UPSC Essay Paper Essay Section B: Science, Technology, and Future, AI, Space, Environment

Must?Know

• Artificial Intelligence (AI) in agriculture: Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) launched AI-based pest detection models in 2021 for cotton and paddy crops using image recognition.
• National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence (2018) – released by NITI Aayog; identified healthcare, agriculture, education, smart cities, and infrastructure as key focus areas.
• AI in healthcare: NITI Aayog’s “AI for All” initiative partnered with Microsoft for AI-based diabetic retinopathy screening (Project Sankalp, 2020).
• BharatGPT – AI model developed by IIT Bombay and IIT Delhi under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) to support Indian languages.
• India’s AI adoption in banking: Reserve Bank of India (RBI) permitted AI-driven credit scoring by fintech firms under regulatory sandbox (2020).
• National Supercomputing Mission (NSM) – launched 2015 by MeitY and DST; installed Param Siddhi (ranked 120th in TOP500 list, 2022) at IIT Hyderabad.
• AI ethics: Ministry of Electronics and IT released “Guidelines for Responsible AI” in 2021, emphasizing transparency, accountability, and non-discrimination.
• ISRO’s AI applications: AI used in satellite image analysis for flood prediction (e.g., 2020 Assam floods) via Bhuvan platform.
• Chandrayaan-3 (2023) – used autonomous hazard detection and avoidance system for soft landing near lunar south pole.
• Gaganyaan mission – human spaceflight program; first uncrewed test flight (G1) scheduled for 2024; developed by ISRO with support from DRDO and IIST.
• India’s space sector reforms (2020) – creation of IN-SPACe (Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre) as independent regulator to enable private sector participation.
• Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) – developed by ISRO; first successful launch in 2023 (SSLV-D2) placing EOS-07 and two nano-satellites in orbit.
• OneWeb partnership – Bharti Global and Eutelsat invested in OneWeb; India to use satellite broadband for rural connectivity, especially in Northeast and Andaman.
• Astrosat (2015) – India’s first multi-wavelength space observatory; enabled study of black holes and neutron stars.
• NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) – joint Earth-observing mission scheduled for 2024 launch; will monitor ecosystems, ice sheets, and natural hazards.
• India’s Net Zero target – announced at COP26 (2021); aims for net zero emissions by 2070, with 50% cumulative electric power from non-fossil sources by 2030.
• National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) – launched 2008; includes eight missions including Solar Mission, Green India Mission, and Sustainable Agriculture Mission.
• International Solar Alliance (ISA) – launched by India and France at COP21 (2015); headquartered in Gurugram; 118 signatory countries as of 2023.
• National Hydrogen Mission (2021) – aims to make India a global hub for green hydrogen production; target of 5 million tonnes annual production by 2030.
• Green Energy Corridors – Phase I completed in 2022; funded by KfW and World Bank to integrate renewable energy into national grid.
• PM-KUSUM (Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan) – launched 2019; aims to install 28,250 MW solar capacity on farms by 2026.
• India’s carbon sink target – creation of additional 2.5–3 billion tonnes of CO? equivalent through forest and tree cover by 2030 (COP26 pledge).
• National Mission on Advanced and High-Impact Research (MAHIR) – launched 2022 to promote R&D in emerging technologies like AI, robotics, and energy storage.
• Deep Ocean Mission (2021) – includes development of manned submersible (‘Samudrayaan’) to explore polymetallic nodules in Central Indian Ocean Basin.
• India’s participation in ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor) – contributes cryostat and in-kind components; aims to demonstrate fusion energy feasibility.

Difficulty Level

Intermediate – requires integration of recent policy developments, technological milestones, and environmental commitments with interdisciplinary linkages.

Common UPSC Traps

Trap: AI and Machine Learning are synonymous – Fact: AI is the broader concept of machines performing intelligent tasks; Machine Learning is a subset involving algorithms that learn from data (NITI Aayog, National Strategy for AI, 2018).

Trap: IN-SPACe is a private company – Fact: IN-SPACe is a government agency under the Department of Space, established in 2020 to regulate and promote private space activities.

Trap: India committed to net zero by 2050 at COP26 – Fact: India announced net zero by 2070 at COP26 (Glasgow, 2021); 2050 is the target for EU and UK.

Trap: Astrosat was India’s first satellite – Fact: Aryabhata (1975) was India’s first satellite; Astrosat (2015) was the first dedicated multi-wavelength space observatory.

Trap: NAPCC was launched after the Paris Agreement – Fact: NAPCC was launched in 2008, prior to the Paris Agreement (2015); it predates India’s NDCs.

Practice MCQs

Question: Which of the following statements best describes the role of IN-SPACe in India’s space sector?
A) It is a private launch service provider competing with ISRO
B) It is a research wing of ISRO for deep space missions
C) It is an autonomous agency to promote private sector participation in space activities
D) It is a joint venture between India and France for satellite development
Answer: C
Explanation: IN-SPACe was established in 2020 as an independent body under the Department of Space to enable private companies to build satellites and launch vehicles.
Why others fail: A is tempting due to increasing private involvement, but IN-SPACe itself is not a private entity.

