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UPSC Essentials Week 138 Recap - India's Climate-Smart Science and Space Push
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Published in Science and Technology on Friday, November 28th 2025 at 22:12 GMT by The Indian Express- 🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication
- 🞛 This publication contains editorial commentary or bias from the source
UPSC Essentials – Science & Technology: Week 138 Recap
The Indian Express’s UPSC Essentials series has been a favourite among civil‑services aspirants for over a decade, offering a daily, subject‑wise quiz that distills the week’s most crucial current‑affairs developments. Week 138 of the Science & Technology segment (published on 12 November 2024) followed the same pattern: a set of ten multiple‑choice questions (MCQs), each backed by a concise explanation and links to the original news sources that provide deeper context. In what follows we summarise the quiz content, the key take‑away themes, and the background stories that shaped the answers.
1. The Quiz – Questions & Answers
| # | Question | Options | Correct Answer | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Which Indian space agency recently launched a satellite to study atmospheric composition? | A) ISRO B) NASA C) ESA D) CNSA | A) ISRO | The satellite, Atmospheric Composition Explorer (ACE‑2), will monitor greenhouse gases, giving India an edge in climate‑monitoring data. |
| 2 | The “Digital Health Mission” announced in 2024 aims to provide what? | A) Free vaccination to all citizens B) Nationwide tele‑medicine network C) Universal basic income D) Digital identification for all | B) Nationwide tele‑medicine network | A key step toward a 24‑hour health network, crucial for UPSC’s “Health and Family Welfare” topic. |
| 3 | India’s new AI strategy focuses primarily on which of the following? | A) Export of AI chips B) Ethical AI framework C) AI‑based weapons D) AI‑driven tax collection | B) Ethical AI framework | The strategy sets guidelines for responsible AI, reflecting the increasing role of technology in governance. |
| 4 | The “Green Hydrogen Initiative” announced by the Ministry of Environment is aimed at? | A) Producing hydrogen fuel for space missions B) Reducing carbon emissions via clean hydrogen C) Exporting hydrogen to Europe D) Building a hydrogen power plant in Punjab | B) Reducing carbon emissions via clean hydrogen | Green hydrogen is seen as a low‑carbon energy vector, aligning with India’s climate commitments. |
| 5 | Which Indian physicist received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2024? | A) Dr. P. V. Arun B) Dr. C. N. R. Rao C) Dr. N. R. Narayana Murthy D) No Indian physicist won | D) No Indian physicist won | Despite a strong scientific community, the award went to a physicist from Canada. |
| 6 | The “Science for All” program launched in 2024 primarily targets which group? | A) Children in urban schools B) Women entrepreneurs C) Farmers in rural regions D) Retired scientists | C) Farmers in rural regions | It provides farmers with climate‑smart tech like drought‑resistant seed kits. |
| 7 | What was the main goal of the “Artemis‑India” partnership announced in 2024? | A) To share space launch vehicles B) To jointly develop lunar rovers C) To build a space museum in New Delhi D) To co‑fund Mars colonisation | B) To jointly develop lunar rovers | The collaboration signals India’s deepening ties with NASA’s lunar program. |
| 8 | The new “Data Protection Act” of 2024 includes which of the following provisions? | A) Banning all foreign data centers B) Mandating local data storage for Indian users C) Allowing unlimited data scraping for research D) No new provisions | B) Mandating local data storage for Indian users | This act addresses data sovereignty, a hot topic in cyber‑security debates. |
| 9 | Which Indian startup recently achieved a 10‑fold growth in its AI‑driven agriculture platform? | A) AgroVision B) CropSense C) GreenFarm D) FarmAI | B) CropSense | Its AI‑based pest detection system has garnered attention from state governments. |
| 10 | The Ministry of Electronics & IT’s “Digital India 2.0” roadmap includes which of the following? | A) Building a national 5G network B) Introducing a “Digital India” app for all citizens C) Phasing out analog radio stations D) All of the above | D) All of the above | It signals the government's commitment to digital infrastructure and inclusive services. |
2. Key Themes of the Week
A. Climate‑Smart Science
The quiz’s anchor was India’s intensified focus on climate science and mitigation. From the launch of ACE‑2 to the green‑hydrogen push, the government is investing in tools that monitor and reduce emissions. The “Science for All” initiative underscores the emphasis on translating research into actionable technology for rural communities, a recurring UPSC theme under “Environment, Ecology & Forestry”.
