General Science and Technology MCQs for UPSC Prelims with Answers

This General Science and Technology MCQ practice paper for UPSC has 15 questions on physics, chemistry, biology, space and new technology. Each answer has a simple explanation, so you do not need a science background to follow it. Questions in this area are mostly based on basic school science and on the news, which makes them very easy to score if you prepare smartly.

Why Science and Technology MCQs Matter

UPSC asks science questions to check understanding, not to test difficult formulas. A typical question can be about a disease, a vitamin, a space mission or a technology such as artificial intelligence. Regular MCQ practice helps you revise basic NCERT facts quickly and connect them with news items from ISRO, DRDO and health or technology reports.

Instructions

• Total questions: 15. Suggested time: 15 minutes.
• Each correct answer gives 2 marks and each wrong answer deducts 0.66 marks.
• Read the explanation of every answer, even for the ones you got right.

Practice Questions

Q1. What is the SI unit of force?
(a) Joule
(b) Newton
(c) Watt
(d) Pascal

Q2. The speed of light in vacuum is approximately:
(a) 3 x 10^5 m/s
(b) 3 x 10^6 m/s
(c) 3 x 10^8 m/s
(d) 3 x 10^10 m/s

Q3. Deficiency of which vitamin causes scurvy?
(a) Vitamin A
(b) Vitamin B1
(c) Vitamin C
(d) Vitamin D

Q4. The chemical formula of common salt is:
(a) KCl
(b) NaCl
(c) CaCl2
(d) NaOH

Q5. Which part of a cell is called the "powerhouse of the cell"?
(a) Nucleus
(b) Ribosome
(c) Mitochondria
(d) Golgi apparatus

Q6. What is the pH value of pure water at room temperature?
(a) 0
(b) 5
(c) 7
(d) 14

Q7. India's Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan) was launched in:
(a) 2008
(b) 2011
(c) 2013
(d) 2016

Q8. The Aditya-L1 mission of ISRO is meant to study:
(a) The Moon
(b) Mars
(c) The Sun
(d) Jupiter

Q9. Which gas is commonly used in fire extinguishers?
(a) Oxygen
(b) Hydrogen
(c) Carbon dioxide
(d) Methane

Q10. Which of the following diseases is caused by a virus?
(a) Malaria
(b) Tuberculosis
(c) Dengue
(d) Cholera

Q11. The double helix structure of DNA was proposed by:
(a) Mendel and Darwin
(b) Watson and Crick
(c) Pasteur and Koch
(d) Fleming and Jenner

Q12. Which of the following is considered the universal blood donor?
(a) A positive
(b) AB positive
(c) O negative
(d) B negative

Q13. Which of the following is a renewable source of energy?
(a) Coal
(b) Petroleum
(c) Solar energy
(d) Natural gas

Q14. A vaccine protects the body by:
(a) Killing all germs directly in the blood
(b) Helping the immune system learn to recognise a germ
(c) Replacing white blood cells
(d) Adding vitamins to the body

Q15. Which emerging technology uses "qubits" for computation?
(a) Blockchain
(b) Quantum computing
(c) 5G networks
(d) Cloud storage

Answer Key with Explanations

1. Q1: (b) The newton (N) is the SI unit of force. Joule is the unit of energy, watt of power and pascal of pressure.
2. Q2: (c) Light travels at about 3 x 10^8 metres per second, or roughly 3 lakh kilometres per second, in vacuum.
3. Q3: (c) Scurvy is caused by a lack of Vitamin C. Night blindness is linked with Vitamin A, beriberi with Vitamin B1 and rickets with Vitamin D.
4. Q4: (b) Common salt is sodium chloride, NaCl.
5. Q5: (c) Mitochondria release energy from food during cellular respiration, so they are called the powerhouse of the cell.
6. Q6: (c) Pure water is neutral and has a pH of 7. Values below 7 are acidic and above 7 are basic.
7. Q7: (c) The Mars Orbiter Mission was launched in November 2013 and entered Mars orbit in September 2014, making India the first Asian country to reach Mars orbit on its first attempt.
8. Q8: (c) Aditya-L1 is India's first solar observatory mission, placed near the Sun-Earth Lagrange point L1.
9. Q9: (c) Carbon dioxide does not support burning and covers the fire, so it is used in many fire extinguishers.
10. Q10: (c) Dengue is a viral disease spread by mosquitoes. Malaria is caused by a protozoan, and tuberculosis and cholera are caused by bacteria.
11. Q11: (b) James Watson and Francis Crick proposed the double helix model of DNA in 1953.
12. Q12: (c) O negative red blood cells can be given to people of almost all blood groups in emergencies, so O negative is called the universal donor.
13. Q13: (c) Solar energy is renewable because it is naturally replenished. Coal, petroleum and natural gas are fossil fuels.
14. Q14: (b) A vaccine trains the immune system by showing it a harmless form or part of a germ, so the body can fight the real germ quickly later.
15. Q15: (b) Quantum computers use qubits, which can exist in more than one state at the same time, unlike normal bits.

