Science and Technology for AP Exams · Chapter 7

Emerging Technologies

What to remember

AI, robotics, IoT, blockchain and quantum technology are changing industry, governance and daily life. Exams ask for the basic meaning, the main use and a simple difference between similar terms.
Semiconductors, 5G, drones and electric vehicles are backed by Indian policy. India supports them through missions and incentive schemes, so know the scheme names at a general level.
New technology brings risk as well as benefit. Privacy, jobs, cyber security and misuse are the main concerns, and India has data protection and IT laws to deal with them.

Artificial intelligence and machine learning

Artificial intelligence (AI) means computer systems that do tasks that normally need human intelligence, such as understanding language, recognising images and making decisions. Machine learning (ML) is a part of AI in which a computer learns patterns from data instead of being given fixed rules. Deep learning uses many-layered artificial neural networks and is behind image and speech recognition. Generative AI creates new text, images, audio or code from a prompt. Natural language processing (NLP) helps machines understand human language.

Types of ML: supervised (learns from labelled examples), unsupervised (finds hidden groups in unlabelled data) and reinforcement (learns by reward and penalty). Uses of AI include crop advice for farmers, disease detection from scans, chatbots, translation, fraud detection and traffic control. India has a national AI programme and a mission to build computing capacity and language models for Indian languages. Concerns are bias in data, job loss, deepfakes and privacy.

Robotics, IoT and drones

A robot is a machine that senses, decides and acts, often under a program. Industrial robots work in factories; surgical robots assist doctors; space rovers explore other worlds. Cobots work safely beside people.

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a network of physical objects fitted with sensors and software that share data over the internet. Examples are smart meters, smart home devices, fitness bands and soil sensors for farms. Smart cities use IoT for lighting, traffic and waste management.

Drones (unmanned aerial vehicles) are used in photography, mapping, crop spraying, delivery and surveillance. India's drone rules set up airspace zones and certification, and a production-linked incentive scheme supports local drone makers. Drones are also used in agriculture under the "drone didi" idea for women's self-help groups.

Communication: 5G and blockchain

5G is the fifth generation of mobile networks. It gives much higher speed, very low delay (latency) and the ability to connect many devices. This helps IoT, remote surgery, smart factories and self-driving vehicles. 5G services in India began after spectrum auctions held by the Department of Telecommunications. The regulator for telecom tariffs and quality is TRAI.

Blockchain is a shared digital record (ledger) kept as linked blocks across many computers. Once data is added it is very hard to change, because each block carries the fingerprint (hash) of the one before. It needs no central authority. Uses: land records, supply chain tracking, digital certificates and cryptocurrencies. Bitcoin is the best-known cryptocurrency, but blockchain has many uses beyond currency. India's central bank has introduced a digital rupee, which is a central bank digital currency (CBDC); it is issued by the Reserve Bank and is different from private cryptocurrency.

Term	Simple meaning
AI	Machines that act intelligently
ML	Learning from data
IoT	Connected objects with sensors
Blockchain	Shared tamper-resistant ledger
5G	Fast, low-delay mobile network

Semiconductors and quantum technology

A semiconductor conducts electricity better than an insulator but worse than a metal. Silicon is the main material. A chip (integrated circuit) holds millions of tiny transistors and is the brain of phones, cars and computers. Chip making needs fabrication plants ("fabs"), assembly and testing units. The India Semiconductor Mission and incentive schemes support chip design, fabrication and packaging in the country, so that India depends less on imports. Chip size is described in nanometres: a smaller number means a more advanced chip.

Quantum technology uses the behaviour of very small particles. A normal computer uses bits that are 0 or 1. A quantum computer uses qubits that can be in a mix of 0 and 1 (superposition) and be linked with each other (entanglement). Quantum computers could solve some problems, like drug design and code breaking, far faster. Quantum communication can make eavesdropping detectable. India has a National Quantum Mission to build quantum computers, communication and sensors.

Electric vehicles and 3D printing

An electric vehicle (EV) uses a battery and motor instead of a petrol or diesel engine. It gives no tailpipe emissions and has lower running cost. Most EV batteries are lithium-ion. Challenges are charging stations, battery cost, battery recycling and the source of the electricity itself. A hybrid vehicle uses both an engine and a motor; a fuel cell vehicle makes electricity from hydrogen and gives out only water. Indian schemes such as FAME (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles) and a production-linked incentive scheme for advanced batteries and vehicles support the sector. Andhra Pradesh has promoted EV and battery manufacturing and charging infrastructure; check the latest official release for specific projects.

