APPSC GROUP 1 MAINS
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY PAPER
YEAR – 2020
SUBSCRIBE APPSC GROUP 1 MAINS EXAM 2025 - SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY - 60 DAYS STUDY COURSE - CLICK HERE
Q.1.
a. What is life expectancy at birth? Data shows that the global average life expectancy has more than doubled since 1900. And is now above 70 years. Describe three to five factors which have contributed to improvement in life expectancy.
b. Telangana has several central government institutions suitable for research funded by the Department of Science and technology. These include BITS, CCMB, CDFD, CRIDA, DRDO, ICRISAT, NALSAR, NGRAU and NIN.
Q.2.
a. What is the UIDAI? How has this government body harnessed IT to improve targeted delivery of government benefits (DBT)? How can the Aadhar card help in financial transactions?
b. What is cybercrime? Describe with examples any two of the following and explain how the government helps victims of cybercrime.
Cyberbullying
Cyber stalking
Phishing
Ransomware
Q.3.
a. Write a brief account of the history of ISRO. Name any three ISRO centres and their location. Adda note about the Mangalyaan or chandrayaan missions of ISRO.
b. To date, ISRO has launched over 100 sateelites. Explain what are GEO, LEO, MEO, and SSO. Use diagrams to illustrate your answer. Add a note on GSLV and PLSV launches.
Q.4.
a. What is nuclear energy? At the end of 2019, seven nuclear reactors were under construction in India. With a combined capacity of 5.4 GW. What are the advantages and disadvantages of using nuclear energy in India? What is the NPT and how dies this impact India which is not a member of the NPT?
b. What is clean energy? List the sources of clean energy and explain how they work. Which of these sources can be used or are already widely used in India?
Q.5.
a. All member states of the UN adopted 17 goals in the 2030 agenda for sustainable Development. Name any four of these goals and explain how India can reach them.
b. What causes earthquakes? Can we prevent ot predict where and when an earthquake will happen? What should relief agencies do after an earthquake occurs in an inland and a coastal region?
Q.6.
a. Classify solid waste in terms of source and types of solid wastes. Explain the steps to manage this waste. Add a note on advantages and disadvantages of landfills.
b. What do you know about the agents, stages and effects of soil erosion? What are the factors affecting soil erosion and measures to conserve soil?
Q.7.
a. Is there any difference between gene therapy, transgenic organisms and gene enhancement/ genome editing? With example, explain the ethical concerns in each of these approaches? When can genome editing be considered ethical?
b. In October 2020, the Nobel prize for chemistry was awarded to the CRISPR technology. Explain how CRISPR functions in nature and how it has been adapted for research and clinical applications.
Q.8.
a. Write short notes on the causes, treatment and methods of prevention of any 3 of the following diseases:
Cholera
Malaria
Encephalitis
Tuberculosis
Avian flu
b. What is recombinant DNA? Draw a schematic to show the process of creating rDNA and explain the roles of restriction enzymes and vectors in this process. Give an example of rDNA technology.
Q.9.
a. What is intellectual property? Explain with examples the differences between copyrights, patents, and trademarks. What are the rights an investor has on his invention, and how are these rights gained and enforced globally?
b. What is a patent? Give examples of Patents. What is the difference between process patents and product patents? How are GI tags related to patents?
Q.10.
a. What is the status of utilization of solar energy in India and the world? What are some factors hindering utilization of this green energy source?
b. Traditional methods of in person education have been disrupted by the covid 19 pandemic. How can India’s space program help in restoring and expaning access to education in India?
Q.11.
a. What do you know about the NeGP (National e-Governance Action Plan) operating under the aegis of Digital India? Explain about the role of any three of the following projects in this plan:
Jan dhan yojana
Digital locker
National Digital literacy mission
E- Bhasha
Bharat NeT
b. What are biofuels and why are they important to India’s economy? What do you know about the Indian National policy on Biofuels?
Q.12.
a. Please interpret the following data in terms of contribution by countries to Sciene and Engineering publications. Identify any one factor for the state of Indian science and recommend a relevant policy measure to address the situation.
b. Is there a difference between forest cover and forest area? What does the following graph show?
Q.13.
a. What is Climate justice? How is this matter covered by news media and influential publications like time magazine? Suggest at least 2 measures that are aligned to this goal.
b. Explain what you see in the following graphic.
- How does human activity affect the substance shown in the graphic?
- How does this substance affect human health?
Q.14.
a. What are the most common and hazardous pollutants in outdoor and indoor air? Mention the health hazards from each of the pollutants. What is AQI (Air Quality Index)? Who monitors AQI in India? What is the contribution of PM to AQI?
b. What is covid 19 and how is it spread? How are immune diagnostic methods used in context of the covid 19 pandemic?
Q.15.
a. Explain the mechanism of action of vaccines. Give two examples where vaccines have eradicated diseases in india. What do you know about the Global vaccine action plan 2011 – 2020 and Mission Indradhanush?
b. the 2020 Nobel prize for physiology and Medicine was awarded to three scientists for their work on HCV. What do you know about this virus and the disease it causes? Is there any vaccine available for this disease?
