Aspirant Academy

Science and Technology

Predicted Questions with Model Answers

Indian Science: Scientists, Institutions, Robotics, Nanotechnology, Quantum Computing, Government Policies, Digital India, Cyber Security & Data Privacy

Paper II · Unit 2 Section 10 of 13 0 PYQs 38 min
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Predicted Questions with Model Answers

Q1 (5 marks — 50 words): What is India's National Quantum Mission? State its budget and key objectives.

Model Answer:

India's National Quantum Mission (NQM) was approved in April 2023 with a budget of Rs 6,003 crore over 8 years (2023–2031) under the Department of Science and Technology. Objectives: develop quantum computers of 50–1,000 physical qubits; establish secure quantum communications over 2,000+ km; build quantum sensing, metrology, and materials capabilities through four T-Hubs at IISc, IIT Madras, IIT Bombay, and TIFR.

Q2 (5 marks — 50 words): What is the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023? State any three rights of data principals.

Model Answer:

The DPDP Act 2023 is India's first comprehensive data privacy law, enacted in August 2023. A "data principal" is the individual to whom data belongs. Their rights include: (1) Right to access — know what data is collected and why; (2) Right to correction and erasure — have inaccurate or unnecessary data corrected/deleted; (3) Right to grievance redressal — complain to the Data Protection Board of India.

Q3 (5 marks — 50 words): Write a note on DRDO's contributions to robotics in India.

Model Answer:

DRDO has developed key robotics systems for defence: DAKSHA — a remote-controlled bomb disposal robot deployed by Indian Army and NSG for IED detection; MUNTRA — India's unmanned ground vehicle in three variants (surveillance, mine detection, CBRN) developed at CVRDE Chennai; and a Robotic Mule for high-altitude logistics. These indigenously developed robots reduce risk to personnel in counter-insurgency and hazardous operations.

Q4 (5 marks — 50 words): Name any five key pillars of Digital India and state one achievement of each.

Model Answer:

  1. Aadhaar/UIDAI — 1.37 billion enrolled; powers DBT with Rs 3.48 lakh crore leakage savings.
  2. UPI (NPCI) — 14.96 billion transactions in March 2025; exported to 7+ countries.
  3. BharatNet — 2.14 lakh gram panchayats connected with optical fibre broadband.
  4. DigiLocker — 250 million users storing verified government documents digitally.
  5. ONDC — Open e-commerce protocol enabling 1 lakh+ sellers across 180+ cities.

Q5 (5 marks — 50 words): Name any four pioneering Indian scientists and state their key contribution.

Model Answer:

C.V. Raman — Raman Effect (1928), Nobel Prize 1930, first Asian Nobel in science. Homi Bhabha — founded TIFR (1945), BARC (1954); designed India's three-stage nuclear programme. S.N. Bose — Bose-Einstein statistics; bosons named after him. Vikram Sarabhai — founded PRL (1947), ISRO (1969); launched India's first rocket (Thumba, 1963).

Q6 (5 marks — 50 words): What is CERT-In? State its key directives and their significance.

Model Answer:

CERT-In (Computer Emergency Response Team — India), established under Section 70B of the IT Act 2000, is India's national nodal agency for cybersecurity incident response. Its April 2022 directives mandated: reporting cyber incidents within 6 hours (vs. EU GDPR's 72 hours), log retention for 180 days, and 5-year user-log storage for VPN providers — strengthening India's cyber incident response capability.