General Science: India’s Achievements in Science & Technology is the 3rd item in the list of topics in the TSPSC Group 1 Syllabus. It is also one of the important scoring areas for candidates who are only able to prepare for less than 3 months. There are two reasons for this. 1) General Science is up to the 10th standard level and can be easily covered 2) India’s Achievements in Science and Technology is a dynamic topic and most of the questions will be sourced from current affairs, creating a level playing field for veteran candidates and novices applying for TSPSC exams.
We have done an analysis of the previous paper on the TSPSC Group exam to help candidates understand the nature of questions asked from the Science and Technology syllabus. The below analysis shows that the difficulty level of science and technology questions is easy to moderate level.
Previous Year Analysis of Science and Technology for TSPSC
In the 2016 question paper, a total of 11 questions were asked from the Science and Technology section. Most of the questions were easy to answer for candidates with minimum preparation. This should be motivating for TSPSC applicants who have decided to write the exam very recently and got less than 3 months for preparation. Go through the below previous year’s questions from Science and Technology to better plan your preparation, and make short notes on such topics when you are reading for the syllabus.
Science and Technology Questions From Previous Year TSPSC Paper
- The anti-tank missile Nag can hit the target on land within the range of?
- 1 K.M
- 2 K.M
- 3 K.M
- 4 K.M
2. Citrus Canker Disease is Caused by?
- Virus
- Fungi
- Bacteria
- Mosquito
3. Good Electric Conductor among the following?
- Gold
- Copper
- Silver
- Aluminum
4. Skin Pigmentation is mainly due to?
- Lymphocytes
- Melanocytes
- Monocytes
- Leucocytes
5. Quinine is obtained from which part of the plant?
- Steam Bark
- Leaves
- Roots
- Fruits
6. Vaccine for Rabis was discovered by which scientist?
- J.J Baird
- Louis Paster
- John Guten Burg
- William Harvey
7. Gall bladder stones are deposits of?
- Calcium
- Phosphorus
- Glucose
- Cholesterol
8. Plants get Nitrogen from?
- Rain
- Air
- Rock
- Soil
9. The disease-carrying agents are called?
- Pathogens
- Vectors
- Placids
- Scalars
10. Which of the following is a biodiesel plant?
- Jathrapa Curcas
- Terminalia Catupa
- Pterocarpus marsupium
- Ricinus
11. Gobar Gas Contains?
- Carbon dioxide
- Methane
- Butane
- Carbon Monoxide
How to prepare for Science and Technology syllabus for TSPSC?
Based on the above questions we can divide the question categories from Science & Technology as, basics of physics, chemistry, botany, and zoology. Don’t let these taxonomies intimidate you, we are talking about class 6 to class 10 basic concepts from these subjects. Quick revision using a bit bank is the most efficient way to cover the basics. Make sure that the bit bank has detailed explanations for each question. NCERT Class 6 to 10 textbooks are easy to read with pictorial representations.
ISRO, DRDO- SPACE, and DEFENCE
Apart from the basics of the above-mentioned subjects, space, defense, and biotechnology are key areas. India’s achievements in these areas and key institutions in these sectors are de-facto important for the TSPSC exams. Start with exploring the official websites of ISRO, DRDO, Department of Science and Technology, etc. Make notes on key information, updates, and history available on these websites.
What should be my main resources for the science and technology section?
As mentioned above websites are a good place to start with. It is not recommended to go through any full-length magazines considering the availability of time is a key restriction, if you insist on reading through magazines, you can choose any Vision IAS PT 365 for Science and Technology along with Science and Technology Telugu Academy Books. Although, it is quite difficult to get Telugu Academy books anytime soon.
You can quickly go through The Hindu Archives on Science & Technology, this exercise also helps you cover key topics from the Environment section. Any other good publication like Manorama yearbook, Prathyoga Darpan will help you cover national-level events. Doing research on achievers from the Telangana region might come in handy, considering this is a state-level exam.
Based on the previous year’s paper analysis, preparing strategically for Science and Technology section will help you get at least 8-10 questions right with minimum effort. Answering these questions also consumes less time allowing you more time for answering other difficult questions. All the best for your preparation.
