Basic Quiz – 13 October 2026 | Science & Tech

Correct Answer: (b) 1, 2 and 3 only

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is correct: First-generation ethanol is generally produced from food-related sugar and starch feedstocks, such as sugarcane juice, molasses and grains. Second-generation ethanol can be produced from lignocellulosic materials such as agricultural residues, including rice straw and other crop waste.
• Statement 2 is correct: Blending ethanol with petrol can substitute a portion of fossil-derived fuel and improve energy diversification. However, lifecycle environmental benefits depend on agricultural inputs, land-use changes, water consumption, processing energy and transportation.
• Statement 3 is correct: Compressed Biogas is a methane-rich fuel produced by purifying and compressing biogas generated through anaerobic digestion of organic materials such as cattle dung, agricultural waste and municipal organic waste.
• Statement 4 is incorrect: Biofuels are not automatically carbon-neutral. Their overall greenhouse gas emissions depend on the complete production and consumption lifecycle, including land-use changes, fertiliser use, processing energy and transportation.

Additional Information:

• E20 refers to a petrol blend containing 20% ethanol and 80% petrol by volume.
• India’s ethanol blending programme aims to reduce petroleum import dependence, support domestic biofuel production and create additional demand for agricultural feedstocks.
• Second-generation ethanol technologies can help utilise agricultural residues that might otherwise be burnt in fields.
• Anaerobic digestion is the breakdown of organic matter by microorganisms in the absence of oxygen.
• Raw biogas typically contains methane, carbon dioxide and trace gases; upgrading removes impurities and increases methane concentration.
• The Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation (SATAT) initiative, launched in 2018, promotes the production and utilisation of Compressed Biogas.
• The National Policy on Biofuels, 2018, amended in 2022, provides an important policy framework for India’s biofuel development.

Correct Answer: (c) 1, 2 and 4 only

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is correct: Biologics are medicines derived from living systems or manufactured using biological processes. They include vaccines, monoclonal antibodies, recombinant proteins and certain advanced therapeutic products.
• Statement 2 is correct: A biosimilar is developed to be highly similar to an approved reference biologic. Its approval requires evidence demonstrating that any differences do not result in clinically meaningful differences in safety, purity and potency.
• Statement 3 is incorrect: Biologics are generally complex molecules produced through living systems, which can introduce minor manufacturing-related variations. Therefore, biosimilars are assessed for high similarity rather than the chemical identity generally expected of conventional small-molecule generic medicines.
• Statement 4 is correct: Monoclonal antibodies and recombinant therapeutic proteins, such as certain forms of insulin, are important examples of biological medicines.

Additional Information:

• A generic medicine generally contains the same active pharmaceutical ingredient as its reference small-molecule medicine and must satisfy applicable quality and bioequivalence requirements.
• Biosimilars typically require extensive analytical comparability assessments and other evidence as specified by the relevant regulatory authority.
• Monoclonal antibodies are laboratory-produced proteins designed to bind to specific biological targets.
• Recombinant DNA technology enables the production of therapeutic proteins using genetically engineered cells.
• India’s biopharmaceutical sector is expanding beyond conventional generics into biosimilars, vaccines, recombinant proteins and advanced biological therapies.
• The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) is India’s national drug regulatory authority.

Correct Answer: (a) 1, 3 and 4 only

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is correct: Bt cotton contains genes obtained from Bacillus thuringiensis, a soil bacterium. These genes enable the plant to produce insecticidal proteins that provide protection against certain insect pests, particularly bollworms.
• Statement 2 is incorrect: The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee operates under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, not the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
• Statement 3 is correct: DMH-11, or Dhara Mustard Hybrid-11, is a genetically modified mustard hybrid developed using the barnase-barstar system, which facilitates hybrid seed production.
• Statement 4 is correct: The Rules for the Manufacture, Use, Import, Export and Storage of Hazardous Microorganisms, Genetically Engineered Organisms or Cells, 1989 were notified under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.

Additional Information:

• Bt cotton was approved for commercial cultivation in India in 2002.
• As of the period discussed in the editorial, Bt cotton remained India’s only commercially cultivated genetically modified crop.
• The GEAC evaluates proposals involving environmental release of genetically engineered organisms, including genetically modified crops.
• The Review Committee on Genetic Manipulation (RCGM), functioning under the Department of Biotechnology, oversees specified research activities involving genetically engineered organisms.
• The barnase-barstar system uses barnase to induce male sterility and barstar to restore fertility in the hybrid.
• The regulatory status of GM mustard has been subject to judicial proceedings and environmental scrutiny.

Correct Answer: (c) 1, 2 and 4 only

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is correct: The Genome India Project seeks to map genetic variations across India’s diverse population groups. It has generated whole-genome sequence data from approximately 10,000 individuals representing different communities.
• Statement 2 is correct: Whole-genome sequencing determines the sequence of DNA across an organism’s genome, including coding and non-coding regions. It enables researchers to identify genetic variants and study their biological significance.
• Statement 3 is incorrect: The Genome India Project is a genomic research initiative, not a programme for genetically modifying human embryos. Its primary purpose is to generate genetic information that can support scientific and medical research.
• Statement 4 is correct: Genomic data can help researchers understand inherited diseases, population-specific genetic variations, disease susceptibility and responses to medicines, contributing to precision medicine.

Additional Information:

• The Genome India Project is supported by the Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology.
• The Indian Biological Data Centre (IBDC), located in Faridabad, Haryana, serves as a national repository for biological data.
• The Human Genome Project was an international scientific initiative that produced a reference sequence of the human genome.
• Precision medicine seeks to tailor prevention, diagnosis and treatment to individual characteristics, including genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors.
• Genetic information requires strong privacy, consent and data-security safeguards because it can reveal sensitive information about individuals and their biological relatives.

Correct Answer: (b) 1, 2 and 4 only

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is correct: BioE3 stands for Biotechnology for Economy, Environment and Employment. The Union Cabinet approved the policy in August 2024 to promote biotechnology-driven industrial development.
• Statement 2 is correct: The policy promotes high-performance biomanufacturing through Biofoundries, Bio-AI Hubs and related infrastructure. These facilities aim to support research, technology development and the scaling up of biological production processes.
• Statement 3 is incorrect: The Department of Biotechnology under the Ministry of Science and Technology is responsible for the BioE3 Policy. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change is not its nodal ministry.
• Statement 4 is correct: The policy identifies six thematic areas, including smart proteins and functional foods, precision biotherapeutics, climate-resilient agriculture, bio-based chemicals and enzymes, carbon capture and utilisation, and futuristic marine and space research.

Additional Information:

• Biofoundries integrate automation, biological engineering and computational tools to accelerate the design and testing of biological systems.
• Biomanufacturing uses living organisms, cells or biological processes to manufacture products such as medicines, enzymes, fuels and industrial chemicals.
• The policy supports India’s transition towards a circular bioeconomy and its net-zero emissions target for 2070.
• The Department of Biotechnology was established in 1986 under the Ministry of Science and Technology.