SSC CGL (Prelims) General: Science and Technology questions with solutions

Q1. The initial module of Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS) is slated for launch in:

1. 2028
2. 2030
3. 2035
4. 2040

Answer: 2028

The Bharatiya Antariksh Station is India’s planned space station, and its initial module is slated for launch in 2028. This is part of India’s long-term human spaceflight roadmap.

Q2. What is the primary purpose of the IRNSS/NavIC satellite system?

1. Weather monitoring
2. Navigation and positioning services
3. Deep-space exploration
4. Television broadcasting

Answer: Navigation and positioning services

IRNSS, also called NavIC, is India’s regional satellite navigation system. It is designed to provide accurate positioning, navigation, and timing services over India and nearby regions.

Q3. Assertion (A): India is developing small satellite launch vehicles (SSLVs). Reason (R): SSLVs are designed to provide cost-effective and rapid launch capabilities. Which of the following is correct?

1. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
2. Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A
3. A is true, but R is false
4. A is false, but R is true

Answer: Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A

India is indeed developing SSLVs, and the purpose is to provide low-cost, quick, and flexible launch services for small satellites. Thus, both statements are true, and the reason correctly explains the assertion.

Q4. ‘Mission Mausam’, approved by the Cabinet in 2024, focuses on:

1. Artificial rain and weather modification technologies
2. Crop insurance for farmers
3. Building cyclone shelters in Odisha
4. Satellite tracking of monsoon clouds only

Answer: Artificial rain and weather modification technologies

Mission Mausam is a government initiative aimed at improving weather forecasting and exploring weather modification techniques. Its focus includes artificial rain and related atmospheric interventions. Hence, the correct option is the one about weather modification technologies.

Q5. The NISAR mission is particularly useful for studying:

1. Ocean salinity variations
2. Land surface deformation and earthquakes
3. Solar radiation patterns
4. Deep-space objects

Answer: Land surface deformation and earthquakes

NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) is an Earth-observation satellite mission that uses radar to measure surface changes very accurately. It is especially useful for tracking land deformation, earthquakes, landslides, and other geophysical changes.

Q6. What does the designation PSLV stand for in the context of Indian space missions?

1. Powerful Satellite Launch Vehicle
2. Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle
3. Primary Space Launch Vehicle
4. Precision Satellite Lift Vehicle

Answer: Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle

PSLV stands for Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle. It is an ISRO launch vehicle widely used to place satellites into polar and sun-synchronous orbits.

Q7. Which of the following statements about the Indian Space Programme are correct? 1. ISRO’s Chandrayaan-3 mission achieved a successful soft landing near the Moon’s south pole. 2. The Aditya-L1 mission was launched to study the Sun from the Sun–Earth L1 point. 3. The Gaganyaan mission successfully completed India’s first human spaceflight in 2023.

1. Both 1 and 2 are correct
2. Both 1 and 3 are correct
3. Both 2 and 3 are correct
4. 1, 2 and 3 are correct

Answer: Both 1 and 2 are correct

Statement 1 is correct because Chandrayaan-3 made a successful soft landing near the Moon’s south polar region. Statement 2 is correct because Aditya-L1 was launched to observe the Sun from the Sun–Earth L1 point. Statement 3 is incorrect because Gaganyaan had not completed India’s first human spaceflight in 2023.

Q8. What is the maximum payload capacity of India’s Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV) to Low Earth Orbit (LEO)?

1. 10 tonnes
2. 20 tonnes
3. 30 tonnes
4. 40 tonnes

Answer: 30 tonnes

The Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV) is planned as a heavy-lift launch system. Its maximum payload capacity to Low Earth Orbit is 30 tonnes.

Q9. With reference to Aditya-L1, which of the following instrument-function pairs is correctly matched?

1. VELC — Measures in-situ solar wind particles near L1
2. SUIT — Captures full-disk ultraviolet images of the Sun
3. ASPEX — Studies solar corona in visible wavelengths
4. HEL1OS — Maps photospheric magnetic fields

Answer: SUIT — Captures full-disk ultraviolet images of the Sun

SUIT stands for Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope, which captures full-disk ultraviolet images of the Sun. The other options mismatch the functions of VELC, ASPEX, and HEL1OS. Therefore, SUIT is the correctly matched pair.

Q10. Identify the incorrectly matched pair of satellite category and its primary application:

1. Meteorological satellite — Monsoon and cloud pattern monitoring
2. Navigation satellite — Positioning and timing services
3. Reconnaissance satellite — Ocean salinity measurement
4. Earth observation satellite — Crop and soil assessment

Answer: Reconnaissance satellite — Ocean salinity measurement

Meteorological satellites monitor weather systems, navigation satellites provide positioning and timing, and Earth observation satellites help assess crops and soil. Reconnaissance satellites are used for surveillance and intelligence, not ocean salinity measurement.

Q11. Which of the following is NOT an expected outcome of India’s Aditya-L1 mission?

1. Study of solar corona
2. Monitoring of solar wind
3. Direct landing on the Sun’s surface
4. Understanding space weather dynamics

Answer: Direct landing on the Sun’s surface

Aditya-L1 is India’s solar observation mission designed to study the solar corona, solar wind, and space weather from the L1 point. It is not meant to land on the Sun’s surface, which is impossible for the mission.

