2016 UPSC Civil Services Exam [SCIENCE & TECH + INTERNAL SECURITY] A Brief Overview and Conceptual Guide © Nitin Sangwan Beginner’s Note: On Science and Technology: 1. It is advisable that you read some NCERTs if you are not comfortable in science and technology section. But let me assure you, science and technology questions that are asked in UPSC are not questions of science and technology per se, but are more of current events. So, those from arts background need not panic about this portion of syllabus. UPSC now a days asks only some conceptual contemporary questions which are not at all difficult to understand. 2. When you come across any news item regarding some significant scientific development, just google it to have a better understanding. Since this portion is a dynamic one, read newspaper continuously to be fully aware. So far in past couple of years the questions which have been asked relate to very prominent scientific developments or some basic contemporary scientific concepts. On Internal Security 1. ‘India’ is a god source of having a good overview of our defence and security forces. Read its relevant chapters. 2. However, the questions which are likely to be asked in this section, will be more or less from current events or our historical policy related to some countries like Pakistan, China, USSR, USA etc. So, it is advisable that newspaper is read thoroughly. 3. Relevant summaries of 2nd ARC can also be read (if you have time, just glance through the relevant sections of the full report) – ‘Capacity Building for Conflict Resolution' (7th Report) ‘Combating Terrorism-Protecting By Righteousness’ (8th Report) Always keep things manageable. It is not so important that how much you read, but how well you read. Keep in mind that whatever you read, you have to revise that also at times of mains exam. So, limit your study material. Best of luck! Nitin Sangwan AIR 28 (2016), AIR359 (2015), AIR 320 (2014) Drop me a comment at: www.meandupsc.blogspot.in if you need some further help in the exam, suggestions or any major discrepancies in these notes for benefit of others. © Nitin Sangwan SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY *Glossary ACID RAIN –Oxides of sulphur and nitrogen dissolve in rain water and form acids. Such rain is called acid rain. The use of diesel and petrol as fuels in automobiles is being replaced by CNG (Compressed Natural Gas), because CNG produces the harmful products in very small amounts. When pH of rain water is less than 5.6, it is called acid rain. When acid rain flows into the rivers, it lowers the pH of the river water. The survival of aquatic life in such rivers becomes difficult. AEROSOL– Aerosol is a suspension of fine solid particles or liquid droplets in a gas. Examples are clouds, and air pollution such as smog and smoke. ALMA – It is the world’s largest ground based telescope that has come up in Chile. ANABOLIC STEROIDS– These are drugs that mimic the effects of testosterone in the body. They increase protein synthesis within cells, which results in the buildup of cellular tissue (anabolism), especially in muscles. They are mostly banned or discouraged for usage. ANTIOXIDANTS– These are basically the ‘reducing’ agents and are the substances that protect the cells from damage caused by ‘free radicals’ (free radicals are oxidizing i.e. electron deficient agents). Antioxidants are reducing agents, and limit oxidative damage to biological structures by passivating free radicals. Phenomenon of ageing is often related to the accumulation of damage caused by free radical. Free radicals may also cause cancer. Some anti-oxidants are – Beta-Carotene, lycopene, Vitamin C, A and E. ARTIFICIAL BLOOD is the type of blood produced in lab from stem cells. First breakthrough has come in the form of production of red blood cells (RBC). These RBCs carry oxygen & rightly considered as main constituent of blood. ATHERO-SCLEROSIS – Hardening and narrowing of arteries that leads to strokes and is often linked to lifestyle causes. AUTO-IMMUNE DISEASES – Autoimmune diseases arise from an abnormal immune response of the body against substances and tissues normally present in the body (autoimmunity). A substantial minority of the population suffers from these diseases, which are often chronic, debilitating, and life-threatening. There are more than 80 illnesses caused by autoimmunity. The treatment of autoimmune diseases is typically with immunosuppression—medication that decreases the immune response. BALLISTIC MISSILE– A ballistic missile is a missile that follows a sub-orbital ballistic flight path with the objective © Nitin Sangwan of delivering one or more warheads to a predetermined target. The missile is only guided during the relatively brief initial powered phase of flight and its course is subsequently governed by the laws of orbital mechanics and ballistics. BEAM– The Bigelow Expandable Activity Module, nicknamed Beam is a low-cost space dwelling that inflates like a balloon in orbit. It is to be tested aboard the International Space Station (ISS). It is scheduled for launch in mid-2015 aboard a Dragon cargo ship of Space Exploration Technologies. BIG