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NEXUS / 2026 / GS1
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Project Alexandria • Universal Library

UPSC 2026 GS Paper 1

Artifacts 41 through 50

41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50
41

Which of the following statements with regard to genetic medicine is/are correct?

  1. Genetic medicines correct/compensate for the faulty genes responsible for disease.
  2. Engineered viruses and lipid nanoparticles are used as carriers of the genetic medicine.
  3. Genetic medicines alter the entire DNA sequence.

Select the answer using the code given below :

  1. 1 only
  2. 2 and 3 only
  3. 1 and 2 only
  4. 1, 2 and 3

Official Answer: (c) 1 and 2 only

Mapped Realm: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ├─ REALM 241: CRISPR & Gene Therapy

Topic to Read: Gene Therapy vectors, Lipid Nanoparticles (LNPs), and targeted genetic modification.

Concept Breakdown: Genetic medicines operate like highly targeted molecular surgeons. They correct or compensate for specific faulty genes causing diseases (statement 1). To deliver these corrections into our cells, scientists use microscopic vehicles, or vectors, such as harmless engineered viruses or synthetic lipid nanoparticles (as seen in mRNA vaccines) (statement 2). They absolutely do not alter your entire DNA sequence; that would be fatal. They only target specific, isolated sequences (invalidating statement 3).
42

Which of the following statements with regard to Large Language Models (LLMs) used in machine learning is/are correct?

  1. LLMs assign probabilities to the next possible words and then pick the one with the highest probability.
  2. LLMs process data through mathematical optimization to minimise prediction errors.
  3. LLMs produce unbiased outputs.

Select the answer using the code given below :

  1. 1 only
  2. 1 and 2 only
  3. 2 and 3 only
  4. 1, 2 and 3

Official Answer: (b) 1 and 2 only

Mapped Realm: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ├─ REALM 544: AI Applications & Governance

Topic to Read: Generative AI mechanics, Stochastic Parrots, and AI Bias.

Concept Breakdown: At their core, LLMs are incredibly advanced autocomplete engines. They analyze vast amounts of text to calculate the mathematical probability of what the next word in a sequence should be (statement 1). They get better at this through rigorous mathematical optimization (like gradient descent), constantly tweaking their internal weights to minimize errors during training (statement 2). However, because they are trained on human data scraped from the internet, they fundamentally inherit and often amplify human prejudices and biases; they absolutely do not produce unbiased outputs (invalidating statement 3).
43

Which of the following statements with regard to stealth technology is/are correct?

  1. Stealth objects have a very small radar cross-section and are coated with Radar Absorbing Material.
  2. Stealth objects can be detected using specific frequencies.
  3. Stealth objects are coated with metamaterials to increase the scattering of electromagnetic radiation.

Select the answer using the code given below :

  1. 1 only
  2. 2 and 3 only
  3. 1 and 2 only
  4. 1, 2 and 3

Official Answer: (c) 1 and 2 only

Mapped Realm: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ├─ REALM 417: Drone Tech, UAVs & Stealth

Topic to Read: Radar Cross Section (RCS), RAM coatings, and Anti-Stealth Radar.

Concept Breakdown: Stealth aircraft (like the F-35) use sharp, angular geometry to deflect radar waves away from the receiver, achieving a tiny Radar Cross Section (RCS), and they are painted with Radar Absorbing Materials (RAM) that trap radar energy as heat (statement 1). However, "stealth" does not mean invisible; they can still be detected by specialized low-frequency or VHF radars (statement 2). Modern metamaterials are being researched to bend or absorb radiation, but never to increase scattering, as increased scattering would immediately reveal the aircraft's position (invalidating statement 3).
44

Which of the following statements with regard to Black Boxes used in modern aircrafts is/are correct?

  1. They carry a beacon emitting red light pulses to facilitate underwater detection.
  2. They record both the cockpit voice and flight data.
  3. Their memory units are made using either stainless steel or titanium.

Select the answer using the code given below :

  1. 1 only
  2. 2 and 3 only
  3. 1 and 2 only
  4. 1, 2 and 3

Official Answer: (b) 2 and 3 only

Mapped Realm: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ├─ REALM 435: Submarines, Carriers & Aircraft

Topic to Read: Flight Data Recorders (FDR), Underwater Locator Beacons (ULB), and aerospace metallurgy.

Concept Breakdown: Flight recorders (Black Boxes, which are actually painted bright international orange) combine two modules: the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) (statement 2). Because they must survive catastrophic impacts and extreme fires, their memory boards are encased in heavy-duty stainless steel or titanium armor (statement 3). However, when submerged underwater, light cannot travel far. Therefore, their underwater locator beacons do not emit red light; they emit ultrasonic acoustic pulses (pings) at 37.5 kHz that sonar can detect for miles (invalidating statement 1).
45

Which of the following statements with regard to Green Hydrogen is/are correct?

  1. It is decarbonized hydrogen obtained from natural gas reforming combined with carbon capture and storage (CCS).
  2. It is produced using electrolysis of water with electricity generated by renewable energy.
  3. National Green Hydrogen Mission of India aims for abatement of nearly 50 MMT of annual greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.

Select the answer using the code given below:

  1. 1 only
  2. 2 and 3 only
  3. 2 only
  4. 1, 2 and 3

Official Answer: (b) 2 and 3 only

Mapped Realm: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ├─ REALM 349: Hydrogen Energy & Green Future

Topic to Read: Hydrogen color codes (Grey, Blue, Green), Electrolysis, and India's Green Hydrogen Mission.

