Subtopic

Physics & Materials Science

Under theme: Science & Technology

44 PYQs. Learn elimination tricks first, then attempt the questions below.

Questions44
Active years14
Tricks15

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Every PYQ in this subtopic — exam mode with autosave, negative marking, and explanations after you submit.

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Elimination tricks

15 from PYQs

Common distractors and how to eliminate wrong options in this subtopic.

  • 1

    Always consider the practical applications and environmental implications of new technologies.

  • 1

    Always look for the underlying scientific principle (Statement II) that explains the technological applicatio…

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  • 1

    Avoid assuming waste materials are useless; UPSC often highlights 'waste-to-wealth' concepts.

  • 1

    Avoid confusing the movie's subject with other historical figures or fictional characters.

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    Avoid making assumptions about the scale or scope of scientific projects; verify specific claims like 'larges…

  • 1

    Avoid options that describe contributing factors to a thunderstorm but not the specific cause of thunder itse…

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    Avoid options that describe social, economic, or environmental contexts, as the terms are purely scientific.

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    Avoid selecting options that include irrelevant optical phenomena not directly involved in rainbow creation.

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    Be cautious of absolute terms like "only"; they frequently indicate an incorrect statement in UPSC questions.

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    Be wary of absolute statements like 'cannot be recycled'; they are often incorrect in UPSC questions.

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    Be wary of absolute terms like 'only' in statements; they often indicate an incorrect claim.

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    Be wary of international collaboration claims, especially with specific foreign entities, unless widely repor…

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    Be wary of statements that promise immediate, wide-ranging, or revolutionary practical applications unless th…

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    Carefully read the question to identify the 'not correct' statement, as UPSC often uses negative phrasing.

  • 1

    Consider the physical and chemical properties of steel slag (e.g., hardness, mineral content) to infer its po…

PYQs in this subtopic

2026
6
2025
3
2024
2
2023
4
2022
2
2021
3
2020
2
2018
2
2017
1
2016
1
2015
1
2014
2
2013
6
0
9
UPSC Prelims 2020 medium Science & Technology Open full page

“The experiment will employ a trio of spacecraft flying in formation in the shape of an equilateral triangle that has sides one million kilometres long, with lasers shining between the craft”. The experiment in question refers to

UPSC Prelims 2020 medium Science & Technology Open full page

Steel slag can be the material for which of the following?

1. Construction of base road
2. Improvement of agricultural soil
3. Production of cement

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

UPSC Prelims 2018 easy Science & Technology Open full page

Consider the following pairs :
|Terms sometimes seen in news|Context /Topic |
|-- |--|
|1. Belle II experiment | Artificial Intelligence|
|2. Blockchain technology|Digital/Cryptocurrency |
|3. CRISPR — Cas9 | Particle Physics |

Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched ?

Practice all 44 PYQs in one test

88 min · −33% negative · explanations after submit

UPSC Prelims 2018 hard Science & Technology Open full page

Consider the following phenomena :
1. Light is affected by gravity.
2. The Universe is constantly expanding.
3. Matter warps its surrounding space-time.

Which of the above is/are the prediction/predictions of Albert Einstein's General Theory of Relativity, often discussed in media?

UPSC Prelims 2017 easy Science & Technology Open full page

The terms ‘Event Horizon’, ‘Singularity’, `String Theory’ and ‘Standard Model’ are sometimes seen in the news in the context of

UPSC Prelims 2016 easy Science & Technology Open full page

A recent movie titled The Man Who Knew Infinity is based on the biography of

Practice all 44 PYQs in one test

88 min · −33% negative · explanations after submit

UPSC Prelims 2015 hard Science & Technology Open full page

In the context of modern scientific research, consider the following statements about ‘IceCube’, a particle detector located at the South Pole, which was recently in the news :
1. It is the world’s largest neutrino detector, encompassing a cubic kilometre of ice.
2. It is a powerful telescope to search for dark matter
3. It is buried deep in the ice.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

UPSC Prelims 2014 medium Science & Technology Open full page

Which reference to Agni-IV Missile, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. It is a surface-to-surface missile.
2. It is fuelled by liquid propellant only.
3. It can deliver one-tonne nuclear warheads about 7500 km away.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

UPSC Prelims 2014 medium Science & Technology Open full page

Which of the following is/are the example/examples of chemical change?
1. Crystallization of sodium chloride
2. Melting of ice
3. Souring of milk

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

UPSC Prelims 2013 medium Science & Technology Open full page

Consider the following phenomena:
1. Size of the sun at dusk
2. Colour of the sun at dawn
3. Moon being visible at dawn
4. The twinkle of stars in the sky
5. Polestar being visible in the sky

Which of the above are optical illusions?