Science and Technology Notes

Complete coverage of vitamins including water-soluble and fat-soluble classification, detailed study of each vitamin (A, D, E, K, C, and B-complex), their sources, functions, deficiency diseases, the rhodopsin cycle, bone health and osteoporosis, free radicals and oxidative stress, the nervous system and myelin, and the role of prebiotics and probiotics in gut health

Comprehensive coverage of blood composition and cell production, bacteria and viruses, antigens and the immune response, white blood cells and their types, T-cells and B-cells, types of immunity, disease mechanisms, principles of immunization, coronavirus pandemics and viral mutations, vaccine types including live attenuated, inactivated, recombinant, DNA, and subunit vaccines, and mucosal immunity

Comprehensive coverage of HIV-AIDS mechanism, life cycle, origin, and treatment, hepatitis types and transmission, bat-borne zoonotic diseases, Ebola and Marburg virus diseases, Nipah virus outbreaks, factors driving zoonotic spillovers, antimicrobial resistance, tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment, and India-specific AMR surveillance initiatives

Foundations of robotics including definitions, classification, and components of robots, Asimov's laws of robotics, Industry 4.0 and cyber-physical systems, artificial intelligence and machine learning fundamentals, deep learning, and real-world applications of robotics and AI across agriculture, healthcare, military, and societal functions

Foundations of information technology including client-server architecture, digital communication, modulation and modems, internet protocols (TCP/IP), domain name system, broadband and wireless technologies, optical fibre communication, cloud computing, Internet of Things (IoT), AIoT, edge computing, IoT applications across sectors, connected device network layers (BAN to VWAN), India's IoT policy initiatives, and IoT challenges

Blockchain technology and its core mechanics including hashing, proof of work, and decentralised ledgers, features and applications of blockchain beyond cryptocurrency, Web 3.0 and the semantic web, immersive technologies such as augmented reality, virtual reality, mixed reality, holograms, and haptic feedback, digital museum experiences, evolution of mobile networks from 1G to 5G, and the metaverse concept with its opportunities and challenges

Space technology fundamentals, types of artificial satellites for communication, remote sensing and navigation, historical milestones from Sputnik to the ISS, space debris and removal missions, India's space programme from INCOSPAR to ISRO and ANTRIX, satellite communication frequencies and signal attenuation, orbital mechanics including LEO and geostationary orbits, and global navigation systems including GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and India's IRNSS

Launch vehicle design, structural materials, propulsion systems from solid to ion engines, India's launch vehicle family from SLV to GSLV Mk-III, extra-terrestrial missions including Chandrayaan and Mangalyaan, solar science and observatories, and the Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme

Biotechnology from traditional applications to modern genetic engineering, covering DNA structure and properties, chromosomes and the diploid condition, genes and cell replication, enzymes as biological catalysts, biotechnology tools including restriction enzymes and vectors, recombinant DNA technology with gene transfer vectors, gene cloning and PCR technology, molecular diagnostics including RT-PCR and CT values, expression vectors for therapeutic protein production, and forensic applications of DNA

From mRNA vaccines and CAR-T cell therapy to stem cell science, organism cloning, genomics, metagenomics, and genetically modified organisms, covering the applied frontiers of modern biotechnology

Military and civilian applications of nuclear technology, radioisotopes in medicine, agriculture and industry, nuclear fission and fusion, reactor types, India's three-stage nuclear programme, reactor locations and expansion, the strategic relevance of nuclear energy for India, and tokamak fusion reactors with ITER's design, members, and advantages of fusion energy

The science of manipulating matter at the nanoscale, covering the nanoscale and why materials behave differently at it, carbon nanomaterials like graphene, carbon nanotubes, and fullerenes, quantum dots, wide-ranging applications in medicine (targeted drug delivery, gold nanoparticle heat therapy, nano-robots, lab-on-a-chip), agriculture (precision farming, IFFCO liquid nano-urea), water purification (ferrous oxide for arsenic removal), cosmetics, textiles, energy, and electronics, India's Nano Mission (NSTI 2001-2006, Phase I May 2007 Rs 1000 crores with five objectives, Phase II 12th Plan Rs 650 crores under CNR Rao, key achievements including 3rd global rank in nano publications and useful products), and the health, environmental, privacy, military, and socio-economic risks of nanotechnology