Kundali IQHome › Exam notes › UPSC Civil Services › Nuclear Science
Nuclear Science
Science & Technology
Useful for: UPSC Civil Services
Overview
Nuclear energy comes from fission (and in future fusion); India follows a three-stage programme designed around its thorium reserves.
Key points
- Fission splits heavy nuclei; fusion combines light nuclei (as in the Sun).
- Homi Bhabha’s three-stage programme: pressurised heavy-water reactors on natural uranium → fast breeder reactors using plutonium → thorium-based reactors.
- Tarapur (1969) was India’s first nuclear power station; Kudankulam uses Russian VVER reactors.
- NPCIL operates power reactors; the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board regulates safety.
- India conducted nuclear tests in 1974 (Pokhran-I) and 1998 (Pokhran-II); its doctrine includes no first use.
- The Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act was passed in 2010; India is a member of the ITER fusion project.
Practice MCQs
From the perspective of definition and scope, which one of the following statements about Nuclear Science is correct?
- Nuclear Science has no exceptions or limitations in exam analysis.
- Fission splits heavy nuclei and can sustain chain reactions under controlled conditions.
- Radioactive half-life becomes shorter simply by cooling the radioactive material.
- Nuclear Science is unrelated to institutions, processes or real-world applications.
Read chapter notes · Similar questions
Show answer
Answer: (b) Fission splits heavy nuclei and can sustain chain reactions under controlled conditions.. Fission splits heavy nuclei and can sustain chain reactions under controlled conditions.
Consider the following statements on Nuclear Science and Immunity & Vaccines, focusing on definition and scope: 1. Radioactive half-life becomes shorter simply by cooling the radioactive material. 2. Antibiotics directly create long-term immune memory against viruses in the same way as vaccines. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
Read chapter notes · Similar questions
Show answer
Answer: (d) Neither 1 nor 2. Neither statement is correct; both are common misconceptions.
More topics in this chapter
Notes and questions are written by Kundali IQ for practice. They are not official papers; always check the latest official notification for the syllabus and pattern.