 Hello everyone. Today, I'll be discussing the science and technology questions which were asked in the mains 2020-21, GS Paper 3. So as almost every year, we had three questions from science and technology this year also. One 10 marker and two 15 markers. Total rate of science and technology was 40 marks in GS Paper 3. So these were the questions of science and technology. So the first question was a 10 marker in which they asked about the S400 air defense system. So how is the S400 air defense system technically superior to any other systems presently available in the world? This was the question, 10 marker question, question number five of GS Paper 3. So again, how will you start this answering this question? You can introduce what is S400. So S400 triumph, that is what Russia calls it, or NATO calls it SA-21 grouwler. So this S400, yes, S400 triumph, or as NATO calls it, SA-21 grouwler. See, this is first, how will you introduce the question? Introduce the question by writing what is S400. So this is a mobile surface-to-air missile defense system belonging to Russia and it is capable to engage any airborne threat. This can be one line introduction. You can write about S400 triumph. It is a mobile surface-to-air missile defense system belonging to Russia and it is capable to engage any airborne threat. It can engage aircraft, UAVs, cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, etc. Maybe you can add one line to show its strength. Like an economist has told that S400 is one of the most potent air defense systems available in the market. That point may be added to show how powerful it is. Now the question, if you come across the question, the question is not asking about S400 assets. The question is asking, how S400 air defense system is technically superior to any other systems presently available in the world. So this comparison has to be made with respect to other systems. So the major air defense systems in the world, one is S400 belonging to Russia and the second one is TARD, terminal, IOLT2, area defense system belonging to US or there is a Patriot air defense system belonging to US. You can compare this S400 with these two systems or any one of these systems. Now the point is here you should explain how it is technically superior. So one point I already told you that this S400 is a missile defense system capable to engage any airborne threat. Whereas TARD or terminal high altitude air defense system is exclusively an anti-ballistic system. It does not have anti-aircraft capability. It cannot attack aircrafts or it does not have the capacity to target any aerial threat, only ballistic missiles. So this is one point. So you can compare. Now the next setting you better I can just write the heading from the question itself. The technical superiority of S400 that can be your heading, technical superiority and in technical superiority you can start, first point can be it can take any airborne threat, any airborne threat, then the range. So S400, the range is 400 kilometers, 400 kilometers. It can intercept targets even at 600 kilometers. It can intercept target even at 600 kilometers. It can attack strike at 400 kilometers and this is the range. Whereas if you compare it TARD, maximum range is 150 to 200 kilometers. This is another area you can compare. The range of S400 is 400 kilometers and again because of this high intercept is possible at 600 kilometers, it is capable to attack. Now even in the transition phase itself, even in the transition phase of the missile itself, the enemy missile we can, we are able to attack it. Whereas in the case of TARD and all, the interception is mostly happening in the reentry phase or the striking phase. This is another point at which phase does the interception happens. Then you can write about how the attack is done. So S400 can simultaneously engage 72 targets. The number of targets S400 can simultaneously engage 72 targets. Whereas TARD is a single layer defense. See, it is a one-dimensional missile system which can fire only one type of missile. This is another feature of, another comparison. The attack mode, the difference between the attack mode and TARD I told you, it is a one-dimensional missile system which can fly only one type of missile. Then you can maybe mention about the guidance system. The guidance system available in S400, it is an active radar homing. So active radar homing system is there for guidance whereas in TARD it is an infrared seeker head. So the guidance system is superior in S400. Even you can mention about the speed. You can compare the speed. Speed of S400 is 14 mach whereas for TARD it is 8 mach, around 8 mach. Then the features like S400 as a multifunction radar. It has autonomous detection system. It has autonomous targeting system. All these are superiority of S400. See, this is a 10 marker. I think in multiple areas, if you come there and if you tell the superiority of S400, that itself will be surfacing I guess. Then in conclusion, you can maybe write about how India is purchasing S400 from Russia. We have already deployed the S400s we got in the Punjab sector, which will help us in countering threats from Pakistan and China. At this point, you can write in the S400 question. So this is the first question. Now if we come to the second question. So second question was a 15 marker and it was from biotechnology. So what are the research and development achievements in applied biotechnology? How will these achievements help to uplift the poorer sections of society? So two parts are there. First, they're asking what are the research and development activities