3D printing (additive manufacturing) builds an object layer by layer from a digital design. It is used for prototypes, medical implants, dental parts, spare parts and even houses. Compared with older cutting methods it wastes less material and allows complex shapes.

Policy and concerns

India's flagship approach includes Digital India, the Information Technology Act for cyber law and the Digital Personal Data Protection Act for personal data. CERT-In is the national agency for cyber security incidents. Cyber crimes include hacking, phishing (fake messages to steal data), ransomware (locking files for money) and identity theft.

Technology	Main benefit	Main concern
AI	Fast decisions	Bias, job loss, deepfakes
IoT	Real-time data	Privacy, hacking
Blockchain	Trust without a middleman	Energy use, legal gaps
EV	Clean transport	Charging and battery waste
Drones	Reach and speed	Safety and privacy

Cloud, big data and digital public goods

Cloud computing gives storage and computing power over the internet on rent, so users need not own large machines. Big data means very large and fast-growing data sets that need special tools to study; AI learns from such data. Edge computing processes data near where it is made, which saves time. Augmented reality (AR) adds computer images to the real view, while virtual reality (VR) creates a fully computer-made world. Digital twins are computer copies of real machines used to test and predict faults. India also promotes open digital public platforms such as UPI for payments, and these show how technology can be built to serve many people at low cost. Cyber hygiene, such as strong passwords, two-step login and software updates, protects users from most attacks.

Space and satellite technology in daily life

Satellites support many digital services. Navigation satellites give location for maps and ride apps; India's own system is called NavIC. Remote sensing satellites give pictures for crop, flood and forest monitoring. Communication satellites carry TV, broadband and disaster alerts. Small satellites and private space start-ups are growing, and a regulator body called IN-SPACe helps private firms to use Indian space facilities. These space tools join with AI and IoT, for example when satellite pictures are studied by AI to estimate crop health.

Exam traps

ML is a part of AI, not the other way round.
A qubit can be in a mix of 0 and 1; a normal bit is only 0 or 1.
Blockchain is the technology; Bitcoin is one use of it.
CBDC is issued by the central bank; cryptocurrency is private.
5G improves speed and delay; it is not a satellite system.
A hybrid vehicle has both engine and motor; an EV has a battery and motor only.
3D printing is additive; machining is subtractive.
Phishing steals data by deception; ransomware locks data for payment.

One-liners

Deep learning uses neural networks.
Generative AI creates new content from prompts.
IoT devices have sensors and internet links.
Blockchain blocks are linked by hashes.
Silicon is the main semiconductor material.
A smaller chip node number means a more advanced chip.
Qubits use superposition and entanglement.
India has a National Quantum Mission.
Most EVs use lithium-ion batteries.
FAME supports electric vehicle adoption.
3D printing builds layer by layer.
CERT-In handles cyber security incidents.