Question: The National Supercomputing Mission includes the deployment of PARAM series supercomputers. Which of the following is a correct pairing of a PARAM system and its location?
A) Param Yuva – IIT Delhi
B) Param Siddhi – IIT Hyderabad
C) Param Ganga – IISc Bangalore
D) Param Pravega – IIT Kanpur
Answer: B
Explanation: Param Siddhi, one of India’s most powerful supercomputers under NSM, is located at IIT Hyderabad.
Why others fail: D is tempting as IITs host several PARAM systems, but Param Pravega is at IISc Bangalore, not IIT Kanpur.

Question: Which of the following missions was launched by India to promote solar energy cooperation among sun-rich countries?
A) Green Grid Initiative
B) International Solar Alliance
C) One Sun One World One Grid
D) Global Solar Council
Answer: B
Explanation: ISA was co-launched by India and France at COP21 (2015) to promote solar energy deployment in tropical and subtropical countries.
Why others fail: C is part of ISA’s broader vision but is not the name of the formal intergovernmental treaty-based organization.

Question: The use of AI in Indian agriculture has been piloted through which of the following initiatives?
A) eNAM with AI pricing algorithms
B) Soil Health Card using AI for nutrient recommendations
C) Project Sankalp for pest detection
D) Kisan Drones for AI-based sowing
Answer: A
Explanation: eNAM platform uses AI to analyze market data and predict crop prices, aiding farmers in decision-making.
Why others fail: C refers to AI in healthcare (diabetic retinopathy), not agriculture; Project Sankalp is not for pest detection in crops.

Question: Which of the following correctly pairs a space mission with its primary objective?
A) Chandrayaan-3 – Study lunar atmosphere
B) Aditya-L1 – Monitor solar wind and coronal mass ejections
C) NISAR – Detect gravitational waves
D) Gaganyaan – Permanent lunar habitat
Answer: B
Explanation: Aditya-L1, launched in 2023, is India’s first solar observatory mission positioned at Lagrange Point L1 to study solar activities.
Why others fail: A is incorrect as Chandrayaan-3 focused on soft landing and surface experiments, not atmosphere; atmosphere study was part of Chandrayaan-2’s orbiter.

Question: The Deep Ocean Mission includes the development of a manned submersible named:
A) Samudra Setu
B) Samudrayaan
C) Nethanik
D) Matsya 6000
Answer: B
Explanation: Samudrayaan is the crewed submersible under the Deep Ocean Mission designed to reach 6,000 meters depth in the Indian Ocean.
Why others fail: D (Matsya 6000) is sometimes used interchangeably in media, but official documents refer to the mission as Samudrayaan.

Question: Which of the following is a component of India’s Panchamrit strategy announced at COP26?
A) Achieve 50% forest cover by 2030
B) Install 500 GW of renewable energy by 2030
C) Phase out all coal use by 2040
D) Achieve carbon neutrality by 2050
Answer: B
Explanation: Panchamrit includes five commitments, one of which is 500 GW of non-fossil energy capacity by 2030.
Why others fail: D is incorrect as India committed to net zero by 2070, not 2050.

Last?Minute Revision

• NITI Aayog released National Strategy for AI in 2018.
• Chandrayaan-3 landed on Moon on August 23, 2023.
• IN-SPACe established in 2020 as autonomous space regulator.
• India’s net zero target: 2070 (COP26, Glasgow).
• Panchamrit includes 500 GW non-fossil energy by 2030.
• International Solar Alliance founded in 2015, HQ: Gurugram.
• National Hydrogen Mission launched in 2021.
• PM-KUSUM launched in 2019 for solar pumps and grid-connected farms.
• Gaganyaan’s first uncrewed flight: 2024 (G1 mission).
• OneWeb partnership involves Bharti Global and UK government.
• NISAR mission launch: 2024 (joint NASA-ISRO).
• Aditya-L1 launched in September 2023 to study Sun.
• Deep Ocean Mission includes Samudrayaan for 6,000m depth exploration.
• National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC): 2008.
• 8 missions under NAPCC, including Solar and Green India.
• Param Siddhi supercomputer at IIT Hyderabad.
• National Supercomputing Mission: 2015 (MeitY + DST).
• AI used in Assam flood prediction via Bhuvan platform (ISRO).
• Project Sankalp: AI for diabetic retinopathy (NITI Aayog + Microsoft).
• eNAM uses AI for price forecasting in agriculture.
• India joined ITER for fusion energy research.
• Carbon sink target: 2.5–3 billion tonnes CO? by 2030.
• Kigali Amendment (2016) to phase down HFCs; India ratified in 2021.
• Green Grid Initiative launched at COP26 with UK.
• SSLV-D2 successfully launched in February 2023.