Q12. India’s Gaganyaan mission aims to send Indian astronauts into space by the year _____.

1. 2025
2. 2026
3. 2027
4. 2030

Answer: 2027

Gaganyaan is India’s human spaceflight mission. In the given options, 2027 is the intended target year for sending Indian astronauts into space.

Q13. In satellite communication, what is the primary function of a transponder?

1. Generate electricity
2. Amplify and retransmit signals
3. Control rocket thrust
4. Monitor fuel levels

Answer: Amplify and retransmit signals

A transponder in a communication satellite receives an uplink signal, amplifies it, changes its frequency if needed, and retransmits it back to Earth. It does not generate power or control the satellite's propulsion.

Q14. Dr. Vikram Sarabhai is known as the father of which programme in India?

1. Nuclear Energy Programme
2. Green Revolution
3. Space Programme
4. White Revolution

Answer: Space Programme

Dr. Vikram Sarabhai is regarded as the father of India’s space programme because of his pioneering role in establishing the country’s space research efforts. He was instrumental in shaping ISRO and related institutions.

Q15. Which Indian satellite series is primarily dedicated to navigation services?

1. GSAT
2. NAVIC/IRNSS
3. RISAT
4. Oceansat

Answer: NAVIC/IRNSS

NAVIC, also known as IRNSS, is India's regional navigation satellite system. It is designed to provide accurate position and timing services.

Q16. Read the following statements marked as Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Choose the correct option. Assertion (A): Scramjet engines are considered critical for the development of India's future hypersonic flight vehicles. Reason (R): Scramjet engines operate by utilizing atmospheric oxygen as an oxidizer, making them efficient at supersonic speeds.

1. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
2. Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A
3. A is true, but R is false
4. A is false, but R is true

Answer: Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A

Both statements are true. Scramjets are important for hypersonic vehicles because they use atmospheric oxygen instead of carrying oxidizer, which makes them efficient at very high speeds.

Q17. India's first dedicated multi-wavelength space observatory is:

1. AstroSat
2. Cartosat-1
3. INSAT-3DR
4. HysIS

Answer: AstroSat

AstroSat is India's first dedicated multi-wavelength space observatory. It was launched to study celestial sources across different parts of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Q18. Dr. Tessy Thomas is also known as the 'Missile Woman of India'. She is best associated with which of the following achievements?

1. Led Agni - V project; began career at LRDE
2. Was Chairperson of ISRO
3. Founded a private satellite company
4. Headed HAL's aeronautics division

Answer: Led Agni - V project; began career at LRDE

Tessy Thomas is a noted DRDO scientist known for her work on the Agni missile programme, especially Agni-V. She is not associated with ISRO chairmanship or HAL leadership. Her early career was at LRDE.

Q19. What distinguishes ISRO's Aditya-L1 mission from other solar observatories?

1. It uses radar waves to study the Sun
2. It orbits the Sun directly
3. It will study the solar corona from Lagrange Point 1
4. It is placed in a lunar orbit

Answer: It will study the solar corona from Lagrange Point 1

Aditya-L1 is India’s first solar mission and is placed near the Sun-Earth Lagrange Point 1. From there, it studies the solar corona and related solar phenomena.

Q20. Which of the given statements is/are correct regarding solar power production? Solar power is a renewable energy source with low operational costs and minimal environmental impact. Kamuthi Solar Power Project is one of the largest single-location solar power plants in India, with a capacity of 648 MW.

1. Both 1 and 2
2. 1 only
3. 2 only
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: Both 1 and 2

Both statements are correct. Solar power is renewable and has low operating costs after installation, and the Kamuthi Solar Power Project is one of India’s largest single-location solar plants with 648 MW capacity.

Q21. What makes the SSLV (Small Satellite Launch Vehicle) distinct from PSLV and GSLV?

1. It uses a hybrid liquid-solid engine
2. It is designed for on-demand, low-cost launches
3. It operates from a sea-based platform
4. It can only launch foreign satellites

Answer: It is designed for on-demand, low-cost launches

SSLV is designed for on-demand, low-cost launches of small satellites. Unlike PSLV and GSLV, it emphasizes quick assembly, flexibility, and reduced launch cost.

Q22. Aditya-L1 took how many days to reach L1?

1. 60
2. 127
3. 200
4. 365

Answer: 127

Aditya-L1 took 127 days to reach the Sun-Earth L1 point. This is the reported travel time for India’s first solar observatory mission.

Q23. What is the significance of the Bharatiya Antariksh Station?

1. It will be India's first lunar base
2. It will be India's space station in orbit
3. It is a deep-space observatory
4. It aims to mine asteroids

Answer: It will be India's space station in orbit

The Bharatiya Antariksh Station is India's planned space station in orbit. It is not a lunar base, deep-space observatory, or asteroid-mining project.

Q24. In quantum computing, the basic unit of information that can exist in multiple states simultaneously is called:

1. Bit
2. Qubit
3. Logic Gate
4. Transistor

Answer: Qubit

A qubit is the basic unit of information in quantum computing. Unlike a classical bit, which is either 0 or 1, a qubit can exist in a superposition of states. Therefore, the correct answer is Qubit.