Every year, Science and Technology catches aspirants off guard in Prelims. After analysing the last ten years of UPSC question papers and tracking the trends from 2024 and 2026, I have put together a focused list of high-probability question areas that you should prepare before sitting for Prelims 2026.
This is not guesswork. These areas are drawn from recent government policy announcements, emerging technologies in the news, past UPSC patterns, and the specific syllabus weightage given to S&T in General Studies Paper I. Whether you are in your first attempt or your fourth, this resource will sharpen your revision.
Where Science and Technology Sits in the UPSC Syllabus
Science and Technology is tested in both Prelims and Mains. In Prelims, it falls under General Studies Paper I. The syllabus line reads: “General issues on Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity and Climate Change” and “General Science.” In Mains, it appears under GS-III with the line: “Science and Technology — developments and their applications and effects in everyday life.”
| Exam Stage | Paper | Syllabus Section | Approx. Questions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prelims | GS Paper I | General Science, S&T developments | 8–14 per year |
| Mains | GS-III | Science and Technology applications | 2–3 questions |
Over the past five years, UPSC has consistently asked 10 to 14 questions from S&T in Prelims alone. The trend is shifting from pure biology or physics facts towards applied technology, government missions, and emerging fields like AI and biotech.
The 20 High-Probability Question Areas You Must Cover
I am listing these as concept clusters, not individual MCQs. UPSC never repeats the exact question, but it revisits the same concept zones. Master these zones, and you cover maximum ground.
1. Quantum Computing and National Quantum Mission: Understand what qubits are, how they differ from classical bits, and what India’s National Quantum Mission (approved in 2023 with ₹6,003 crore budget) aims to achieve. UPSC loves asking about flagship missions with a science base.
2. CRISPR and Gene Editing: Know the mechanism of CRISPR-Cas9, its applications in agriculture and medicine, and the ethical concerns. Recent global developments in sickle cell disease treatment using gene therapy make this highly relevant.
3. ISRO Gaganyaan Mission: Understand the mission profile, the crew module, the abort tests completed, and how it compares with other human spaceflight programmes globally.
4. Artificial Intelligence regulation: India’s approach to AI governance, the Global Partnership on AI (GPAI), and the difference between narrow AI and general AI are all fair game.
5. Semiconductor manufacturing in India: The India Semiconductor Mission, what fab units are, and why chip self-reliance matters for national security.
6. mRNA vaccine technology: How mRNA vaccines differ from traditional vaccines, their storage challenges, and India’s own mRNA vaccine development efforts.
7. Small Modular Reactors (SMRs): With India exploring nuclear energy expansion, SMRs are a fresh topic. Know their advantages over large reactors and safety features.
8. Dark energy and dark matter: UPSC has asked basic astrophysics before. Understand what these terms mean and why they matter for cosmology.
9. 5G and 6G technology: Know the spectrum bands used, how 5G differs from 4G, and India’s 6G research initiatives through the Bharat 6G Alliance.
10. Lab-grown diamonds and synthetic biology: India is a global leader in lab-grown diamonds. Understand the CVD process and its economic implications.
Areas 11 Through 20 — Equally Critical
11. Blockchain beyond cryptocurrency: Focus on government use cases — land records, supply chain management, and digital rupee (CBDC) technology by the RBI.
12. Hydrogen fuel and Green Hydrogen Mission: Know the difference between grey, blue, and green hydrogen. India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission targets are frequently testable.
13. Space debris and Kessler Syndrome: With increasing satellite launches, UPSC may test awareness of space sustainability issues.
14. Deepfakes and digital misinformation: Understand the technology behind deepfakes (GANs — Generative Adversarial Networks) and India’s IT rules addressing them.
15. Rare earth elements: Their role in electronics, defence, and clean energy. India’s deposits and dependence on China for processing are key angles.
16. Neutrino Observatory project: The India-based Neutrino Observatory (INO) and what neutrinos are. This has appeared in past Prelims.
17. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR): India’s National Action Plan on AMR, the One Health approach, and why this is a public health emergency.
18. Carbon capture and storage (CCS): How CCS works, its role in meeting net-zero targets, and India’s pilot projects.
19. Geospatial technology and drone regulation: India’s liberalised drone policy, PLI scheme for drones, and applications in agriculture and disaster management.
20. Nuclear fusion breakthroughs: The difference between fission and fusion, recent achievements at facilities like ITER and NIF, and why commercial fusion remains decades away.
How UPSC Frames Science and Technology Questions
From my experience of analysing over 200 S&T questions from the last decade, UPSC uses three main formats. First, direct factual questions — “Which of the following statements is/are correct?” Second, matching questions — linking technologies to their applications. Third, assertion-reason questions where you need conceptual clarity.
The trap is always in the second statement. UPSC often puts one correct and one slightly wrong statement together. The only defence against this is clear conceptual understanding, not rote memorisation.
A Practical Revision Strategy for These 20 Areas
Do not try to read a textbook for each topic. Instead, follow this method that I recommend to all my students. For each of the 20 areas, write a one-page note covering four things: what it is, how it works in simple terms, why it matters for India, and one recent news development linked to it.
Use NCERT Class 11 and 12 Science textbooks for fundamentals. For current developments, the Science and Technology section of any standard monthly current affairs compilation is sufficient. Spend no more than 30 minutes per topic for your first pass. Then revise all 20 topics in one sitting before the exam — that should take about three hours.
Key Points to Remember for UPSC
- National Quantum Mission has a budget of ₹6,003 crore and covers computing, communication, sensing, and materials.
- CRISPR-Cas9 works like molecular scissors — it cuts DNA at specific locations to edit genes.
- Green hydrogen is produced using renewable energy through electrolysis of water, producing zero carbon emissions.
- mRNA vaccines instruct cells to produce a protein that triggers an immune response, unlike traditional vaccines that use weakened pathogens.
- India’s Semiconductor Mission aims to establish fab units domestically to reduce import dependence for chips.
- Antimicrobial resistance is driven by overuse of antibiotics in humans and livestock — India is among the highest consumers globally.
- Small Modular Reactors produce under 300 MW, can be factory-built, and are considered safer than conventional nuclear plants.
- UPSC S&T questions increasingly test the intersection of technology with governance, ethics, and security — not just pure science.
These 20 areas represent the zones where UPSC is most likely to draw questions from in 2026. Your goal is not to become an expert in each field but to have enough conceptual clarity to eliminate wrong options confidently. Start with the topics you find weakest, build your one-page notes, and revise them weekly until the exam. Steady, focused preparation always outperforms last-minute cramming.