in applied biotechnology and how it will help the poor section. That is second part. So obviously we can start by defining what is applied biotechnology from the term itself. Even if you have not heard about applied biotechnology. So what will be applied biotechnology? Biotechnology with emphasis on the practical sides, practical skills or biotechnology with this industrial focus. We are applying biotechnology. That is called applied biotechnology. So applied biotechnology can be used in different areas like applied where or we can use applied biotechnology. So we can use it in industry. We can use it in food sector, agriculture, environmental aspects. We can use it in healthcare. Try to include as many dimensions as possible. So define what is applied biotechnology in the introduction. It is a biotechnology with the interest phase. It emphasis on the practical skills etc. We can define it. Now the second part of the question, like this is the introduction. First part of the question is asking how what are the research and development achievements in applied biotechnology? So focus on the research. Again try to incorporate as many diverse areas as possible in research and development achievements. So maybe you can start with the most obvious ones like research, genetic research is happening in the biotechnology area. So genetic research, we can mention the different areas of genetic research like human genome project which is going on. The most obvious ones you should write first. That is the best part. The best thing to do because even the examiner will be familiar with the most obvious points. So write all these points. So we have human genome project which is which we are using to determine the sequence of nucleotide base pairs that makes our human DNA and we have HGP write, HGP read projects are going on. So it will help us to identify the genes especially that causes diseases once we are doing this HGP project will help in that. Then it is helping us in stem cell therapy, another application stem cell therapy. So stem cells can be programmed in such a way that they can regenerate into any specific type of cells in the body. So stem cell can maybe grow into degenerative spine cells or any cells it can regenerate into any kind of cells. So you can mention stem cell therapy where it is used etc. And you can mention about maybe recombinant DNA techniques, recombinant DNA techniques which is used to produce insulin, another application. Then we can mention about diagnosis of disease which is done like RTPCR test, genetic amplification of the virus, RTPCR test. So diagnosis of disease. Then we can mention about vaccines, COVID vaccine, the mRNA technology, messenger RNA technology which is used in vaccines, multiple areas, multiple research development you can mention. Then you can mention about agriculture, genetically modified crops. So GM crops which are pest resistant, which will improve the crop field, higher nutritional value. We can mention about maybe waste management techniques like phyto remediation, just used in waste management. We can mention about 3D printed organs again, which is used helpful in health sector. So these all things can be mentioned as the what we say first part. R&D, what are the research and development achievements in biotechnology? You mentioned as many points as possible, as many diverse areas as possible. Then even we can mention the Indian initiatives in the R&D achievements in biotechnology. It need not be just international achievements. India has different areas where India is using India is focusing on R&D. We have an UNNATI ATTELJ ANUSANTHAN mission. So department of biotechnology as an UNNATI ATTELJ ANUSANTHAN mission under which we are focusing on improved agriculture, multiple areas we are focusing. Improved agriculture, affordable healthcare, affordable health care, clean energy, cutting edge frontier science, etc. using biotechnology. Again, give some specific applications like we have a scheme called Garbini, which study to or we change to discover the molecular risk markers and generate a risk prediction algorithm in terms of preterm birth. So this Garbini is aiming to study to discover the molecular risk markers and generate risk prediction algorithms for preterm babies. We have an antimicrobial resistance mission, AMR mission, which is trying to develop new antibiotics, alternative to antibiotics, diagnostics. Then there is a UNNATI MISSION CLEAN TECHNOLOGY FOR SWEATCH BARRETT. There is a mission for SWEATCH BARRETT. SWEATCH BARRETT. So in this we have techniques like biomethanation, biotoylets, chemical and membrane-free water purification. All those there is in there is in UNNATI MISSION CLEAN TECHNOLOGY FOR SWEATCH BARRETT. Then we have fortified wheat nutrition improvement. So we have fortified wheat, wheat nutritional improvement. Another area where India is doing research in biotechnology. So there is anthocynosine rich bio fortified color wheat. We have developed anthocynosine rich bio fortified color wheat. So this is another area where India is doing research in wheat nutrition improvement. All these are different examples. Now the second part of the question is the first part. So now give the next heading, how this achievement is helping to lift the poorer sections. So link it this applications with the poorer sections. So we can start with the last application, wheat nutritional improvement. This is helping to address the micro nutrient malnutrition, obviously which is helping the poorer sections. Then the scheme which I which we mentioned Garbini, you know it is trying to save