DATA is the term for a collection of data sets so large and complex that it becomes difficult to process using on-hand database management tools or traditional data processing applications. The challenges include capture, curation, storage, search, sharing, transfer, analysis and visualization. But big data has many uses like – The computing power of big data analytics enables us to decode entire DNA strings in minutes Most elite sports have now embraced big data analytics. Science and research is currently being transformed by the new possibilities big data brings. Take, for example, CERN, the Swiss nuclear physics lab with its Large Hadron Collider, the world‘s largest and most powerful particle accelerator. Big data is applied heavily in improving security and enabling law enforcement. Big data is used to improve many aspects of our cities and countries. For example, it allows cities to optimize traffic flows based on real time traffic information as well as social media and weather data. Understanding and Targeting Customers Understanding and Optimizing Business Processes BIOACCUMULATION or BIOCONCENTRATION – It refers to the accumulation of substances, such as pesticides, or other organic chemicals in an organism. Bioaccumulation occurs when an organism absorbs a toxic substance at a rate greater than that at which the substance is lost. Thus, the longer the biological half-life of the substance the greater the risk of chronic poisoning, even if environmental levels of the toxin are not very high. BIOMAGNIFICATION or BIOAMPLIFICATION –Biomagnification, also known as bioamplification or biological magnification, is the increase in concentration of a substance that occurs in a food chain. Biological magnification often refers to the process whereby certain substances such as pesticides or heavy metals move up the food chain, work their way into rivers or lakes, and are eaten by aquatic organisms such as fish, which in turn are eaten by large birds, animals or humans. BIO-ENGINEERING – It is the application of concepts and methods of biology and secondarily of physics, chemistry etc to solve problems in life sciences. BIOFORTIFICATION is the idea of breeding crops to increase their nutritional value. This can be done either through conventional selective breeding, or through genetic engineering. Once in place, the biofortified crop system is highly sustainable. Nutritionally improved varieties will continue to be grown © Nitin Sangwan and consumed year after year, even if government attention and international funding for micronutrient issues fades. It involves one-time investment to develop seeds that fortify themselves. The recurrent costs are low, and germplasm can be shared internationally. BIOINFORMATICS– Bioinformatics is the application of computer science and information technology to the field of biology and medicine. Bioinformatics deals with algorithms, databases and information systems, web technologies, artificial intelligence and soft computing BIOMATERIAL is identified as materials which can be , natural or synthetic and nonviable material used in a medical device, intended to interact with biological systems. BIOMINERALISATION –Biomineralization is the process by which living organisms produce minerals, often to harden or stiffen existing tissues. Such tissues are called mineralized tissues. These minerals often form structural features such as sea shells and the bone in mammals and birds. The potential application of this phenomenon is using it to produce nano materials which at present are difficult to fabricate. BIONICS– Bionics (also known as BIOMIMICRY) is the application of biological methods and systems found in nature to the study and design of engineering systems and modern technology. For example – Bionic Architecture is one such stream which aims at designing buildings copying the naturally occurring biological structures. BIO-PIRACY –Biopiracy is a situation where indigenous knowledge of nature, originating with indigenous people, is exploited for commercial gain (by MNCs, corporate etc) without permission from and with no compensation to the indigenous people themselves. Biopiracy commonly operates through the application of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) (primarily patents) to genetic/indigenous resources and traditional knowledge. Bio-prospecting and bio piracy – Bio-prospecting is the scientific research that looks for useful products in the nature to create pharmaceuticals or other products. Compensation has to be given to the community or the country from where the natural resource has been obtained. On the other hand, Bio-piracy is the development of these pharmaceutical (or other) products without giving compensation to the community that nurtured and protected the organisms on which these products are based. In India, TKDL is one initiative which will help in curbing the bio piracy. Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing, 2010 also has provisions to stop biopiracy. Setting of NBA is another step in this direction. BIOREMEDIATION–Bioremediation is the use of micro-organism metabolism to remove pollutants.