1. (A) Choose the correct option from the given options and complete the statements.

(1) …………….. was named as the first Chairman of atomic energy commission. 

(a) Dr Homi Bhabha 

(b) Dr Homi Sethna 

(c) Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam 

(d) Dr Raja Ramanna

Ans: (a) Dr Homi Bhabha 

(2) …………….. was the first completely indigenous communication satellite made by ISRO. 

(a) Aryabhatt 

(b) Insat 1 B 

(c) Rohini-75 

(d) Apple 

Ans: (d) Apple 

(B) Identify and write the wrong pair.

(1) Prithvi – surface to surface ballistic missile 

(2) Agni – surface to underwater ballistic missile

(3) Akash – from surface to air attacking missile

(4) Nag – anti-tank missile

Ans: Wrong Pair: Agni – surface to underwater ballistic missile

2. (A) Complete the activity as per the given instruction.

Prepare a timeline of the progress of India in science and technology.

Ans:

1961: India’s first successful rocket launch

1963: Telex services started.

1969: India launches its first rocket.

1974: An overseas communication programme was established.

1975: India’s first satellite, Aryabatta, is launched.

1979: India’s first remote sensing satellite, Bhaskar, is launched.

1984: First computerised reservation system in India

1988: Prithvi missile test

1989: Agni missile test

1994: Mobile phone service started.

1998: India’s second nuclear test

2000: Restructuring of the Department of Telecommunications

(B) Write short notes on-

(1) Space research 

Ans: 

(i) In 1961, the Indian National Committee for Space Research (NCSR) launched India’s first research rocket from Thumba Equatorial Launch Centre in Thumba, in the State of Kerala.

(ii) In 1969, our indigenously built rocket, Rohini-75, was successfully launched.

(iii) The next stage was the successful launch of the first Indian satellite, Aryabhatta, in 1975, with help from the Soviet Union.

(iv) This success proved that Indian scientists can indigenously build and launch a satellite. Indian scientists were confident that they could acquire the technology for sending a message from the Earth Station and to assess the working of the satellite.

(2) Telex service

Ans:

(i) The Department of Telecommunications under the Ministry of Communications started the telex service in 1963 to transmit typed messages from one part of the country to another rapidly. 

(ii) In 1969, the telex service started in Devanagari script in Delhi. Later, it spread all over the country. 

(iii) This service began to be used in different fields. 

(iv) With the rise of the internet after 1990, the significance of this service decreased.

(3) Pokhran nuclear test

Ans:

(i) India successfully performed her first nuclear test at Pokhran in Rajasthan on May 18, 1974, in accordance with the policy of using nuclear energy for peaceful purposes and for self-sufficiency.

(ii) The reason why India took this decision was China’s nuclear capability and Pakistan’s desperate efforts to acquire nuclear weapons with China’s help.

(iii) Dr Homi Sethna, the chairman of the Indian Atomic Energy Commission, and Dr Raja Ramanna, Director of the Bhabha Atomic Research Center, played a major role in conducting this nuclear test.

(iv) Prime Minister Indira Gandhi took the decision to carry out a “nuclear explosion.” Pokhran was chosen on the basis of the required criteria for the location of the nuclear tests: far away from human settlement and no groundwater reserve.

(4) Bhaskar – 1 satellite

Ans:

(i) India launched the remote sensing experimental satellite Bhaskar-1 from the Soviet Union in 1979 in order to observe various things on the surface of the earth using remote sensing technology.

(ii) This remote sensing technology would be useful for India’s development by providing information on water bodies, mineral deposits, and weather forecasts. 

(iii) The photographs taken with the help of this technology about the bowels of the earth, the environment, and forests were important.

(iv) Another area in which the information from this satellite was useful was oceanography. 

3. Explain the following statements with reasons.

(1) Pandit Nehru established the Atomic Energy Commission. 

Ans: Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru wanted to nurture a scientific temper and bring about the nation’s progress. From this perspective, he set up the Indian Atomic Energy Commission on August 10, 1948, under the chairmanship of Dr. Homi Bhabha.

(2) India decided to conduct nuclear tests. 

Ans: In 1974, India successfully conducted its first nuclear test in Pokhran, Rajasthan, with the objective of using nuclear energy for peaceful purposes and self-sufficiency. India decided to conduct nuclear tests because it was facing China’s nuclear capability and Pakistan’s desperate efforts to acquire nuclear weapons with China’s help.

(3) USA imposed economic sanctions on India. 

Ans: In 1998, India carried out its second successful nuclear test to demonstrate its nuclear preparedness while assuring the world that there would be no first use of the nuclear weapon. Yet, USA imposed economic sanctions on India.

4. Answer the following questions in detail. 

(1) Which of the everyday services are influenced by the satellite technology? 

Ans: Some of the everyday services influenced by satellite technology are as follows:

(i) Telecommunication services like mobile phones, radio, TV, Internet, etc. 

(ii) The Global Positioning System (GPS), which provides positioning, navigation, and timing services to worldwide users.

(iii) Weather forecasting services

(iv) E-Payment, E-Banking Services, and E-Marketing Services

(v) Online hotel-booking and air-ticket services

(vi) Business Processing Outsourcing Services

(vii) Online education services.

(2) Why is Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam called as the ‘Missile Man’?

Ans:

(i) Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam served as the organization’s director of defence research and development in India (DRDO).

(ii) He developed the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP) and oversaw its execution.

(iii) Under his direction, the missiles Agni, Prithvi, Nag, and Akash were created.

(iv) Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam is referred to as the “Missile Man” because of his involvement in the manufacture of missiles.

(3) How one can do computerised reservation for rail travel ?

Ans:

(i) In 1984, the service of computerised reservations for rail travel was introduced in New Delhi and subsequently made available throughout India.

(ii) We use a computer and internet service to make reservations.

(iii) One can make a computerised reservation for rail travel through website booking, where a person should have an IRCTC account and create a login ID with the appropriate details.

(iv) After looking up ticket availability, we make a reservation by paying with a credit or debit card using internet banking.

(4) Write the key features of Konkan Railway.

Ans:

(i) Konkan Railway started in 1998 and stretches over the four states of Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, and Kerala over a distance of 760 km.

(ii) There are 92 tunnels on this track. The 6.5 km tunnel at Karbude is the longest tunnel.

(iii) There are 179 big and 1819 small bridges on this track. Out of these, the 2065.8 m long bridge on the River Sharavati near Honnawar is the biggest.

(iv) The 64 m tall bridge on River Panval near Ratnagiri is India’s tallest bridge.

(v) For avoiding accidents on tracks that are prone to landslides, there are sensors fitted to the railway engines.