The experiment will employ a trio of spacecraft flying in formation in the shape of an equilateral triangle that has sides one million kilometers long, with lasers shining between the craft.” The experiment in question refers to (2020)

Recently, scientists observed the merger of giant ‘blackholes’ billions of light years away from the Earth. What is the significance of this observation? (2019)

Consider the following statements: (2018)
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 the media?

With reference to India’s satellite launch vehicles, consider the following statements: (2018)
1. PSLVs launch the satellite useful for Earth resources monitoring whereas GSLVs are designed mainly to launch communication satellites.
2. Satellites launched by PSLV appear to remain permanently fixed in the same position in the sky, as viewed from a particular location on Earth.
3. GSLV Mk III is a four staged launch vehicle with the first and third stages using solid rocket motors; and the second and fourth stages using liquid rocket engines.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

With reference to ‘Astrosat’,’ the astronomical observatory launched by India, which of the following statements is/are correct? (2016)
1. Other than USA and Russia, India is the only country to have launched a similar observatory into space.
2. Astrosat is a 2000 kg satellite placed in an orbit at 1650 km above the surface of the Earth.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Consider the following statements: (2016)
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?

In the context of modern scientific research, consider the following statements about ‘IceCube’, a particle detector located at South Pole, which was recently in the news: (2015)
1. It is the world’s largest neutrino detector, encompassing a cubic kilometer 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?

The term ‘Goldilocks Zone’ is often seen in the news in the context of (2015)

Consider the following phenomena: (2013)
1. Size of the sun at dusk
2. Colour of the sun at dawn
3. Moon being visible at dawn
4. Twinkle of stars in the sky
5. Polestar being visible in the sky
Which of the above are optical illusions?

The efforts to detect the existence of the Higgs boson particle have become frequent news in the recent past. What is/are the importance/importances of discovering this particle? (2013)
1. It will enable us to understand why elementary particles have mass.
2. It will enable us in the near future to develop the technology of transferring matter from one point to another without traversing the physical space between them.
3. It will enable us to create better fuels for nuclear missions.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

Which of the following is/are cited by the scientists as evidence/evidence for the continued expansion of the universe? (2012)
1. Detection of microwaves in space.
2. Observation of redshift phenomenon in space.
3. Movement of asteroids in space.
4. Occurrence of supernova explosion in space.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

An artificial satellite orbiting around the Earth does not fall down. This is so because the attraction of Earth_______ (2011)

What is the difference between asteroids and comets? (2011)
1. Asteroids are small rocky planetoids, while comets are formed of frozen gases held together by rocky and metallic material.
2. Asteroids are found mostly between the orbits of Jupiter and Mars, while comets are found mostly between Venus and Mercury.
3. Comets show a perceptible glowing tail, while asteroids do not.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Satellites used for telecommunication relay are kept in a geostationary orbit. A satellite is said to be in such an orbit when: (2011)
1. The orbit is geosynchronous.
2. The orbit is circular.
3. The orbit lies in the plane of the Earth’s equator.
4. The orbit is at an altitude of 22,236 km.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

Which one of the following statements best reflects the idea behind the “Fractional Orbital Bombardment System” often talked about in the media? (2022)

Consider the following statements: (2022)
1. Biofilms can form on medical implants within human tissues
2. Biofilms can form on food and food processing surfaces.
3. Biofilms can exhibit antibiotic resistance.
Which of the statements given above are correct?

In a pressure cooker, the temperature at which the food is cooked depends mainly upon which of the following? (2021)
1. Area of the hole in the lid
2. Temperature of the flame
3. Weight of the lid
Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Consider the following: (2021)
1. Bacteria
2. Fungi
3. Virus
Which of the above can be cultured in artificial/synthetic medium?

With reference to street - lighting, how do sodium lamps differ from LED lamps? (2021)
1. Sodium lamps produce light in 360 degrees but it is not so in the case of LED lamps.
2. As street -lights, sodium lamps have a longer lifespan than LED lamps.
3. The spectrum of visible light from sodium lamps is almost monochromatic while LED lamps offer significant colour advantages in street lighting.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Bisphenol A (BPA), a cause of concern, is a structural/key component in the manufacture of which of the following kinds of plastics? (2021)

‘Triclosan’, considered harmful when exposed to high levels for a long time, is most likely present in which of the following? (2021)

Water can dissolve more substances than any other liquid because (2021)

Consider the following activities: (2020)
1. Spraying pesticides on a crop field
2. Inspecting the craters of active volcanoes
3. Collecting breath samples from spouting whales for DNA analysis.
At the present level of technology, which of the above activities can be successfully carried out by using drones?

