Modern Scientists — Set 2

Correct Answer: A. Srinivasa Ramanujan

• **Srinivasa Ramanujan** = was a brilliant self-taught mathematician from India known for his extraordinary contributions to mathematical analysis, number theory, infinite series, and continued fractions. • **December 22** — His birthday, `December 22`, is celebrated as National Mathematics Day in India. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [S.R. Ranganathan]: a librarian and mathematician, known as the 'Father of Library Science in India'; [Harish-Chandra]: an Indian-American mathematician who made fundamental contributions to representation theory; [Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis]: a statistician and founder of the Indian Statistical Institute, known for the Mahalanobis distance.

Correct Answer: C. Satish Dhawan

• **Satish Dhawan** = served as the Chairman of ISRO from 1972 to 1984 and played a crucial role in the development of India's indigenous satellite launch capabilities, including SLV-3 and PSLV. • **1972 to 1984** — He led ISRO as Chairman during this pivotal period, overseeing significant advancements in space technology. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [G. Madhavan Nair]: a former Chairman of ISRO, known for leading India's lunar mission Chandrayaan-1; [A.S. Kiran Kumar]: a former Chairman of ISRO, known for his contributions to optical remote sensing and meteorological payloads; [K. Sivan]: a former Chairman of ISRO, known for his work on the PSLV and GSLV rocket designs.

Correct Answer: D. Salim Ali

• **Salim Ali** = was a renowned Indian ornithologist and naturalist, affectionately known as the 'Birdman of India' for his extensive systematic bird surveys. • **'The Book of Indian Birds'** — He authored several influential books, including `'The Book of Indian Birds'`, which became a definitive guide. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Jagadish Chandra Bose]: a physicist and botanist, known for pioneering radio and microwave optics and plant physiology; [Birbal Sahni]: a paleobotanist, known for his studies on plant fossils; [M.O.P. Iyengar]: an Indian botanist and phycologist, known for his work on algae.

Correct Answer: B. Radio and microwave optics

• **Radio and microwave optics** = Jagadish Chandra Bose was a pioneering physicist who made significant contributions to the study of `radio and microwave optics` and plant physiology. • **1895** — In `1895`, he gave the first public demonstration of electromagnetic waves, showing wireless communication over a distance. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Telescope design]: primarily associated with astronomers and optical engineers; [Internal combustion engines]: developed by engineers like Nikolaus Otto and Rudolf Diesel; [Nuclear power]: associated with physicists like Homi J. Bhabha in the Indian context.

Correct Answer: D. Venkatraman Ramakrishnan

• **Venkatraman Ramakrishnan** = is an Indian-born British and American structural biologist who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his groundbreaking studies on the structure and function of the ribosome. • **2009** — He shared the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in `2009` with Thomas A. Steitz and Ada E. Yonath. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar]: a renowned scientist and founder of CSIR, known for establishing research laboratories; [Har Gobind Khorana]: won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1968 for his work on the genetic code; [C.N.R. Rao]: a chemist known for his work in solid-state and materials chemistry, awarded the Bharat Ratna.

Correct Answer: B. Birbal Sahni

• **Birbal Sahni** = He is recognized as the 'Father of Indian Paleobotany' for his extensive study of Indian subcontinent fossils and establishing an institute in Lucknow. • **Lucknow** — He established the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany in this city, a prominent center for paleobotanical research. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [P. Maheshwari]: known for plant embryology; [K.R. Ramanathan]: known for atmospheric physics; [T.R. Seshadri]: known for organic chemistry.

Correct Answer: B. Statistics and Economics

• **P.C. Mahalanobis** = He is best known for his foundational work in statistics and economics, including founding the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) and developing the 'Mahalanobis distance'. • **June 29** — His birthday is celebrated as National Statistics Day in India, acknowledging his significant contributions to the field. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Geology]: focuses on Earth's physical structure and processes; [Botany]: the scientific study of plants; [Chemistry]: the scientific study of the properties and behavior of matter.

Correct Answer: B. Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar

• **Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar** = He was the first Director General of CSIR and a pioneer in magneto-chemistry, instrumental in establishing national laboratories across India. • **Bhatnagar Prize** — This prestigious award for science is named in his honor, recognizing excellence in various scientific disciplines. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [S.S. Abhyankar]: a renowned mathematician; [Homi Bhabha]: known as the 'Father of the Indian Nuclear Programme'; [V.S. Ramamurthy]: former Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology.

Correct Answer: C. Tessy Thomas

• **Tessy Thomas** = She is known as the 'Missile Woman' for being the first woman to head missile projects like Agni-IV and Agni-V in India. • **Agni-V** — She served as the project director for this advanced intercontinental ballistic missile, demonstrating her leadership in strategic defense. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Kalpana Chawla]: an Indian-American astronaut; [Muthayya Vanitha]: Project Director for Chandrayaan-2; [Ritu Karidhal]: Deputy Operations Director for Mangalyaan.

Correct Answer: D. Homi J. Bhabha

• **Homi J. Bhabha** = He is known for pioneering work in cosmic radiation, including the discovery of 'Cosmic Ray Showers,' and is considered the 'Father of the Indian Nuclear Programme'. • **1948** — He became the first chairman of India's Atomic Energy Commission in this year, laying the foundation for India's nuclear energy program. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [G.N. Ramachandran]: known for the Ramachandran Plot and collagen structure; [Homi Sethna]: a nuclear scientist who chaired the Atomic Energy Commission later; [Vikram Sarabhai]: known as the 'Father of the Indian Space Programme'.