India’s next challenge — from invention to global scale

Which of the following statements about Rare Earth Elements (REEs) and Critical Minerals is/are correct ?

1. Modern technological innovations including Artificial Intelligence, robotics and space exploration extensively utilise Rare Earth Elements (REEs).
2. China has the highest share in mining of REEs followed by India.
3. The Government of India launched the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) in 2025 to establish a robust framework for self-reliance in the critical mineral sector.
4. Rare Earth Elements are a set of 13 metallic elements.

Select the answer using the code given below :

1. A. 1 and 3 only
2. B. 3 only
3. C. 1, 3 and 4
4. D. 1, 2 and 4

Consider the following statements about Mission Sudarshan Chakra of India:

1. It aims to enhance India's air defence, ballistic missile defence and aerial offensive capabilities.
2. This Mission is being designed to enhance rapid, precise, and powerful defence responses, reinforcing India's strategic autonomy.
3. One of the aims of this Mission is to cover all public places of India by an expanded nationwide security shield by 2035.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. A. 1, 2 and 3
2. B. 1 and 2 only
3. C. 2 and 3 only
4. D. 1 only

GPS-Aided Geo Augmented Navigation (GAGAN) uses a system of ground stations to provide necessary augmentation. Which of the following statements is/are correct in respect of GAGAN?

I. It is designed to provide additional accuracy and integrity.
II. It will allow more uniform and high quality air traffic management.
III. It will provide benefits only in aviation but not in other modes of transportation.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1. A. I, II and III
2. B. II and III only
3. C. I only
4. D. I and II only

In which of the following areas can GPS technology be used?
1. Mobile phone operations
2. Banking operations
3. Controlling the power grids

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

1. A. 1 only
2. B. 2 and 3 only
3. C. 1 and 3 only
4. D. 1, 2 and 3

Which of the following statements with regard to the National Quantum Mission (NQM) is/are correct?

1. It aims at developing intermediate-scale quantum computers with 50-1000 physical qubits.
2. Its implementation includes setting up of four Thematic Hubs (T-Hubs) in academic and national R&D institutes across India.

Select the answer using the code given below:

1. A. 1 only
2. B. 2 only
3. C. Both 1 and 2
4. D. Neither 1 nor 2

Consider the following statements:

Statement I:
Some rare earth elements are used in the manufacture of flat television screens and computer monitors.

Statement II:
Some rare earth elements have phosphorescent properties.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

1. A. Both Statement I and Statement II are correct and Statement II explains Statement I
2. B. Both Statement I and Statement II are correct but Statement II does not explain Statement I
3. C. Statement I is correct but Statement II is not correct
4. D. Statement I is not correct but Statement II is correct

Consider the following

1. Aarogya Setu
2. CoWIN
3. Digi Locker
4. DIKSHA

Which of the above are built on top of open-source digital platforms?

1. A. 1 and 2 only
2. B. 2, 3 and 4 only
3. C. 1, 3 and 4 only
4. D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Which one of the following pairs of semiconductor plants in India and their locations is **not** correctly matched?

| Semiconductor Plant | Location |
|---|---|
| (a) CG Power and Industrial Solutions Pvt. Ltd. in partnership with Renesas Electronics and STARS Microelectronics | Gujarat |
| (b) Tata Semiconductor Assembly and Test Pvt. Ltd. | Assam |
| (c) HCL-Foxconn Joint Venture India Chip Ltd. | Madhya Pradesh |
| (d) SicSem Pvt. Ltd. | Odisha |

1. A. CG Power and Industrial Solutions Pvt. Ltd. in partnership with Renesas Electronics and STARS Microelectronics : Gujarat
2. B. Tata Semiconductor Assembly and Test Pvt. Ltd. : Assam
3. C. HCL-Foxconn Joint Venture India Chip Ltd. : Madhya Pradesh
4. D. SicSem Pvt. Ltd. : Odisha

Which of the following statements about DHRUV64 is/are correct ?

1. It is the third chip fabricated under the DIR-V Programme with an overall aim to enable the creation of microprocessors for India.
2. It is India's first homegrown 1.0 GHz, 64-bit dual-core microprocessor.

