UPSC 2020 Science & Technology Previous Year Questions

Question 1

Siachen Glacier is situated to the

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: D. East of Aksai Chin | East of Leh | North of Gilgit | North of Nubra Valley. Siachen Glacier lies north of the Nubra Valley in the eastern Karakoram.

Question 2

"The crop is subtropical in nature. A hard frost is injurious to it. It requires at least 210 frost-free days and 50 to 100 centimeters of rainfall for its growth. A light well-drained soil capable of retaining moisture is ideally suited for the cultivation of the crop." Which one of the following is that crop?

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: A. Cotton | Jute | Sugarcane | Tea. The described subtropical crop needing 210 frost-free days, moderate rainfall and well-drained moisture-retentive soil is cotton.

Question 3

According to India's National Policy on Biofuels, which of the following can be used as raw materials for the production of biofuels? 1. Cassava 2. Damaged wheat grains 3. Groundnut seeds 4. Horse gram 5. Rotten potatoes 6. Sugar beet Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: A. 1, 2, 5 and 6 only | 1, 3 and 6 only | 2, 3, 4 and 5 only | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. The National Policy on Biofuels allows use of damaged food grains/unfit grains, rotten potatoes, cassava and sugar beet for biofuel production. Groundnut seeds and horse gram are not included in this accepted set.

Question 4

Steel slag can be the material for which of the following? 1. Construction of base road 2. Improvement of agricultural soil 3. Production of cement Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: D. 1 and 2 only | 2 and 3 only | 1 and 3 only | 1, 2 and 3. Steel slag can be used in road base construction, soil improvement and cement production. All three are valid uses.

Question 5

Under the Kisan Credit Card scheme, short-term credit support is given to farmers for which of the following purposes? 1. Working capital for maintenance of farm assets 2. Purchase of combine harvesters, tractors and mini trucks 3. Consumption requirements of farm households 4. Post-harvest expenses 5. Construction of family house and setting up of village cold storage facility Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: B. 1, 2 and 5 only | 1, 3 and 4 only | 2, 3, 4 and 5 only | 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. Kisan Credit Card supports working capital for farm asset maintenance, consumption needs of farm households and post-harvest expenses. It is not for buying major machinery or constructing houses/cold storages.

Question 6

In India, under cyber insurance for individuals, which of the following benefits are generally covered, in addition to payment for the loss of funds and other benefits? 1. Cost of restoration of the computer system in case of malware disrupting access to one's computer 2. Cost of a new computer if some miscreant wilfully damages it, if provided so 3. Cost of hiring a specialized consultant to minimize the loss in case of cyber extortion 4. Cost of defence in the Court of Law if any third party files a suit Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: B. 1, 2 and 4 only | 1, 3 and 4 only | 2 and 3 only | 1, 2, 3 and 4. Individual cyber insurance commonly covers restoration after malware, cyber-extortion consultant costs and legal defence against third-party suits. Replacement of a physically damaged new computer by a miscreant is not generally covered as a cyber benefit.

Question 7

The term 'West Texas Intermediate', sometimes found in news, refers to a grade of

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: A. Crude oil | Bullion | Rare earth elements | Uranium. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) is a benchmark grade of light, sweet crude oil that serves as a pricing reference for North American oil, traded on the New York Mercantile Exchange. In April 2020, WTI futures briefly turned negative during the COVID-19 demand collapse.

Question 8

In India, the term "Public Key Infrastructure" is used in the context of

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: A. Digital security infrastructure | Food security infrastructure | Health care and education infrastructure | Telecommunication and transportation infrastructure. Public Key Infrastructure is part of digital security infrastructure, enabling digital signatures, certificates and encrypted authentication.

Question 9

Consider the following statements 1. Genetic changes can be introduced in the cells that produce eggs or sperms of a prospective parent. 2. A person's genome can be edited before birth at the early embryonic stage. 3. Human induced pluripotent stem cells can be injected into the embryo of a pig. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: D. 1 only | 2 and 3 only | 2 only | 1, 2 and 3. Germline editing can alter egg/sperm-producing cells, embryos can be edited at early stages, and human induced pluripotent stem cells have been injected into pig embryos in chimera research. All are possible with current/recent technology.

Question 10

"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

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: D. Voyager-2 | New Horizons | LISA Pathfinder | Evolved LISA. The described triangular spacecraft formation with laser links is the eLISA/LISA gravitational-wave observatory concept.

UPSC 2020 Science & Technology PYQs with Answers