children's life and reduce morbidities. Especially this pre-term babies is common when we are underweight or overweight and underweight is a problem which is prevalent mostly in poorer sections. So pre-term babies how to reduce their mortality etc. Then in biotechnology we are using sorry medicines, medicines feed, biotechnology used in medicines field will reduce the healthcare expenditure like you know cost of medicines have come down because of the research which is going on in the medical field. GM crops whatever applications we mentioned link it with the poorer sections GM crops. So GM crops can address many issues faced by the farmers like it will increase yield, it will reduce losses, productivity. So farmers problems can be solved. We have a biotech Kisan scheme where scientist, farmer, partnership is maintained for agriculture innovation. Another area where biotechnology is used to help the farmers. Then it can reduce pollution because it is used in sweatshirts etc. Bioremediation can help to clean landfills around slums. Techniques like bioremediation again helping poor you know it will help to clear bio landfills around slums. Then it will help to convert waste into assets like biocomposting. Waste can be converted into valuable fertilizer. Another example so all these are different examples of how biotechnology is helping the poor section. So connect whatever applications you have mentioned or whatever research and development we have mentioned that can be linked with the poor section connected with poor sections and multiple points. I know it is a 250 marker so we can write approximately two and a half pages can be written in this. So this is the second question. The third question is regarding blue LED. So the Nobel Prize in physics of 2014 was jointly awarded to Akasaki, Amano and Nakamura for the invention of blue LEDs in the 1990s. How was this invention impacted? How the invention has impacted the everyday life of everything? So again you will be you know the like UPEC is asking 2014 Nobel Prize etc. The question is not really regarding the Nobel Prize. The question is regarding blue LED or LED. How blue LED has invented the or impacted everyday life? So even if you have no idea about what got the Nobel Prize if you have idea about LEDs its application you can actually decently answer this question of Nobel Prize. So if you know the context of what they have mentioned you can mention that why they want the Nobel Prize etc. So again introduced by writing about blue LED. So till the invention of blue LED LEDs were monochromatic like they were single colors. We had red LED, we had green LED but we did not have a white LED because to make a white LED we needed red, green and blue. So blue LED was not available and because blue LED was not available we could not make a white LED. So till the discovery of blue LED LEDs were monochromatic and we could not come up with a white LED and once blue LED was discovered or sorry once blue LED was invented you know we could actually make white LED possible. This is one major thing which you can write in the introduction itself we can mention this. Now why they want the Nobel Prize or for what they want the Nobel Prize obviously blue LED was last to be invented because of the difficulty in producing blue LED. We required the material to make blue LED was gallium nitride. So this both Akasaki, Amano and Nakamura worked on producing high quality gallium nitride. So this is why they want the Nobel Prize. So they want the Nobel Prize for producing high quality gallium nitride. So it is a chemical that appears in many layers of blue LED and green and red LED actually uses gallium phosphide. This is easy to produce that is why we had both blue and green LED's earlier itself but we made the people Akasaki, Amano and Nakamura actually produced high quality gallium nitride that is why they were given Nobel Prize. If you know the context you can write it but the question is actually not asking about you know why they want the Nobel Prize if you can know if you write it obviously you will get moments but even if you don't know how the invention has impacted the everyday life of human being. So as I told invention of blue LED ultimately led to the white LED. So you can write the impact in maybe two ways. First maybe you can write the advantages of LED right that can be one point and second you can mention the applications wherever we where all we are using this LED that can be mentioned. I think these are the two aspects which you can focus on while writing the day to day impact of LED. So obviously first point in advantages most common point will be LED is energy efficient. As compared to incandescent bulb they consume 90% less power. So first point can be day to day life it is how it is affecting. So decrease in the power cost. So it is 90% it consumes 90% less power. So less consumption of power means less remissions of carbon dioxide less than carbon food carbon food. So less power consumption less environmental pollution these are all affecting the day to day life. Third they are long lasting. Third point or second point itself we can write they are long lasting. Their life of a LED is approximately 1 lakh hours. So obviously when the life is more their replacement cost maintenance cost except I will come down and they do not the buying the gap between two purchases will increase. So it will reduce the usage of raw materials wastage which is happening during production all those can be reduced. Then LEDs will function fourth or fifth point you can write LEDs can function with low voltage. So it can