1.

Consider the following statements:

1. Carbon fibers are used in the manufacture of components used in automobiles and
aircrafts.
2. Carbon fibers once used cannot be recycled.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: A

2. Consider the following actions:

1. Detection of car crash/collision which results in the deployment of airbags almost

instantaneously

2. Detection of accidental free fall of a laptop towards the ground which results in the
immediate turning off of the hard drive

3. Detection of the tilt of the smart- phone which results in the rotation of display
between portrait and landscape mode

In how many of the above actions is the function of accelerometer required?

[A] Only one

[B] Only two
[C] All three
[D] None

NOTES: Accelerometers use piezoelectric effect that converts mechanical energy during motion/
vibration into electrical energy, which inturn acts accordingly in different devices.
From : Waste management and pollution control- bioremediation
3.With reference to the role of biofilters in Recirculating Aquaculture System consider the
following statements
1. Biofilters provide waste treatment by removing uneaten fish feed.
2. Biofilters convert ammonia present in fish waste to nitrate.
3. Biofilters increase phosphorus as nutrient for fish in water.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
a) Only one
b) Only two
c) All three
d) None

Notes: Recycling Aquaculture system uses recycling and reuse of water for fish
production. It uses biofilters in which micro organisms are used to breakdown ammonia
into nitrate.
Phophorous is managed through other means such as fish feed.

From: Defence Technology -Integrated guided missile development program (IGMDP)

4. Consider the following statements: (UPSC Prelims 2023)
1. Ballistic missiles are jet-propelled at subsonic speeds throughout their flights, while
cruise missiles are rocket-powered only in the initial phase of flight.
2. Agni-V is a medium-range supersonic cruise missile, while BrahMos is a solid-fuelled
intercontinental ballistic missile.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Subsonic: speed less than sound 343m/sec (1 mach), supersonic above speed of sound
Cruise missiles are powered by jet engines or turbo fans, that may travel at subsonic or
supersonic speed depending on the type
So statement 1 is false
Ballistic missile is a rocket propelled self guided strategic weapon systems that hit a
predetermined target
Rocket propulsion: it uses the gasses released for its thrust and can travel into the vacuum
without further oxygen
Jet propulsion: it relies on further oxygen even after it takes flight
Ballistic missiles that uses rocket propulsion are more powerful , compared to cruise missiles
that depend on jet propulsion.

Agni V is a intercontinental ballistic missile

Brahmos missile- a joint project of INDIA (50.5) and Russia(49.5) , DRDO and NPOM respectively
Named after Brahmaputra and Moskva, 1998

From: Types of environmental pollution- sources and impacts

5. Consider the following statements regarding mercury pollution:

1. Gold mining activity is a source of mercury pollution in the world.

2. Coal-based thermal power plants cause mercury pollution.
3. There is no known safe level of exposure to mercury.

How many of the above statements are correct?

1. Only one
2. Only two
3. All three
4. None

Building the theme

Types of pollution

Sources of pollution

Impacts of pollution
Mercury pollution is primarily caused by burning fossil fuels and mining. Exposure to mercury
even in small amounts has adverse effects on human health.Methyl mercury causes a disease
MINAMATA, that was first discovered in the people of Minamata Bay, Japan whose dietary
habits included fish. Whereas ethyl mercury has a lesser impact on health and is used as
preservative in vaccines. Indonesia has initiated the Minamata convention .

Maximum emission of mercury is from Artisanal Small-scale gold mining, followed by Thermal
combustion, Iron production and cement production.

From : Energy management- renewable energy

6.With reference to green hydrogen, consider the following statements:

1. It can be used directly as a fuel for internal combustion.

2. It can be blended with natural gas and used as fuel for heat or power generation.

3. It can be used in the hydrogen fuel cell to run vehicles.

How many of the above statements are correct?

a) Only one

b) Only two

c) All three

d) None

>Where is green hydrogen used as fuel

>Fuel cell
Notes: What is green hydrogen? Hydrogen produced through the process of electrolysis, in
which hydrogen and oxygen separated using the electricity generated through renewable
sources of energy.

Where ? Green hydrogen can be used in Hydrogen combustion engines as fuel , similar to
regular gasoline. Or even it can be blended with gasoline, which helps in increased combustion
and reduced emissions. Green hydrogen can also be used in fuel cells ( transportation,
stationary energy storage, etc), hydrogen storage and transportation.

Why? Clean energy, reduced greenhouse gasses emissions, energy independence for the
countries.

India: National Green Hydrogen Mission was launched in 2023 to incentivise green hydrogen
production and make the country energy independent by 2047 and net zero by 2070.

From: Energy management- installed energy capacities and demand in India

7.With reference to coal-based thermal power plants in India, consider the

following statements:

1. None of them uses seawater.

2. None of them is set up in water-stressed district.

3. None of them is privately owned.

How many of the above statements are correct?

a) Only one

b) Only two

c) All three
d) None

Notes:many of the power plants use see water for various uses including cooling, 40%
of the thermal power plants are situated in water-stressed areas, that are now facing
problems due to water scarcity. Thermal power plants in india are both public and
private funded.

