a help of biochip transponder, an automobile that has built-in sensors can alert the driver when tire pressure is low. So, "B" is the correct term related to above passage.

CRISPR, a new genome editing tool, could transform the field of biology. It allows scientists to edit genomes with unprecedented precision. So, #3 is wrong, CRISPR is definitely not associated with Particle Physics. This eliminates A, C and (D) Thus we are left with answer "B: only 2"

GM Mustard is a perfect flower so it 'self-pollinates'. Therefore Delhi University's then VC Dr. Deepak Pental created GM mustard so that he could cross-pollinate Indian variety with European variety to make new hybrid called DMH-11. Hence #2 is right and #3 is wrong. And by elimination, we are left with answer B: Only 2.

• ISRO developed PSLV to launch satellites into polar orbits and GSLV to launch geosynchronous satellites into geostationary orbits. Geostationary satellites orbit around the earth in 24 hours and since the earth rotates with the same period, the satellite would appear fixed from any point on earth. So, statement#2 is wrong.
• GSLV is a 3-stage launch vehicle, where first 2 stages are similar to PSLV with same solid and liquid nature of fuel but the third stage is completely different, i.e., cryogenic stage. So third statement is WRONG. By elimination, we're left with answer A: only 1.

• In IRNSS, Out of the seven satellites of space segment; four satellites are in geosynchronous orbit and three satellites are in geostationary orbit. So 1st statement is right. "D" is eliminate(d) [And we no longer need to worry about the validity of statement #3, because there is no option where 1 and 3 are together.]
• IRNSS covers an area of about 1,500 km around Indi(a) So, 2nd statement is wrong. B and C are eliminate(d) Therefore, Answer has to be A) 1 only.

OLEDs can be formed on any substrate such as glasses, cloths, plastic and other bendable substrates. So accordingly, all three are possible. Answer "C".

eLISA aims to measure gravitational waves in the frequency range from 0.1mHz to about 100 mHz.

Encyclopedia Britannica says SCNT technology was used for cloning the sheep "Dolly". And over the years, the Hindu has been running news of cloning of buffalos by Somatic Cell technology. So, "C" is the answer.

Nature is governed by four fundamental forces -electromagnetic, strong, weak and gravitational. Standard Model explains the first three forces. (The Hindu, 2017, April)

• Event horizon is the imaginary boundary surrounding the black hole from beyond which light cannot escape and The singularity constitutes the centre of a black hole and is hidden by the object's "surface".
• All these point to answer "A".

(i) This OWC technology uses light from light emitting diodes (LEDs) as a medium to deliver networked, mobile, high-speed communication in a similar manner to Wi-Fi. It is a bidirectional, high-speed and fully networked wireless communication technology similar to Wi-Fi.
(ii) Li-fi gives data transfer rate of 10 gigabytes per second. So 1st statement is right. Li-Fi device circulates data via LEDs that emit an intermittent flicker at a speed imperceptible to the human eye. So, 2nd statement also right.

Digilocker or digital locker is one of the key initiatives under the Digital India Programme.
Digital locker is aimed at minimising the usage of physical documents and enable sharing of e-documents across agencies.

The ‘Greased Lightening-10’ (GL-10) is a 28 kg with 10 engines that can take off and land like a helicopter and fly efficiently like an aircraft. It is a battery-powered drone prototype plane designed by NASA.

The transcriptome is the set of all RNA molecules in one cell or a population of cells. It refers to all RNAs or mRNA.

(i) The ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor) project aims to make the longawaited transition from experimental studies of plasma physics to full-scale electricity-producing fusion power stations.
(ii) As such project started in 2006, to find whether Nuclear fusion can be a source of energy and electricity in future. Hence (d) is the apt choice.

INS Astradharini is an indigenously designed and built torpedo launch and recovery vessel built by Shoft Shipyard for Indian Navy. It was commissioned by Indian Navy on 6 October 2015 at Naval Base in Visakhapatanam.

(i) Project loon is a network of balloons travelling on the edge of space, designed to extend internet connectivity to people in rural & remote areas worldwide.
(ii) Under Project Loon, Google Inc. aims to provide internet connectivity via using helium balloons. Hence (b) is the apt choice.

(i) The Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM), also called Mangalyaan. It is India’s first interplanetary mission and ISRO has become the fourth space agency to reach Mars, after the Soviet space program, NASA, and the European Space Agency. It is the first Asian nation to reach Mars orbit, and the first nation in the world to do so in its first attempt.
(ii) Statement 1 and 3 are right. Apart from India and USA, Russia and European space agency also have it. European Space Agency’s Mars Express has two components 1) Mars Orbiter 2) Beagle 2 Lander. Hence 2nd statement is wrong. Hence by elimination we are left with choice (c).

(i) India has become only the fifth country after the US, Russia, European Union and Japan, to have an eye scanning the exotic depths of the universe after the ASTROSAT, the Indian Space Research Organisation’s multi-wavelength space observatory, was successfully placed in orbit.
(ii) Astrosat weighs 1513 kgs. Hence 2nd statement also wrong.

The Icecube Neutrino observatory is a neutrino observatory (telescope). It is constructed at the Amundsen-scott south pole station in Antarcticas (south pole). This project is supervised by the university of wisconsin-Madison.