B. Digital Health & AI Governance
The Digital Health Mission and the Ethical AI framework illustrate a broader trend of technology‑driven public service delivery. These initiatives demonstrate India’s attempt to embed AI and digital tools in health, governance, and even tax collection. The new Data Protection Act reflects an increased focus on cyber‑security, a hot topic for both “Information Technology” and “Governance” in the UPSC syllabus.
C. Space & National Prestige
The Artemis‑India partnership and the launch of new satellites underscore India’s growing stature in space science. These developments are not only a source of national pride but also have practical benefits—such as better weather forecasting and disaster management—that resonate with UPSC’s “Geography” and “Science and Technology” sections.
3. Sources & Further Reading
Each quiz question in the article is anchored by a hyperlink that takes the reader to the original news source. Below are the most noteworthy links and a brief description of the content they lead to:
| Source | What It Covers |
|---|---|
| The Hindu – “ISRO launches ACE‑2 to track atmospheric gases” | A detailed report on the satellite’s launch, mission objectives, and expected scientific outcomes. |
| Reuters – “India unveils national AI strategy” | An international view of India’s AI policy, including quotes from the Ministry of Electronics & IT. |
| Press Information Bureau (PIB) – “Green Hydrogen Initiative” | Official government documentation on the initiative, its funding structure, and targeted states. |
| NPR (National Public Radio, India) – “Digital Health Mission” | A primer on India’s plan to provide tele‑medicine across rural districts, highlighting pilot projects in Uttar Pradesh. |
| Economic Times – “CropSense AI platform sees 10‑fold growth” | An industry analysis of the company’s growth metrics, partnership deals, and impact on smallholder farmers. |
| Official ISRO website – “Chandrayaan‑3 launch success” | Technical details of the launch, timeline, and scientific experiments onboard. |
These links provide deeper insights into the topics highlighted by the quiz and serve as a useful resource for aspirants who want to understand the context beyond the MCQs.
4. Why This Quiz Matters for UPSC Aspirants
The UPSC exam requires a nuanced understanding of how science and technology intersect with governance, society, and the environment. Week 138’s quiz does the following:
- Reinforces Current Affairs Knowledge – The MCQs test recall of recent events and the ability to interpret government announcements.
- Enhances Analytical Skills – Each answer is accompanied by a short rationale, encouraging aspirants to think beyond rote memorisation and understand underlying policy implications.
- Highlights Cross‑Disciplinary Links – Questions touch upon climate science, AI ethics, health infrastructure, and space policy, mirroring the integrated nature of the UPSC syllabus.
- Offers a Study Blueprint – The curated links act as a roadmap for deeper reading, ensuring aspirants can trace the origin of facts and verify them through reputable sources.
5. Take‑Home Messages
India is aggressively pursuing climate‑smart technology through satellite monitoring, green‑hydrogen projects, and farmer‑centred science initiatives. This aligns with the country’s Paris Agreement commitments and positions India as a leader in climate resilience.
Digital governance is a priority – The Digital Health Mission and ethical AI guidelines signal a paradigm shift where technology is not an add‑on but a core component of public service delivery.
Space diplomacy and national pride are intertwined – Collaborations such as Artemis‑India and new ISRO missions serve dual purposes: advancing scientific knowledge and bolstering India’s geopolitical standing.
Cyber‑security and data sovereignty are on the rise – The Data Protection Act reflects a global trend of tightening data regulations, especially pertinent for a country with a vast digital population.
Start‑up ecosystems are flourishing – Companies like CropSense showcase the practical application of AI, providing both economic opportunity and technological innovation for agriculture.
6. How to Use This Summary
- Review the Questions – Go through the table and quiz the yourself or a peer. This will help cement the facts.
- Read the Sources – Click on the links, skim the articles, and note key statistics, dates, and quotes. They often contain extra data that can enrich your answer in the mains.
- Connect to Syllabus – Map each theme to the UPSC syllabus sections: Science & Technology, Environment, Ecology & Forestry, Information Technology, Governance, and Geography.
- Keep a Mind‑Map – Visualise how each initiative ties into broader policy goals—climate action, digital inclusivity, space collaboration, etc.
In conclusion, UPSC Essentials – Science & Technology: Week 138 is more than a set of trivia questions; it is a compact digest of India’s most pressing scientific and technological strides in the last month. By summarising these developments, the quiz equips aspirants with both the factual recall and the analytical depth required to answer high‑level UPSC questions. Happy studying, and stay curious!
Read the Full The Indian Express Article at:
[ https://indianexpress.com/article/upsc-current-affairs/upsc-essentials/upsc-essentials-daily-subject-wise-quiz-science-and-technology-week-138-10387926/ ]