1st thermal power plant- 1920 Hussain Sagar Thermal power plant, hyderabad

2nd being Mundra TPP owned by adani now

Largest: Vidhyanchal PP, singrauli MP operated by NTPC

Types of thermal power plants- coal fired, Gas, Geothermal, biomass and Nuclear TPP

Thermal plants in AP

Dr narla tatarao TPS - Krishna Dist

Damodaram sanjeevaiah tps- nellore

MVR rayalaseem TPP- kadapa

From: Environment and Health- health issues- recent trends in disease burden in
epidemic and pandemic

8.The Wolbachia method is sometimes talked about with reference to which one
of the following?

a) Controlling the viral diseases spread by mosquitoes

b) Converting crop residues into packing material

c) Producing biodegradable plastics

d) Producing biochar from thermochemical conversion of biomass

Wolbachium is a good bacterium, when induced into the mosquitoes it affects the host
reproduction and also block the pathogen transfer like zika, chikungunya, yellow fever
viruses.

From: Environment and Health: preparedness and response

Aerial metagenomics best refers to which one of the following situations?

[A] Collecting DNA samples from air in a habitat at one go

[B] Understanding the genetic makeup of avian species of a habitat

[C] Using air-borne devices to collect blood samples from moving animals

[D] Sending drones to inaccessible areas to collect plant and animal samples from land

surfaces and water bodies

Collecting DNA samples of the microbes present in air or in any of its natural habitat.

Studying micro-organisms in the past has been done in protected environments, in

contrary to this, studying the microbes in its natural habitat helps in better
understanding of its behaviour.

Application: this helped in discovering sars cov-2 as the cause of covid in less time

From: ecosystem and biodirversity

9. Microsatellite DNA’ is used in the case of which one of the following?

[A] Studying evolutionary relationships among various species of fauna

[B] Stimulating stem cells transform into diverse functional tissues

[C] Promoting clonal propagation of horticultural plant

[D] Assessing the efficacy of drugs by conducting series of drug trials in a population

DNA: Each cell has nucleus, in nucleus we find chromosomes , on each chromosome
has a protein called histone, which is encircled with DNA.

Each DNA has nucleotides ( Adenine, guanine, thymine, cytosine) , when their sequence
is edited, the character of the cell is being changed, it is called genome editing.

Microsatellite DNA is also termed as simple sequence repeats (ssrs) or short tandem
repeats (strs). The change is done in 1 to 6 base pairs, if it is done in 10 to 100 base
pairs it is called mini satellite DNA.

Why ? this helps in studying the genetic diversity, forensic analysis, population genetics.

From ecosystem and biodiversity

10. Consider the following statements:

1. In Biodiversity the India, Management Committees are key to the realization of the
objectives of the Nagoya Protocol.

2. The Biodiversity Management Committees have important functions in determining

access and benefit sharing, including the power to levy collection fees on the access of
biological resources within its jurisdiction.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

[A] 1 only
[B] 2 only

[C] Both 1 and 2

[D] Neither 1 nor 2

Notes: According to biodiversity act, 2002 every state, local body has to establish
Biological Management committee (BMC). they are responsible for nagoya protocol
implementation.

Nagoya protocol 2014 - access to genetic resources ,with fair and equitable share of
the benefits

From: emerging technology frontiers

11.With reference to Web 3-0, consider the following statements:

1. Web 3.0 technology enables people to control their own data.

2. In Web 3.0 world, there can be blockchain based social networks.

3. Web 3.0 is operated by users collectively rather than a corporation.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

a) 1 and 2 only

b) 2 and 3 only

c) 1 and 3 only

d) 1, 2 and 3

Web 3.0 is still evolving, it focusses on decentralization, interoperability, block chain

technology, semantic web
Semantic web is something, where not only the user is understanding the data, but also
the machine/ device is reading and understanding.

From: Technology applications

12. With reference to "Software as a Service (SaaS)", consider the following

statements:

1. SaaS buyers can customise the user interface and can change data fields.

2. SaaS users can access their data through their mobile devices.

3. Outlook, Hotmail and Yahoo! Mail are forms of SaaS.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

a) 1 and 2 only

b) 2 and 3 only

c) 1 and 3 only

d) 1, 2 and 3

From: Emerging technology frontiers

13.Which one of the following is the context in which the term “qubit” is
mentioned?

[A] Cloud Services

[B] Quantum Computing

[C] Visible Light Communication Technologies

[D] Wireless Communication Technologies

Notes: quantum computing uses quantum mechanics to process information.

Qubit , unlike the binary either 1 or 0, can have both at the same time, i.e superposition.

Qubit can also entangle meaning, its position depends on its neighboring qubit.

From: Information and communication technology

14. Consider the following technologies::

1. Closed-circuit Television

2. Radio Frequency Identification

3. Wireless Local Area Network

Which othe above are considered communication Short-Range devices/technologies?

[A] 1 and 2 only

[B] 2 and 3 only

[C] 1 and 3 only

[D] 1, 2 and 3

15.