SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN NEWS: PRELIMS 2026 READY NOTES

Science and Technology (S&T) has become a decisive and dynamic section in the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination. In recent years, UPSC has consistently asked 10–15 questions from S&T, most of which are current-affairs driven but concept-based.

For UPSC Prelims 2026, aspirants must focus on science and technology developments in news, while clearly understanding the basic principles behind them. This article provides Prelims-ready, exam-oriented notes covering the most important Science and Technology areas, along with a smart preparation strategy and FAQs.

Why Science and Technology is Important for UPSC Prelims 2026

High relevance of current affairs
Questions are mostly application-based
Interdisciplinary linkage with Economy, Environment, Defence & Health
Minimal syllabus but high scoring potential

👉 UPSC does not test formulas; it tests awareness and understanding.

PART I: SPACE TECHNOLOGY (VERY HIGH WEIGHTAGE)

1. Indian Space Missions

UPSC frequently asks about ISRO missions in news.

Important areas:

Gaganyaan Mission
Chandrayaan missions
Aditya-L1
XPoSat
NavIC (Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System)

Focus on:

Objectives
Payloads
Orbit type
Significance

2. Launch Vehicles & Satellites

LVM3, PSLV, SSLV
Communication vs Earth observation satellites
Geostationary vs Polar orbits

PART II: DEFENCE & STRATEGIC TECHNOLOGY

3. Missiles & Defence Systems

Commonly asked areas:

Ballistic vs cruise missiles
Agni, Prithvi, BrahMos
Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD)
Hypersonic technology

4. Indigenous Defence Initiatives

DRDO developments
Make in India in Defence
Tejas aircraft
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)

PART III: BIOTECHNOLOGY & HEALTH SCIENCE

5. Biotechnology in News

High-scoring if basics are clear.

Key topics:

DNA, RNA, genome editing
CRISPR-Cas9
Stem cells
GM crops
Biofortification

6. Health & Medical Science

Vaccines & immunisation
mRNA vaccines
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR)
Emerging diseases
One Health approach

PART IV: INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY & EMERGING TECH

7. Artificial Intelligence & Digital Technologies

Very frequent in recent Prelims.

Important concepts:

Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Machine Learning
Big Data
Internet of Things (IoT)
Quantum computing

8. Cyber & Digital Infrastructure

5G and 6G technology
Semiconductor chips
Cybersecurity
Blockchain
Digital public infrastructure (DPI)

PART V: ENERGY, ENVIRONMENT & APPLIED SCIENCE

9. Renewable & Clean Energy

Solar and wind energy
Green hydrogen
Biofuels
Nuclear energy basics
Energy storage systems

10. Nanotechnology & Advanced Materials

Nanomaterials
Graphene
Smart materials
Applications in health, defence & energy

PART VI: SCIENCE IN GOVERNANCE & INSTITUTIONS

11. Scientific Institutions & Initiatives

ISRO
DRDO
Department of Science & Technology (DST)
Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC)
Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)

12. Government Schemes & Policies in S&T

National Quantum Mission
India AI Mission
Semiconductor Mission
National Bio-Energy Mission
Space sector reforms

Smart Strategy to Prepare Science & Technology for Prelims 2026

Focus only on S&T in news
Understand basic principles, not technical depth
Link S&T topics with current affairs
Revise frequently with short notes
Solve previous year questions (PYQs)

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Studying S&T like engineering textbooks
Ignoring basic science concepts
Memorising without understanding applications
Skipping revision due to vastness

Conclusion

Science and Technology for UPSC Prelims 2026 is highly scoring if prepared smartly. By focusing on developments in news and understanding the underlying concepts, aspirants can confidently handle S&T questions. Consistent revision and PYQ analysis are the keys to mastering this section.