Practice questions

Which term describes a computer learning patterns from data without fixed rules?
1. Machine learning
2. Networking
3. Cloud storage
4. Encryption
Answer
A. Machine learning
Machine learning finds patterns from data.
Deep learning is based mainly on
1. Fibre optics
2. Punch cards
3. Artificial neural networks
4. Vacuum tubes
Answer
C. Artificial neural networks
Deep learning uses layered neural networks.
Generative AI is best described as AI that
1. Only stores data
2. Only sorts numbers
3. Creates new text, images or code
4. Only controls machines
Answer
C. Creates new text, images or code
Generative AI produces new content from a prompt.
In which type of machine learning does the system learn by reward and penalty?
1. Unsupervised
2. Rule-based
3. Supervised
4. Reinforcement
Answer
D. Reinforcement
Reinforcement learning uses rewards and penalties.
IoT stands for
1. Internet of Things
2. Input of Technology
3. Index of Tools
4. Integration of Telecom
Answer
A. Internet of Things
IoT is the Internet of Things.
A network of sensor-fitted objects sharing data over the internet is called
1. A search engine
2. The Internet of Things
3. A firewall
4. A mainframe
Answer
B. The Internet of Things
This is the definition of IoT.
Which feature makes 5G suitable for remote surgery and self-driving vehicles?
1. Large size of towers
2. Use of copper cables
3. Use of landlines
4. Very low latency
Answer
D. Very low latency
5G has very low delay between sending and receiving.
Blockchain records are linked together using
1. Rubber stamps
2. Paper files
3. Cryptographic hashes
4. Telephone lines
Answer
C. Cryptographic hashes
Each block holds the hash of the previous block.
Which is NOT a feature of blockchain?
1. Needs one central owner to keep the record
2. Records are in linked blocks
3. Shared across many computers
4. Hard to alter once recorded
Answer
A. Needs one central owner to keep the record
Blockchain works without a single central authority.
A digital currency issued by a country's central bank is called
1. Bitcoin
2. CBDC
3. Altcoin
4. Ethereum
Answer
B. CBDC
CBDC is central bank digital currency.
The main material used in semiconductor chips is
1. Copper
2. Gold
3. Aluminium foil
4. Silicon
Answer
D. Silicon
Silicon is the main semiconductor material.
An integrated circuit contains millions of tiny
1. Transistors
2. Lenses
3. Magnets
4. Springs
Answer
A. Transistors
Chips pack millions of transistors.
The basic unit of information in a quantum computer is the
1. Pixel
2. Qubit
3. Hertz
4. Byte
Answer
B. Qubit
A qubit can be 0, 1 or a mix of both.
Superposition means a qubit can
1. Be only 0
2. Be in a mix of 0 and 1
3. Never change
4. Be copied freely
Answer
B. Be in a mix of 0 and 1
Superposition lets a qubit hold a combination of 0 and 1.
Which Indian mission targets quantum computers, communication and sensors?
1. Jal Jeevan Mission
2. Poshan Abhiyaan
3. National Quantum Mission
4. Swachh Bharat Mission
Answer
C. National Quantum Mission
The National Quantum Mission is India's quantum programme.
Most electric vehicle batteries use which chemistry?
1. Lead-acid only
2. Nickel-iron
3. Zinc-carbon
4. Lithium-ion
Answer
D. Lithium-ion
Lithium-ion batteries dominate EVs.
FAME is a scheme to promote
1. Electric vehicles
2. Fertilisers
3. Film industry
4. Fisheries
Answer
A. Electric vehicles
FAME means Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles.
A vehicle that makes electricity from hydrogen and emits only water is a
1. Diesel vehicle
2. Petrol hybrid
3. Fuel cell vehicle
4. CNG vehicle
Answer
C. Fuel cell vehicle
Fuel cell vehicles use hydrogen and emit water.
3D printing is also called
1. Casting
2. Additive manufacturing
3. Forging
4. Subtractive machining
Answer
B. Additive manufacturing
Objects are built layer by layer.
Malware that locks files and demands payment is called
1. Browser
2. Antivirus
3. Ransomware
4. Firewall
Answer
C. Ransomware
Ransomware demands ransom for unlocking data.
Which agency handles national cyber security incidents in India?
1. CERT-In
2. TRAI
3. SEBI
4. NABARD
Answer
A. CERT-In
CERT-In is the national cyber incident response team.
Drones are formally known as
1. Satellites
2. Manned balloons
3. Cargo ships
4. Unmanned aerial vehicles
Answer
D. Unmanned aerial vehicles
Drones are UAVs.
India's law on protection of personal digital data is the
1. Factories Act
2. Digital Personal Data Protection Act
3. Motor Vehicles Act
4. Indian Forest Act
Answer
B. Digital Personal Data Protection Act
It governs processing of digital personal data.
A hospital uses software that detects disease patterns in scan images after being trained on many labelled scans. This is an example of
1. Supervised machine learning
2. 3D printing
3. Quantum communication
4. Blockchain
Answer
A. Supervised machine learning
Learning from labelled examples is supervised ML.
