IT, space, biotech, IPR

Current affairs on this topic 11

• India demonstrates a 5.56 km free-space quantum key distribution link in Gandhinagar 4 October 2026

  A secret key sent through open air across 5.56 km: how does physics catch an eavesdropper?

• Supreme Court asks Centre to frame rules to stop social media firms signing up minors 29 September 2026

  If a minor cannot sign a contract, how is a 13-year-old agreeing to a platform's terms of service?

• Centre and banks to settle UPI subsidy once merchant charges begin 26 September 2026

  If large merchants start paying for UPI, how much should the government still subsidise it?

• How Gaganyaan's crew module will deploy its parachutes 22 September 2026

  Coming home safely is the hardest part of human spaceflight.

• Deep-sea discovery and environmental responsibility 19 September 2026

  Critical minerals lie on the ocean floor. So do ecosystems we barely know.

• U.S. says it has 'space control' weapons in orbit, exposing gaps in space law 16 September 2026

  The Outer Space Treaty bans nuclear weapons in orbit. Why doesn't it stop jammers and interceptors?

• First Badri calf born through OPU-IVF, a boost for Uttarakhand's hill cattle 13 September 2026

  A Badri embryo, a Sahiwal mother: can lab reproduction save a small Himalayan cattle breed faster than nature?

• Mercury may have shrunk by up to 23 km in diameter, about 30% more than thought 11 September 2026

  A planet shrinks as it cools. How do cliffs on Mercury's surface reveal by how much, and why does it matter?

• CosmoCube: a satellite to listen for the universe's Dark Ages from the Moon's far side 9 September 2026

  The first stars are invisible to telescopes. Can a faint radio hum from hydrogen, heard behind the Moon, reveal them?

• ISRO staff bodies question the plan to hand rocket making to industry 6 September 2026

  If private firms build India's rockets and satellites, what is left for ISRO to make?

• GSLV-F17 launches EOS-05, India's first imaging satellite for geosynchronous orbit 5 September 2026

  A camera 36,000 km up sees less detail but looks every five minutes. Why does India want that?

Previous-year questions 13

1. 2026 · GS3 · 10 marks Examine the view that financial inclusion is an integral part of social and economic inclusion in a country like India. Also throw light on the usefulness of the R.B.I.'s Financial Inclusion Index.
2. 2026 · GS3 · 10 marks What do you mean by Digital Rupee? In this context, explain the working and progress of India's Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC).
3. 2025 · GS3 · 15 marks Mineral resources are fundamental to the country's economy and these are exploited by mining. Why is mining considered an environmental hazard? Explain the remedial measures required to reduce the…
4. 2025 · GS3 · 10 marks How can India achieve energy independence through clean technology by 2047? How can biotechnology play a crucial role in this endeavour?
5. 2024 · GS3 · 15 marks Social media and encrypting messaging services pose a serious security challenge. What measures have been adopted at various levels to address the security implications of social media? Also suggest…
6. 2024 · GS3 · 10 marks Describe the context and salient features of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023.
7. 2022 · GS3 · 10 marks Is inclusive growth possible under market economy? State the significance of financial inclusion in achieving economic growth in India.
8. 2019 · GS3 · 10 marks What is India's plan to have its own space station and how will it benefit our space programme?
9. 2017 · GS3 · 10 marks India has achieved remarkable successes in unmanned space missions including the Chandrayaan and Mars Orbiter Mission, but has not ventured into manned space mission, both in terms of technology and…
10. 2016 · GS3 · 12.5 marks Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) is necessary for bringing unbanked to the institutional finance fold. Do you agree with this for financial inclusion of the poor section of the Indian society?…
11. 2016 · GS3 · 12.5 marks Discuss India's achievements in the field of Space Science and Technology. How the application of this technology has helped India in its socio-economic development?
12. 2015 · GS3 · 12.5 marks Livestock rearing has a big potential for providing non-farm employment and income in rural areas. Discuss suggesting suitable measures to promote this sector in India.
13. 2014 · GS3 · 12.5 marks Scientific research in Indian universities is declining, because a career in science is not as attractive as business professions, engineering or administration, and the universities are becoming…