Select the answer using the code given below :

1. A. 1 only
2. B. 2 only
3. C. Both 1 and 2
4. D. Neither 1 nor 2

Consider the following statements regarding: The Mangalyaan launched by ISRO

1. is also called the Mars Orbiter Mission
2. made India the second country to have a spacecraft orbit the Mars after USA
3. made India the only country to be successful in making its spacecraft orbit the Mars in its very first attempt

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. A. 1 only
2. B. 2 and 3 only
3. C. 1 and 3 only
4. D. 1, 2 and 3

Does tribal development in India centre around two axes, those of displacement and of rehabilitation? Give your opinion.

Achieving sustainable growth with emphasis on environmental protection could come into conflict with poor people’s needs in a country like India – Comment.

How do you account for the growing fast food industries given that there are increased health concerns in modern society? Illustrate your answer with the Indian experience.

Discuss the evolution of collegium system in India. Critically examine the advantages and disadvantages of the system of appointment of the Judges of the Supreme Court of India and that of the USA.

Indian Constitution has conferred the amending power on the ordinary legislative institutions with a few procedural hurdles. In view of this statement, examine the procedural and substantive limitations on the amending power of the Parliament to change the Constitution.

Mahatma Jotirao Phule’s writings and efforts of social reforms touched issues of almost all subaltern classes. Discuss.

With reference to India's historical experience in technology development, what was a common challenge faced by initiatives like Semiconductor Complex Limited (SCL), ECIL, and Simputer in achieving global scale?

1. A. Lack of indigenous scientific talent and research capabilities.
2. B. Absence of early technological vision and foresight.
3. C. Inability to translate scientific excellence into globally competitive commercial products and ecosystems.
4. D. Over-reliance on foreign technology transfer and collaborations.

Which of the following initiatives are cited in the article as examples of India successfully scaling technology for national transformation or global impact? 1. PARAM supercomputers 2. Aadhaar 3. Simputer 4. UPI Select the correct answer using the code given below:

1. A. 1, 2 and 3 only
2. B. 1, 2 and 4 only
3. C. 2, 3 and 4 only
4. D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

According to the article, what is the crucial lesson India must learn from its past technological journey as it embarks on ambitious missions in emerging technologies like AI and quantum computing?

1. A. Prioritizing basic scientific research over applied technology development.
2. B. Focusing solely on self-reliance and indigenous innovation, irrespective of global market trends.
3. C. That invention alone is insufficient, and the true measure of success lies in scaling innovation into globally competitive enterprises.
4. D. Emphasizing public sector dominance in all critical technology sectors.

"Invention alone is not enough. The true measure of technological success lies in scaling innovation into globally competitive enterprises." In light of this statement, analyze the reasons behind India's historical struggle to translate early technological vision into globally dominant industries. What lessons can be drawn from the successful models mentioned in the article for India's future technological journey?

Introduce the statement and India's historical context of technological vision. Discuss specific examples (SCL, ECIL, Simputer) and the reasons for their limited scale (e.g., limited capital, inadequate scale, inconsistent policy, inward-looking approach, lack of ecosystem). Contrast with successful models (Pharmaceuticals, PARAM, Aadhaar, UPI) highlighting factors of success (e.g., global competitiveness, scale, ecosystem creation). Conclude with key lessons for India's future technological strategy.

India stands at a technological inflection point with emerging fields like Artificial Intelligence, quantum computing, and space technologies. Discuss how India can leverage its existing strengths and overcome past challenges to achieve global leadership and build globally competitive ecosystems in these critical sectors.

Begin by acknowledging India's current position and potential in emerging technologies. Identify India's existing strengths (e.g., software engineering, digital infrastructure, frugal innovation). Discuss past challenges (e.g., inability to scale, lack of robust ecosystems, inconsistent policy) and propose concrete strategies to overcome them, focusing on building globally scalable products, democratizing technology, fostering venture capital, and leading in specific niche applications (e.g., low-cost AI, quantum applications, orbital computing).