Concept Breakdown: The "color" of hydrogen denotes how it was made. Green hydrogen is explicitly produced by splitting pure water (H2O) into hydrogen and oxygen via electrolysis, powered entirely by renewable energy like solar or wind (statement 2). Hydrogen extracted from natural gas using carbon capture and storage (CCS) is technically called Blue hydrogen, not green (invalidating statement 1). Under India's National Green Hydrogen Mission, one of the primary targets is precisely to avert nearly 50 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) of annual greenhouse gas emissions by the year 2030 (statement 3).
46

Consider the following statements with regard to involvement of private entities in India's space programme:

  1. The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) is an autonomous agency formed to facilitate participation of private entities.
  2. Agnikul Cosmos launched the world's first flight using 3D-printed rocket engine.
  3. Skyroot Aerospace has developed liquid fuel for GSLV.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. 1 only
  2. 2 and 3 only
  3. 1 and 2 only
  4. 1, 2 and 3

Official Answer: (c) 1 and 2 only

Mapped Realm: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ├─ REALM 394: Private Sector, PPPs & Startups

Topic to Read: IN-SPACe mandate, Indian Space Startups (Agnikul, Skyroot), and advanced propulsion tech.

Concept Breakdown: IN-SPACe operates as a single-window, independent nodal agency under the Department of Space to actively promote and authorize private space ventures in India (statement 1). The startup Agnikul Cosmos made global history by launching the Agnibaan SOrTeD suborbital rocket, powered by the world's first single-piece 3D-printed semi-cryogenic engine (Agnilet) (statement 2). Skyroot Aerospace successfully built and launched India's first private rocket, the Vikram-S, but it utilized solid propulsion, and they certainly did not develop liquid fuel systems for ISRO's massive GSLV rockets (invalidating statement 3).
47

Which of the following statements with regard to drone swarms is/are correct?

  1. They use Terahertz band of frequency to communicate with the command centre.
  2. Individual drones in the swarm can communicate with other drones in the swarm.
  3. GPS Spoofing is a commonly used technique to counter drone swarm attack.

Select the answer using the code given below:

  1. 1 only
  2. 2 and 3 only
  3. 1 and 2 only
  4. 1, 2 and 3

Official Answer: (b) 2 and 3 only

Mapped Realm: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ├─ REALM 417: Drone Tech, UAVs & Stealth

Topic to Read: UAV Mesh Networking, Anti-Drone Electronic Warfare, and RF Spectrums.

Concept Breakdown: Unlike older remote-control planes, a drone swarm operates as a cohesive hive mind; individual drones constantly talk to each other via mesh networks to hold formation and avoid crashing (statement 2). Defending militaries often counter these swarms not by shooting them down, but by using "GPS Spoofing"—broadcasting fake GPS coordinates to confuse the swarm's navigation, forcing them off course or causing them to crash (statement 3). They do not use the Terahertz band for command communication; Terahertz waves suffer severe attenuation in the atmosphere and are useless for long-range drone control, which relies instead on standard RF/Microwave bands (invalidating statement 1).
48

Which of the following statements with regard to GenomeIndia Project is/are correct?

  1. It is a part of the Human Genome Project.
  2. The project is funded by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India.
  3. Its primary aim is to build a catalogue of genetic diversity of the Indian population.

Select the answer using the code given below:

  1. 1 only
  2. 2 and 3 only
  3. 1 and 2 only
  4. 1, 2 and 3

Official Answer: (b) 2 and 3 only

Mapped Realm: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ├─ REALM 238: Genome Sequencing & Apps

Topic to Read: India's DBT Initiatives, 10K Genome mapping, and Indigenous Bio-banks.

Concept Breakdown: GenomeIndia is a massive, independent, and sovereign indigenous initiative funded directly by the Government of India's Department of Biotechnology (DBT) (statement 2). Its mission is to sequence 10,000 Indian genomes from various distinct ethnic groups to build a comprehensive catalogue mapping India's extreme genetic diversity for precision medicine (statement 3). It is completely separate from the international "Human Genome Project," which successfully concluded its global mapping back in 2003 (invalidating statement 1).
49

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. 1 only
  2. 2 only
  3. Both 1 and 2
  4. Neither 1 nor 2

Official Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2

Mapped Realm: INTERNAL SECURITY ├─ REALM 218: Quantum Technology & Security

Topic to Read: India's NQM Targets, Qubits, and the four foundational T-Hubs.

Concept Breakdown: The National Quantum Mission (NQM), approved in 2023, sets out a highly specific multi-year roadmap. Its primary hardware target is to successfully build an intermediate-scale quantum computer featuring 50 to 1,000 physical qubits (statement 1). To achieve this, the architectural plan establishes exactly four dedicated Thematic Hubs (T-Hubs) stationed in elite institutions, focusing distinctly on Quantum Computing, Communication, Sensing & Metrology, and Materials & Devices (statement 2).
50

Which of the following statements with regard to India's Deep Ocean Mission is/are correct?

  1. It was launched by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Government of India.
  2. Matsya-6000 has been designed to carry 3 people for deep sea exploration.
  3. Samudrayaan is a project under this mission.

Select the answer using the code given below :

  1. 1 only
  2. 2 and 3 only
  3. 1 and 2 only
  4. 1, 2 and 3

Official Answer: (b) 2 and 3 only

Mapped Realm: PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY ├─ REALM 98: Deep Ocean Mission

Topic to Read: MoES Initiatives, Polymetallic Nodule mining, and the Samudrayaan Project.

Concept Breakdown: The grand Deep Ocean Mission is spearheaded scientifically by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), not the commercial/logistical Ministry of Ports & Shipping (invalidating statement 1). Under this mission umbrella, the crown jewel is the 'Samudrayaan' project (statement 3), which involves developing a titanium-alloy crewed submersible named 'Matsya-6000'. This submersible is meticulously designed to carry a crew of exactly 3 scientists down to a crushing depth of 6,000 meters to explore deep-sea biodiversity and polymetallic nodules (statement 2).