A farm uses soil moisture sensors that send data to a phone. This is an example of
1. 3D printing
2. Genetic engineering
3. Cryptocurrency
4. Internet of Things
Answer
D. Internet of Things
Connected sensors sharing data are IoT.
A land record system needs entries that cannot be secretly changed. Which technology fits best?
1. 3D printer
2. Hybrid engine
3. Blockchain
4. Drone
Answer
C. Blockchain
Blockchain gives tamper-resistant shared records.
Why is a lower nanometre chip node generally better?
1. It packs more transistors and is more advanced
2. It has no silicon
3. It is always cheaper
4. It uses more space
Answer
A. It packs more transistors and is more advanced
Smaller nodes pack more transistors in the same area.
Consider the statements: 1. Machine learning is a part of AI. 2. Deep learning uses neural networks.
1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer
C. Both 1 and 2
Both statements are correct.
Consider the statements: 1. Blockchain and Bitcoin are the same thing. 2. Blockchain has uses beyond currency.
1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer
B. 2 only
Bitcoin is just one application of blockchain.
Consider the statements: 1. A qubit can be in superposition. 2. A normal bit can be in superposition.
1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer
A. 1 only
Only a qubit can be in superposition.
Consider the statements: 1. EVs have no tailpipe emissions. 2. Charging infrastructure is a challenge for EVs.
1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Neither 1 nor 2
4. Both 1 and 2
Answer
D. Both 1 and 2
Both are correct.
Consider the statements: 1. 3D printing builds objects layer by layer. 2. 3D printing is always a subtractive process.
1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer
A. 1 only
3D printing is additive, not subtractive.
Consider the statements: 1. 5G offers lower latency than older mobile networks. 2. 5G can connect many devices at once.
1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer
C. Both 1 and 2
Both are features of 5G.
Consider the statements: 1. The digital rupee is issued by the Reserve Bank of India. 2. Cryptocurrencies are issued by the central bank.
1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer
A. 1 only
Cryptocurrencies are private, not central bank issued.
Consider the statements: 1. Semiconductors conduct better than insulators. 2. Silicon is a common semiconductor.
1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Neither 1 nor 2
4. Both 1 and 2
Answer
D. Both 1 and 2
Both are correct.
Match the term with its meaning: 1. NLP - A. Understanding human language 2. Cobot - B. Robot working beside people 3. CBDC - C. Digital currency of central bank
1. 1-A, 2-C, 3-B
2. 1-A, 2-B, 3-C
3. 1-B, 2-A, 3-C
4. 1-C, 2-B, 3-A
Answer
B. 1-A, 2-B, 3-C
All pairs are correct in option A.
Match the cyber term with its meaning: 1. Phishing - A. Locks data for money 2. Ransomware - B. Fake messages to steal data 3. Hacking - C. Unauthorised access
1. 1-A, 2-B, 3-C
2. 1-B, 2-C, 3-A
3. 1-C, 2-A, 3-B
4. 1-B, 2-A, 3-C
Answer
D. 1-B, 2-A, 3-C
Phishing deceives, ransomware locks data, hacking is unauthorised access.
Match the technology with a use: 1. Drone - A. Crop spraying 2. EV - B. Clean transport 3. 3D printing - C. Prototypes
1. 1-C, 2-B, 3-A
2. 1-A, 2-C, 3-B
3. 1-A, 2-B, 3-C
4. 1-B, 2-A, 3-C
Answer
C. 1-A, 2-B, 3-C
Each pair is correct in option C.
Match the term with its field: 1. Qubit - A. Blockchain 2. Hash - B. Semiconductors 3. Transistor - C. Quantum computing
1. 1-B, 2-A, 3-C
2. 1-C, 2-A, 3-B
3. 1-A, 2-B, 3-C
4. 1-C, 2-B, 3-A
Answer
B. 1-C, 2-A, 3-B
Qubit is quantum, hash is blockchain, transistor is semiconductors.
Which technology can make eavesdropping on communication detectable?
1. Drone delivery
2. Hybrid engine
3. Quantum communication
4. 3D printing
Answer
C. Quantum communication
Quantum communication reveals measurement by an eavesdropper.
A major concern with AI trained on biased data is that it
1. Uses less power
2. May give unfair results
3. Becomes a robot
4. Needs no data
Answer
B. May give unfair results
Biased data can produce biased outputs.
Which of the following is a hybrid vehicle?
1. One with only a battery
2. One with only a diesel engine
3. One with both an engine and an electric motor
4. One with a solar sail
Answer
C. One with both an engine and an electric motor
A hybrid combines an engine with a motor.
Which fake-media technology uses AI to create realistic false videos?
1. Bluetooth
2. Streaming
3. Broadband
4. Deepfake
Answer
D. Deepfake
Deepfakes are AI-generated false audio or video.
The India Semiconductor Mission is mainly meant to
1. Promote chip design and manufacturing in India
2. Reduce coal use
3. Regulate telecom prices
4. Increase imports of chips
Answer
A. Promote chip design and manufacturing in India
The mission supports domestic semiconductor ecosystem.

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