Units and Basic Physics Facts

Vitamins and Deficiency Diseases

• Vitamin A: night blindness.
• Vitamin B1: beriberi.
• Vitamin C: scurvy.
• Vitamin D: rickets in children.
• Vitamin K: delayed blood clotting.

Diseases by Cause

• Bacteria: tuberculosis, cholera, typhoid.
• Virus: dengue, COVID-19, influenza, hepatitis.
• Protozoa: malaria, amoebiasis.
• Fungi: ringworm and athlete's foot.

Important ISRO Missions

Emerging Technologies in Simple Words

Artificial intelligence lets machines do tasks like understanding language and recognising images. Blockchain is a shared digital record that is very hard to change. 5G is a faster mobile network. Quantum computing uses qubits for very fast calculations. Biotechnology uses living organisms to make products such as vaccines. Learn one line of meaning, one example and one risk for each technology.

Defence and Nuclear Technology: Quick Facts

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) develops weapons and defence systems for India. Know the basic names: Prithvi (short-range ballistic missile), Agni (a series of long-range ballistic missiles), Akash (surface-to-air missile) and BrahMos (supersonic cruise missile developed with Russia). India follows a three-stage nuclear power programme planned by Homi J. Bhabha, which aims to use the country's large thorium reserves in the long run. Remember that nuclear fission splits heavy atoms, while nuclear fusion joins light atoms, as happens inside the Sun.

Health and Nutrition Basics

A balanced diet contains carbohydrates for energy, proteins for growth, fats for stored energy, vitamins and minerals for protection and water for body functions. Antibiotics work against bacteria and not against viruses, and misuse of antibiotics creates antimicrobial resistance, which is a growing health challenge. Vaccination programmes such as Mission Indradhanush aim to protect children against preventable diseases. UPSC often links these basics with government schemes and news on public health.

How to Prepare Science and Technology for the Prelims

1. Revise NCERT science of Classes 6 to 10 for the basics.
2. Read the news for science stories and write one line of explanation for each.
3. Use tables. Vitamins, diseases, units and missions are easy to learn from small tables.
4. Practise MCQs every week and keep a notebook of new terms.

Tricks for Solving Science Questions

• Use logic when you do not know the exact fact. For example, a gas used to put out fire must not support burning.
• Group facts. Learn all SI units in one table and all disease causes in one table, so you can compare options quickly.
• Read the question for hints like "renewable", "viral" or "SI unit", because these words narrow the options immediately.
• For technology questions, think about the use of the technology, who made it and what risk it carries.

Quick Revision Points

• Newton for force, joule for energy, watt for power and pascal for pressure.
• Dengue is viral, malaria is protozoan, tuberculosis and cholera are bacterial.
• Aditya-L1 studies the Sun; Mangalyaan was launched in 2013.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Memorising names without knowing the purpose of a technology or mission.
• Skipping basic biology and chemistry because they look "school level".
• Ignoring science news from the last year.
• Not revising tables of vitamins, diseases and units.

Solve a small science quiz daily, revise your tables and stay curious about new inventions. With this simple routine, Science and Technology will become a friendly and scoring part of your UPSC preparation.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How many questions come from Science and Technology in UPSC Prelims?

There is no fixed number, but a few questions come every year, mostly on basic science, health, space and recent technology in the news.

Do I need a science background for UPSC Science and Technology?

No. UPSC asks questions based on basic school science and current news, so any student can prepare with NCERT and regular reading.

Which books are best for Science MCQ practice?

Revise NCERT science for Classes 6 to 10, then use one short reference book or notes on science and technology and practise MCQs and previous year questions.

How can I prepare current affairs in Science and Technology?

Read a newspaper, note each science or technology story with its meaning, use and challenges, and revise these notes every week.

What is the best way to remember vitamins and diseases?

Make a one-page table of vitamin, source and deficiency disease, and also a table of diseases by cause such as bacteria, virus and protozoa. Revise it weekly.

Which ISRO missions are important for UPSC?

Chandrayaan-1, Mangalyaan, Chandrayaan-3, Aditya-L1 and the Gaganyaan programme are important, along with launch vehicles PSLV and GSLV.

How often should I solve science MCQs?

Solve a small quiz daily and a longer test every week, and write every mistake in a notebook with the correct explanation.