General Science & Science and Technology – GS (P+M) Foundation Course

• Comprehensive General Science & Science and Technology Coverage designed for UPSC Civil Services Examination – Prelims & Mains preparation.
• UPSC GS Paper-III Syllabus-Oriented Content covering developments in Science & Technology, everyday applications, Indian achievements, indigenisation of technology, Space, IT, Biotechnology, Nanotechnology, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence and related areas.
• 16 structured chapters covering Biology, Biotechnology, Agriculture Technology, Chemistry, Physics, Space Technology, ICT, AI, Robotics, Defence Technology, Energy Technology, Nanotechnology and Science & Technology in India.
• Extensive Biology & Biotechnology Coverage including living organisms, cytology, evolution, genetics, human body, diseases, recombinant DNA technology, GM crops, gene therapy, stem cells and Intellectual Property Rights.
• Detailed Space Science & Technology Section covering astrophysics, satellites, ISRO, Indian launch vehicles, Chandrayaan, Aditya-L1, Gaganyaan, NISAR, SpaDeX and international space missions.
• Emerging Technologies Coverage including Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Blockchain, Quantum Computing, IoT, Cyber Security, 5G, Nanotechnology and Superconductivity.
• UPSC Prelims & Mains Trend Analysis (2014–2025) helps aspirants understand the examination relevance and historical weightage of Science & Technology.
• Defence, Nuclear & Energy Technology coverage includes missiles, UAVs, defence manufacturing, nuclear energy, renewable energy, hydrogen fuel, electric mobility and India's energy policies.

About This Book

Drishti IAS General Science and Science & Technology – GS (P+M) Foundation Course is designed for aspirants preparing for the UPSC Civil Services Examination, with content aligned to the requirements of both Prelims and Mains.

The book systematically combines the fundamentals of General Science—Biology, Chemistry and Physics—with contemporary Science & Technology topics relevant to the UPSC examination. Its syllabus mapping specifically connects the chapters with UPSC GS Paper-III, including developments and applications of science and technology, achievements of Indians in S&T, indigenisation of technology, and awareness in IT, Space, Biotechnology, Nanotechnology, Robotics and Artificial Intelligence.

The coverage extends from foundational concepts such as cells, genetics, human physiology, matter, atomic structure, chemical bonding, motion, energy, gravitation, heat, sound, light and electricity to contemporary areas such as space missions, AI, cyber security, defence technology, nuclear technology, renewable energy and nanotechnology.

Biology, Genetics & Biotechnology

The Biology section develops a strong foundation through topics such as:

• Classification of Living Organisms
• Plant Kingdom & Plant Morphology
• Photosynthesis
• Cytology & Cell Division
• Evolution
• Nutrition & Biomolecules
• Genetics
• Human Body Systems
• Human Diseases

The Genetics and Biotechnology chapter covers Mendel’s Laws, mutations, genetic disorders, DNA, transcription, translation and recombinant DNA technology.

The Biotechnology portion further covers:

• GMOs & GM Crops
• Gene Therapy
• Immunotherapy
• Stem Cells
• Cloning
• Assisted Reproductive Technology
• DNA Fingerprinting
• Human Genome Project
• CAR T-Cell Therapy
• Genomic Surveillance
• Industrial & Marine Biotechnology
• Transgenic Organisms
• Bioinformatics
• Biosensors
• Intellectual Property Rights, WIPO & TRIPS

Agriculture Technology

The book includes a dedicated chapter on Agriculture Technology, covering the development of agricultural technology since the Green Revolution and modern innovations relevant to UPSC preparation.

Important topics include:

• Organic Farming
• Bio-Fertilizers & Bio-Pesticides
• Zero Budget Natural Farming
• Seed Treatment & Storage
• Drip Irrigation & Fertigation
• Vertical Farming
• Precision Agriculture
• ICT in Agriculture
• Agri-Startups
• AI, IoT & Agri-Fintech
• Farm Automation & Robotics
• Drones in Agriculture
• Soil Testing & Digital Mapping
• Cold Chain & Food Processing
• Climate-Smart Agriculture

Atomic & Nuclear Technology

The book covers the fundamentals of matter, atoms, molecules, atomic models, isotopes, periodic classification and nuclear technology.