Which of the following statements are correct regarding the general difference between plant and animal cells? (2020)
1. Plant cells have cellulose cell walls whilst animal cells do not.
2. Plant cells do not have plasma membranes unlike animal cells which do.
3. Mature plant cell has one large vacuole whilst an animal cell has many small vacuoles.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:

In the context of recent advances in human reproductive technology. “Pronuclear Transfer” is used for (2020)

With reference to solar water pumps, consider the following statements: (2020)
1. Solar power can be used for running surface pumps and not for submersible pumps.
2. Solar power can be used for running centrifugal pumps and not the ones with piston.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

With reference to the current trends in the cultivation of sugarcane in India, consider the following statements: (2020)
1. A substantial saving in seed material is made when ‘bud chip settings’ are raised in a nursery and transplanted in the main field.
2. When direct planting of seeds is done, the germination percentage is better with single-budded setts as compared to setts with many buds.
3. If bad weather conditions prevail when seeds are directly planted, single - budded seeds have better survival as compared to large setts.
4. Sugarcane can be cultivated using settlings prepared from tissue culture.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Consider the following statements: (2019)
1. According to the Indian Patents Act, a biological process to create a seed can be patented in India.
2. In India, there is no Intellectual Property Appellate Board.
3. Plant varieties are not eligible to be patented in India.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

“3D printing” has applications in which of the following? (2018)
1. Preparation of confectionery items
2. Manufacture of bionic ears
3. Automotive industry
4. Reconstructive surgeries
5. Data processing technologies
Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Organic Light Emitting Diodes (OLEDs) are used to create digital displays in many devices. What are the advantages of OLED displays over Liquid Crystal displays? (2017)
1. OLED displays can be fabricated on flexible plastic substrates.
2. Roll-up displays embedded in clothing can be made using OLEDs.
3. Transparent displays are possible using OLEDs.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:

India is an important member of the ‘International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor’. If this experiment succeeds, what is the immediate advantage for India? (2016)

With reference to ‘fly ash’ produced by the power plants using coal as fuel, which of the following statements is/are correct? (2015)
1. Fly ash can be used in the production of bricks for building construction.
2. Fly ash can be used as a replacement for some of the Portland cement contents of concrete.
3. Fly ash is made up of silicon dioxide and calcium oxide only, and does not contain any toxic elements.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

With reference to ‘fuel cells’ in which hydrogen-rich fuel and oxygen are used to generate electricity, consider the following statements: (2015)
1. If pure hydrogen is used as a fuel, the fuel cell emits heat and water as by-products.
2. Fuel cells can be used for powering buildings and not for small devices like laptop computers.
3. Fuel cells produce electricity in the form of Alternating Current (AC).
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

With reference to Agni-IV Missile, which of the following statements is/are correct? (2014)
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.

Which one of the following is the process involved in photosynthesis? (2014)

Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding vegetative propagation of plants? (2014)
1. Vegetative propagation produces a clonal population.
2. Vegetative propagation helps in eliminating the virus.
3. Vegetative propagation can be practised most of the year.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Which of the following is/are the example/examples of chemical change? (2014)
1. Crystallisation of sodium chloride
2. Melting of ice
3. Souring of milk
Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Consider the following techniques/phenomena:
1. Budding and grafting in fruit plants
2. Cytoplasmic male sterility
3. Gene silencing
Which of the above is/are used to create transgenic crops ?

Consider the following statements: (2014)
1. Maize can be used for the production of starch.
2. Oil extracted from maize can be a feedstock for biodiesel.
3. Alcoholic beverages can be produced by using maize.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Among the following organisms, which one does not belong to the class of the other three? (2014)

Which one of the following is the correct sequence of a food chain? (2014)

With reference to technology for solar power production, consider the following statements: (2014)
1. ‘Photovoltaics’ is a technology that generates electricity by direct conversion of light into electricity, while ‘Solar Thermal’ is a technology that utilises the Sun’s rays to generate heat which is further used in the electricity generation process.
2. Photovoltaics generates Alternating Current (AC), while Solar Thermal generates Direct Current (DC).
3. India has a manufacturing base for Solar Thermal technology, but not for photovoltaics.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Consider the following:
1. Bats
2. Bears
3. Rodents
The phenomenon of hibernation can be observed in which of the above kinds of animals? (2014)

Which of the following adds/add carbon dioxide to the carbon cycle on the planet Earth? (2014)
1. Volcanic action
2. Respiration
3. Photosynthesis
4. Decay of organic matter
Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Lichens, which are capable of initiating ecological succession even on a bare rock, are actually a symbiotic association of (2014)

