Scientific Minds — Set 1
Famous People · वैज्ञानिक दिमाग · Questions 1–10 of 50
Which scientist is popularly known as the 'Missile Man of India' for his work on ballistic missile technology?
Correct Answer: C. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
• **A.P.J. Abdul Kalam** = A.P.J. Abdul Kalam played a leading role in developing India's missile programs like Agni and Prithvi. • **2002 to 2007** — He served as the 11th President of India during this period. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Homi J. Bhabha: Known as the father of India's nuclear program; Vikram Sarabhai: Known as the father of the Indian Space Program; Satish Dhawan: A prominent Indian space scientist and former ISRO chairman.
Who is considered the 'Father of the Indian Space Program'?
Correct Answer: C. Vikram Sarabhai
• **Vikram Sarabhai** = Vikram Sarabhai was instrumental in establishing the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). • **Aryabhata** — His efforts led to the successful launch of India's first satellite named this. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: C.V. Raman: Won the Nobel Prize for his work on light scattering (Raman Effect); S. Chandrasekhar: Won the Nobel Prize for theoretical studies on the evolution of stars; Har Gobind Khorana: Won the Nobel Prize for his work on genetic code interpretation.
Which physicist won the Nobel Prize in 1930 for his work on the scattering of light?
Correct Answer: C. C.V. Raman
• **C.V. Raman** = Sir C.V. Raman discovered the phenomenon known as the Raman Effect while working in Kolkata. • **1930** — He won the Nobel Prize in Physics in this year for his discovery. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: S.N. Bose: Known for Bose-Einstein statistics; Homi J. Bhabha: Known as the father of India's nuclear program; Meghnad Saha: Known for the Saha Ionization Equation.
Which Indian mathematician is famous for his contributions to number theory and infinite series despite having no formal training?
Correct Answer: C. Srinivasa Ramanujan
• **Srinivasa Ramanujan** = Srinivasa Ramanujan developed thousands of independent mathematical identities and theorems. • **December 22** — His birth anniversary is celebrated as National Mathematics Day. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: S.N. Bose: A physicist known for Bose-Einstein statistics; P.C. Mahalanobis: A statistician known for the Mahalanobis distance and founding ISI; Shakuntala Devi: Known as the 'Human Computer' for her mental calculation abilities.
Which scientist discovered that plants have life and can feel pain and affection?
Correct Answer: A. Jagadish Chandra Bose
• **Jagadish Chandra Bose** = J.C. Bose invented the crescograph to measure extremely small variations in plant growth. • **crescograph** — This instrument was invented by him to measure plant growth, demonstrating plant sensitivity. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Birbal Sahni: A paleobotanist known for his studies of Indian fossils; Salim Ali: Known as the 'Birdman of India' for his ornithological work; M.S. Swaminathan: Known as the 'Father of the Green Revolution' in India.
Who is known as the 'Birdman of India' for his contributions to ornithology and nature conservation?
Correct Answer: D. Salim Ali
• **Salim Ali** = Salim Ali was the first Indian to conduct systematic bird surveys across the country. • **Padma Vibhushan** — He was awarded this for his lifelong dedication to nature and ornithology. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: M.S. Swaminathan: Known as the 'Father of the Green Revolution' in India; Madhav Gadgil: An ecologist known for his contributions to environmental policy; K. Kasturirangan: A space scientist and former chairman of ISRO.
Which statistician is known as the 'Father of Modern Statistics in India' and founded the ISI?
Correct Answer: C. P.C. Mahalanobis
• **P.C. Mahalanobis** = Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis introduced the Mahalanobis distance, a fundamental statistical measure. • **Indian Statistical Institute** — He established this pioneering institution in Kolkata. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: C.R. Rao: A prominent statistician known for his work in theoretical statistics; V.K.R.V. Rao: An economist and educationist; Amartya Sen: A Nobel laureate economist known for his work on welfare economics.
Which Indian-American scientist won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1968 for interpreting the genetic code?
Correct Answer: C. Har Gobind Khorana
• **Har Gobind Khorana** = Har Gobind Khorana showed how the order of nucleotides in nucleic acids controls protein synthesis. • **1968** — He won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in this year. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Venki Ramakrishnan: Won the Nobel Prize for studies of the structure and function of the ribosome; Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar: Won the Nobel Prize for theoretical studies on stellar evolution; Abhijit Banerjee: Won the Nobel Prize for his experimental approach to alleviating global poverty.
Who was the first Indian woman to earn a Doctorate in a scientific discipline (Botany)?
Correct Answer: D. Janaki Ammal
• **Janaki Ammal** = Janaki Ammal made significant contributions to genetics and phytogeography in India. • **Botany** — She was the first Indian woman to earn a Doctorate in this scientific discipline. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Asima Chatterjee: A pioneering organic chemist known for her work on plant medicines; Kalpana Chawla: The first Indian-origin woman to fly in space; Anandibai Joshi: One of the first Indian women to obtain a medical degree in the Western world.
Which physicist is renowned for the 'Saha Ionization Equation' used to describe chemical conditions in stars?
Correct Answer: A. Meghnad Saha
• **Meghnad Saha** = Meghnad Saha's equation allowed astronomers to relate the spectral classes of stars to their actual temperatures. • **Saha Ionization Equation** — This fundamental equation is used to describe chemical conditions in stars. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: S. Chandrasekhar: Known for the Chandrasekhar Limit concerning white dwarf stars; S.N. Bose: Known for Bose-Einstein statistics; Jayant Narlikar: A cosmologist known for his work in steady-state cosmology.