Prelims GS I · 179 questions · 2011–2026
Science & technology: every Prelims question, by topic
UPSC syllabus: “General Science.” Below, the topics inside it — most asked first — and how often each came up year by year.
Science & technology in Prelims 2011: 17 questions
All years →- Q69 · Biotechnology & geneticsAt present, scientists can determine the arrangement or relative positions of genes or DNA sequences on a chromosome. How does this knowledge benefit us? It is possible to know the pedigree of livesto…
- Q70 · Human body, health & diseasesRegular intake of fresh fruits and vegetables is recommended in the diet since they are a good source of antioxidants. How do antioxidants help a person maintain health and promote longevity?…
- Q71 · IT, computing & emerging technologiesWhat is the difference between Bluetooth and Wi-Fi devices?…
- Q72 · IT, computing & emerging technologiesWhat is “Virtual Private Network”?…
- Q73 · Space technologyAn artificial satellite orbiting around the Earth does not fall down. This is so because the attraction of Earth_______…
- Q74 · Space technologyWhat is the difference between asteroids and comets? Asteroids are small rocky planetoids, while comets are formed of frozen gases held together by rocky and metallic material. Asteroids are found mos…
- Q75 · Space technologySatellites used for telecommunication relay are kept in a geostationary orbit. A satellite is said to be in such an orbit when: The orbit is geosynchronous. The orbit is circular. The orbit lies in th…
- Q76 · Physics & chemistry in everyday lifeThe surface of a lake is frozen in severe winter, but the water at its bottom is still liquid. What is the reason?…
- Q77 · IT, computing & emerging technologiesMicrobial fuel cells are considered a source of sustainable energy. Why? They use living organisms as catalysts to generate electricity from certain substrates. They use a variety of inorganic materia…
- Q78 · Defence, nuclear & energy technologyThe function of heavy water in a nuclear reactor is to…
- Q79 · Human body, health & diseasesA company marketing food products advertises that its items do not contain trans fats. What does this campaign signify to the customers? The food products are not made out of hydrogenated oils. The fo…
- Q80 · Physics & chemistry in everyday lifeWhat is the difference between a CFL and an LED lamp? To produce light, a CFL uses mercury vapour and phosphor while an LED lamp uses semiconductor material. The average lifespan of a CFL is much long…
- Q81 · Human body, health & diseasesAspartame is an artificial sweetener sold in the market. It consists of amino acids and provides calories like other amino acids. Yet, it is used as a low-calorie sweetening agent in food items. What …
- Q83 · Biotechnology & geneticsA married couple adopted a male child. A few years later, twin boys were born to them. The blood group of the couple is AB positive and O negative. The blood group of the three sons is A positive, B p…
- Q84 · IT, computing & emerging technologiesA new optical disc format known as the Blu- ray Disc (BD) is becoming popular. In what way is it different from the traditional DVD? DVD supports Standard Definition video while BD supports High Defin…
- Q85 · Human body, health & diseasesWhen the bark of a tree is removed in a circular fashion all around near its base, it gradually dries up and dies because:…
- Q87 · Biotechnology & geneticsA genetically engineered form of brinjal, known as the Bt-brinjal, has been developed. The objective of this is:…
Science & technology in UPSC Prelims at a glance
UPSC has asked 179 questions on Science & technology in GS Paper I from 2011 to 2026 — about 11 a year, the most in 2011 (17). The most-asked topic is IT, computing & emerging technologies (47 questions).
| Year | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Questions | 17 | 9 | 13 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 12 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 13 | 10 | 8 | 11 | 13 |
Counted from UPSC's own papers in the Vault, each question under its main subject · updated 8 Nov 2026.
- IT, computing & emerging technologies47 questions · asked in 13 of 16 years
- Human body, health & diseases33 questions · asked in 13 of 16 years
- Biotechnology & genetics28 questions · asked in 14 of 16 years
- Physics & chemistry in everyday life26 questions · asked in 13 of 16 years
- Space technology25 questions · asked in 13 of 16 years
- Defence, nuclear & energy technology20 questions · asked in 13 of 16 years
Latest questions
- 2026 · Q41 · Biotechnology & geneticsWhich of the following statements with regard to genetic medicine is/are correct?…
- 2026 · Q42 · IT, computing & emerging technologiesWhich of the following statements with regard to Large Language Models (LLMs) used in machine learning is/are correct?…
- 2026 · Q43 · Defence, nuclear & energy technologyWhich of the following statements with regard to stealth technology is/are correct?…
- 2026 · Q44 · Physics & chemistry in everyday lifeWhich of the following statements with regard to Black Boxes used in modern aircrafts is/are correct?…
- 2026 · Q46 · Space technologyConsider the following statements with regard to involvement of private entities in India’s space programme:…
The same ground in Mains
These official Mains syllabus lines cover Science & technology. Prelims facts become Mains arguments.
Science & technology PYQs as a PDF — free
All 48 PDFs →Every Science & technology question from 2011 to 2026, topic-wise, with answers and explanations — 94 pages. Free; sign up once.
Science & technology PYQs: quick answers
How many Science & technology questions has UPSC asked in Prelims from 2011 to 2026?
179 questions in GS Paper I — about 11 a year, the most in 2011 (17). Every one is on this page, under its topic, with UPSC's answer and an explanation.
Which Science & technology topic does UPSC ask most in Prelims?
IT, computing & emerging technologies: 47 questions between 2011 and 2026, asked in 13 of 16 years. The topics are listed above, most asked first, each with its year-by-year trend.
Are the answers UPSC's official answer keys?
From 2016, yes: every answer is from UPSC's final answer key (2016–2025); for 2011–2015, where UPSC published no key online, each answer is worked out from official sources and reviewed independently; for 2026 UPSC has so far published a provisional key, and those answers are labelled. Explanations cite official sources — NCERT and government pages first.
Can I download the Science & technology PYQs as a PDF?
Yes — a print-ready PDF of every Science & technology question with answers and explanations (94 pages, 1.9 MB), free after a one-time sign-up, from the Vault's downloads page.
Counted from UPSC's own papers in the Vault; answers are UPSC's keys.
