1.
Write short notes on the following: (5*3)
a. Role of science and technology in attaining food security in India.
b. Role of AI and robotics in the modern era.
c. Role of science in attaining clean and renewable energy goals.
d. The role of nutrition in combating human diseases.
e. Importance of crop rotation in soil health.
f. Water scarcity and importance of rainwater harvesting.
g. Importance of millets in Indian diet, human health and agriculture.
h. Key developments in mathematics during the 18th century.
i. Challenges associated with implementing rainwater harvesting
system in densely populated cities.
j. Mental health issues among youth and initiative that can be taken
for their resolution.
k. Role of AI and robotics in the modern era.
l. Effects of climate change on food security of a country.
2. Briefly describe the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), its
mission and any two of its achievements. Also, discuss reasons that might
have contributed to the success of this organisation. (10)
3. What role have vaccines and antibiotics played in enhancing public
health? How can we address the challenge of antimicrobial resistance in
the modern era? (10)
4. Rational thinking, scientific methods, experimental design and
observation are key components of the philosophy of science. Explain the
role of each component to justify this statement. (10)
5. Describe your views on adoption of transgenic crops in India. Justify your
opinions. (10)
6. Discuss the role played by any four women scientists in the scientific
journey of modern India. (10)
7. Antibiotics and vaccines help in managing infectious diseases. With
examples, compare their mode of action and limitations. (10)
8. Discuss your views on adoption of transgenic crops in India. Justify your
opinions.
9. What was the White revolution and why was it important for India?
Discuss the advantages (related to improved food security and rural
development) and potential disadvantages (related to environmental
impacts and over reliance on certain livestock breeds) associated with this
revolution.
10.Discuss the achievements of India from ancient to modern times in the
field of astronomy and space science.
11.How did Ayurveda contribute to healthcare practices in ancient India?
Discuss the relevance of Ayurveda in modern society?
12.“Microbial resistance against antibiotics is a growing concerned for
global healthcare”. Discuss this statement with examples. Suggest
initiatives that can be taken by individuals, scientists, doctors and
governments to combat microbial resistance.
13.Discuss the methods for water conservation and management from
ancient India to modern times. What, in your opinion, are the major steps
required to conserve freshwater resources of the country?
Indian scientist contribution throughout history
as well as the contribution of women in sciences
Indian scientists have made significant contributions to various fields of Science
and technology since ancient times. Some notable contributions include:
1. Mathematics.
a. Aryabhatta (5th century CE) made pioneering contributions to
mathematics and astronomy; he formulated the concept of zero and
the decimal place value system.
b. Brahmagupta (7th century CE) significantly contributed to
algebra and introduced rules for arithmetic operations with zero.
2. Astronomy
a. Varahamihira (6th century CE) made contributions to astronomy
including accurate solar year length calculations.
b. Bhaskra II (12th century CE) contributed to calculus and
spherical trigonometry.
3. Medicine
a. Sushruta (6th century BCE) is considered one of the founding
figures of surgery; he authored the “Sushruta Samhita”, a
comprehensive text on medicine and surgery.
b. Charak (2nd century CE) made significant contributions to
Ayurveda; an ancient system of medicine.
4. Physics
a. Jagdish Chandra Bose (1858 - 1937) conducted research into
radio waves and contributed to the development of wireless
communication.
5. Space and Technology the founder of Indian space program was Vikram
Sarabhai 1990 to 1971 he established the Indian space research
organisation ISRO.
6. Biology in 2009 Venkat Raman Ramakrishnan was awarded the Nobel
prize in Chemistry for his discoveries about the composition and
operation of the ribosomes.
7. Nuclear physics
a. CV Raman (1888 - 1970) received the Nobel prize in physics in
1930 for his light scattering work; also known as Raman effect.
When it comes to the Contribution of women in Science, India has seen
remarkable achievements.
1. Janaki Ammal (1897 - 1984) was a pioneering botanist known for
researching sugarcane and medicinal plants.
2. Aseema Chatterjee (1917 - 2006) was a prominent chemist who made
significant contributions to the organic chemistry field.
3. Rajeshwari Chatterjee (1922 - 2010) was a famous electrical engineer
who made contributions to microwave engineering and antenna
technology development.
4. Tessy Thomas is known as the “missile woman of India” for her role in
developing ballistic missile systems.
5. Kalpana Chawla (1961 - 2003) was the first woman of Indian origin in
space and a NASA astronaut who tragically lost her life in the space
shuttle Columbia disaster.
Philosophy of Science and Scientific Method
Science is a logical and systematic way of discovering how the universe works.
The philosophy of science explores the foundations, methods, and implications
of science. It addresses questions about what constitutes scientific knowledge,
how scientific theories are developed and tested, and how science relates to
other forms of knowledge.
Some of the key areas and questions within this field:
1. Nature of Scientific Knowledge.
a. What is Science? What distinguishes science from pseudoscience?
This involves examining criteria like empirical evidence,
reproducibility, and theoretical coherence.
b. Scientific Realism vs. Anti-Realism: Is scientific knowledge
about the world literally true? Realists argue that scientific theories
describe the world as it is, while anti-realists suggest that theories
are merely useful instruments or tools.
2. Scientific Method
a. Empiricism: How does empirical evidence (based on experiments)
contribute to scientific knowledge? It is believed that observation
and experimentation are the basis of knowledge.
b. Falsifiability: Can a scientific theory be proven wrong? Karl
Popper famously argued that for a theory to be scientific, it must be
falsifiable.
3. Theory and Observation
a. Theory - Ladenness of Observation: Are observations influenced
by the beliefs of the observer? If so, how do we ensure objective
knowledge?
b. Theory Change: How do scientific theories change over time?
What causes scientific revolutions and how do they impact our
understanding of the world?
4. Scientific Explanation
a. What is a Scientific Explanation? What do we mean by a good
scientific explanation? According to the covering-law model, an
explanation should involve general laws.
5. Ethics and Science
a. Ethical Implications: What are the ethical responsibilities of
scientists? Example: Impact of scientific discoveries on society.
6. Science and Society
a. Science and Values: How do social, cultural, or personal values
influence scientific research and its applications? Can science be
truly objective?
b. Science Policy: How should scientific research be funded and
regulated?
The above points help us to understand science and how it helps in the context
of human knowledge and society.