Fruits stored in a cold chamber exhibit longer storage life because (2013)

Ball bearings are used in bicycles, cars, etc., because– (2013)

Rainbow is produced when sunlight falls on drops of rain. Which of the following physical phenomena are responsible for this? (2013)
1. Dispersion
2. Refraction
3. Internal reflection
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

Many transplanted seedlings do not grow because (2013)

The known forces of nature can be divided into four classes, viz., gravity, electromagnetism, weak nuclear force and strong nuclear force. With reference to them, which one of the following statements is not correct? (2013)

Biomass gasification is considered to be one of the sustainable solutions to the power crisis in India. In this context, which of the following statements is/are correct? (2012)
1. Coconut shells, groundnut shells and rice husk can be used in biomass gasification.
2. The combustible gases generated consist of hydrogen and carbon dioxide only.
3. The combustible gases generated from biomass gasification can be used for direct heat generation but not in internal combustion engines.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

Graphene has been frequently in the news recently. What is its importance? (2012)
1. It is a two-dimensional material and has good electrical conductivity.
2. It is one of the thinnest but strongest materials tested so far.
3. It is entirely made of silicon and has high optical transparency.
4. It can be used as ‘conducting electrodes’ required for touch screens, LCDs and organic LEDs.
Which of the statements given above are correct?

Lead, ingested or inhaled, is a health hazard. After the addition of lead to petrol has been banned, what still are the sources of lead poisoning? (2012)
1. Smelting units
2. Pens and pencils
3. Paints
4. Hair oils and cosmetics
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

Consider the following crops of India: (2012)
1. Cowpea
2. Green gram
3. Pigeon pea
Which of the above is/are used as pulse, fodder and green manure?

To meet its rapidly growing energy demand, some opine that India should pursue research and development on thorium as the future fuel of nuclear energy. In this context, what advantage does thorium hold over uranium? (2012)
1. Thorium is far more abundant in nature than uranium.
2. On the basis of per unit mass of mined mineral, thorium can generate more energy compared to natural uranium.
3. Thorium produces less harmful waste compared to uranium.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Which one of the following sets of elements was primarily responsible for the origin of life on the Earth? (2012)

Consider the following statements: If there were no phenomenon of capillarity (2012)
1. It would be difficult to use a kerosene lamp.
2. One would not be able to use a straw to consume a soft drink.
3. The blotting paper would fail to function.
4. The big trees that we see around would not have grown on the Earth.
Which of the statements given above are correct?

The surface of a lake is frozen in severe winter, but the water at its bottom is still liquid. What is the reason? (2011)

Microbial fuel cells are considered a source of sustainable energy. Why? (2011)
1. They use living organisms as catalysts to generate electricity from certain substrates.
2. They use a variety of inorganic materials as substrates.
3. They can be installed in wastewater treatment plants to cleanse water and produce electricity.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

The function of heavy water in a nuclear reactor is to (2011)

A company marketing food products advertises that its items do not contain trans fats. What does this campaign signify to the customers? (2011)
1. The food products are not made out of hydrogenated oils.
2. The food products are not made out of animal fats/oils.
3. The oils used are not likely to damage the cardiovascular health of the consumers.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

What is the difference between a CFL and an LED lamp? (2011)
1. To produce light, a CFL uses mercury vapour and phosphor while an LED lamp uses semiconductor material.
2. The average lifespan of a CFL is much longer than that of an LED lamp
3. A CFL is less energy-efficient as compared to an LED lamp.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Aspartame 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 is the basis of this use? (2011)

Recently, “oilzapper” was in the news. What is it? (2011)

A 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 positive, and O positive. The blood group of the adopted son is (2011)

A new optical disc format known as the Blu-ray Disc (BD) is becoming popular. In what way is it different from the traditional DVD? (2011)
1. DVD supports standard Definition video while BD supports High definition Video.
2. Compared to a DVD, the BD format has several times more storage capacity.
3. Thickness of BD is 2.4 mm while that of DVD is 1.2 mm.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

When the bark of a tree is removed in a circular fashion all around near its base, it gradually dries up and dies because (2011)

A layer in the Earth’s atmosphere called Ionosphere facilitates radio communication. Why? (2011)
1. The presence of ozone causes the reflection of radio waves to Earth.
2. Radio waves have a very long wavelength.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A genetically engineered form of brinjal, known as the Bt-brinjal, has been developed. The objective of this is (2011)