The Nuclear Technology portion includes:

• Radioactivity
• Nuclear Fission & Fusion
• Nuclear Reactors
• India’s Three-Stage Nuclear Energy Programme
• Nuclear Power Plants
• Nuclear Safety
• Nuclear Waste
• CERN & Large Hadron Collider
• Neutrinos
• ITER
• CTBT
• NPT
• Nuclear Suppliers Group
• MTCR

Astrophysics & Space Technology

The Space Technology section covers both conceptual science and contemporary space developments.

Topics include:

• Cosmology
• Galaxies & Nebulae
• Gravitational Waves
• Stellar Evolution
• Black Holes
• Dark Matter & Dark Energy
• Exoplanets
• Solar System
• Orbits & Satellites
• Indian Launch Vehicles
• ISRO
• Indian Space Policy 2023
• Private Sector in Space

Major missions and programmes covered include Mangalyaan, Chandrayaan-1, Chandrayaan-2, Chandrayaan-3, Chandrayaan-4, LUPEX, SpaDeX, Aditya-L1, NISAR, Gaganyaan, Shukrayaan-1 and Bharatiya Antariksha Station.

ICT, Robotics & Artificial Intelligence

The Information and Communication Technology section covers:

• Telemedicine & Tele-education
• e-Governance
• Quantum Computers
• Supercomputers
• Cloud & Grid Computing
• Optical Fibre
• BharatNet
• WiFi, LiFi & NFC
• Internet of Things
• Web 3.0
• Cyber Security
• Digital Signatures
• Biometrics
• 5G Technology
• Data Localisation

The dedicated Robotics and Artificial Intelligence portion includes robot components and applications, AI categories and applications, AI governance, AI regulations, Artificial Intelligence in India and the IndiaAI Mission.

Defence Technology

The Defence Technology chapter covers important areas such as:

• Indian Missile Systems
• IGMDP
• Prithvi, Agni, Akash, Nag & Trishul
• Ballistic Missile Defence
• Artillery Systems
• Aircraft & Helicopters
• UAVs & Drones
• RADAR Systems
• Naval Vessels
• Defence Manufacturing
• Defence Startups
• Defence Industrial Corridors
• International Defence Agreements
• Indian Defence Exercises

Energy & Nanotechnology

The Energy Technology section covers conventional and renewable sources, including coal, petroleum, natural gas, shale gas, hydrogen fuel, solar, wind, geothermal and ocean energy.

It further covers fuel cells, lithium-ion batteries, waste-to-energy, biomass, National Biofuel Policy, electric mobility, rural electrification and India’s energy policy.

The Nanotechnology chapter discusses nanomaterials, applications in energy, defence, electronics, medicine, agriculture and biotechnology, along with the Nano Mission and nanotechnology development in India.

Science & Technology in Everyday Life

The book connects scientific concepts with practical applications through topics such as:

• Drugs & Antibiotics
• X-Ray, CT Scan & MRI
• PET Scan & Endoscopy
• ELISA & RT-PCR
• Chemicals in Food
• Water Purification
• Digital Storage Devices
• 3D & 4D Printing
• Television Technologies
• Mobile Telephony
• Laser Technology
• Superconductivity

General Science: Chemistry & Physics

The General Science: Chemistry section covers chemical bonding, acids, bases and salts, pH, metals and non-metals, carbon compounds and chemistry in everyday life.

The General Science: Physics chapter begins with Units & Measurement and extends across core physics concepts required for General Science preparation.

🇮🇳 Science & Technology in India

The final chapter focuses on India's Science and Technology ecosystem and institutional framework, including:

• Department of Atomic Energy
• Department of Science & Technology
• Department of Space
• Department of Scientific & Industrial Research

The section discusses India's institutional development in science and technology and the roles of organisations involved in research, innovation, nuclear technology and space development.

UPSC Prelims & Mains Trend Analysis

A dedicated UPSC GS General Science & Science and Technology Trend Analysis provides examination trends from 2014 to 2025.

For Mains, the analysis covers Science & Technology developments, applications, IT, Space, Robotics, intellectual property and achievements of Indians in science and technology. For Prelims, the book provides year-wise Science & Technology question counts alongside other GS areas.

This makes it easier for aspirants to understand the historical importance of Science & Technology in both stages of the Civil Services Examination.

Ideal For

Suitable for aspirants preparing for:

• UPSC Civil Services Examination
• UPSC Prelims
• UPSC Mains GS Paper-III
• General Studies Foundation Course
• Civil Services General Science
• Science & Technology for UPSC
• Other competitive examinations requiring General Science & Science Technology