be used in rural areas with lower voltage. Then you can mention about LEDs being used in areas where there is no power because LEDs there are LEDs which work on battery or charging. So we can use them in areas where there is no power. So some of the advantages of LEDs can be mentioned. Then you can write where all it is being applied. So obviously it is a one of the most common company in the digital screens because of the high contrast. We have organic LEDs was a problem's question of UPSC itself. So they are organic LED because of the flexibility in shaping screens and it is used in wearable devices smartphones etc organic LEDs. Then it is an important component of the backlighting of our smartphones TV etc backlighting is mainly from LED. It can be used in automobiles lighting and automobiles. It can be it is used in data transfer. No light li-fi technology light fidelity wireless visible light communication VLC technique is using the light is coming from LED because of the high flickering we are using LED bulbs. Even in therapeutic treatments we are using LED. So write different applications different area in alarm security systems we are using LEDs. Multiple applications if you use mention that will address the second part of the question how it is affecting day-to-day life. And again in the conclusion maybe you can write about how what is India doing in the LED technology. So India has launched our national LED program which will facilitate India's commitments towards our Paris agreement. We have agreed in our INDC nationally determined contribution. We have committed that we will reduce the emission intensity per capita per unit of GDP by 33 to 35 percentage by 2030. So by increasing the LED consumption our commitment to Paris climate deal can be so we can link it with what India how India is exactly benefiting from this LED program that can also be mentioned. So that is how LED is impact everyday life of human beings. So see one final point I want to mention regarding this year's names and upcoming years those who are listening. So see there are exactly nine topics which UPSC mentions in the science and technology syllabus. So first is everyday application of science and technology in daily life or application of science and technology in daily life. So this year last year they directly asked what is the application of science and technology in everyday life. And then one more question was regarding COVID how technology help in daily COVID. So this year they asked about blue LED and how blue LED LED is affecting the everyday life of humans. Second topic is contributions of Indians in science and technology. So be prepared. So I think 2019 was the last year where they asked about contributions of Indians in science and technology. So in the coming years you should be prepared on contributions of Indians. Third topic is indigenization. What India is doing in different areas biotechnology nanotechnology space nuclear technology defense different area how we are indigenizing how we are making in India what is happening in all sectors of science you should be aware you should move. Then the fourth topic is awareness in five areas which are the five areas space biotechnology nanotechnology then information communication technology ICT will clip together robotics five areas. So robotics also I think 2015 was the last time they asked a question. So coming years you should be prepared on robotics and ICT is one area which they have majorly ignored in the last few years. So in future we should be prepared on questions on ICT and one area from which questions are expected biotechnology nanotechnology they keep on asking every alternate years once in three years OS questions keep coming about mainly application of biotechnology nanotechnology what is biotechnology nanotechnology what India is doing in biotechnology nanotechnology all these things we should be prepared and space again every two years every once in three years questions keep coming. So last time I think question came in 2019 so 2020 21 no questions 22 we should be prepared on space what is ISRO doing NASA's missions all those things we should be prepared and then the last topic in science and technology is challenges in IPA so in intellectual property right especially pharmaceutical sector what is happening I think for two years they have asked how we are preserving traditional knowledge of medicine I think a similar question was asked in just paper one this year how tribal knowledge is you know conserved something like that was asked in just paper one and just paper one also we had one question regarding cryptocurrency which was expected in science and technology they asked it in just paper one and asked how it is impacting society and India so impact of globalization and here also when they asked the question the Nobel Prize they asked how it is impacting everyday life and then the question on biotechnology they asked how it is helping the poor right so a few years back also they asked about the missions of ISRO and how it is impacting how it is making socio-economic changes so this linkage of different topics like how science and technology is helping society so whenever you are studying about any topic in science and technology please try to link it to the social application social implications for concept of society 5.0 which Japan has come out with please try to read more about it which will help you out in you know linking more about technology industry 4.0 and how it is linked with society so that's all regarding the examination discussion thank you and all the very best