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This Week 184 quiz covers five high-yield Science and Technology topics for UPSC CSE Prelims 2027: lithium-ion power-bank safety, the Indian Navy’s INS Mangrol, adenocarcinoma, NASA’s Perseverance rover and India’s National Quantum Mission. Attempt each question before checking the answer and explanation.
Question 1: Lithium-ion batteries in power banks
Consider the following statements about lithium-ion batteries used in power banks:
- They have high energy density, which can make overheating and combustion more severe under some conditions.
- Counterfeit, low-quality or recycled cells can introduce separate manufacturing defects and fire hazards.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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- (b) Both 1 and 2
- (c) 2 only
- (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (b) Both 1 and 2
Both statements are correct, but statement 2 does not explain statement 1. High energy density is an inherent characteristic of lithium-ion chemistry. As IIT Bombay professor Sagar Mitra explained, “these batteries are highly energy-dense and therefore vulnerable to overheating and combustion under certain conditions.” A damaged cell, short circuit, overcharging, excessive heat or physical impact can trigger thermal runaway.
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Cell quality is a separate issue. Counterfeit, recycled or poorly manufactured cells may contain defects, inadequate separators or unreliable protection circuits, increasing the chance of failure even though those defects are not the reason lithium-ion batteries have high energy density. The distinction between an intrinsic property and an added manufacturing risk is the key to the assertion-reason question.
The current-affairs link is an October 11, 2026 incident in which a power bank caught fire on a Chennai-bound IndiGo flight that made an emergency landing at Hyderabad. Power banks commonly use lithium-cobalt-oxide or other lithium-ion cells. For everyday use, readers should avoid damaged or swollen units, use compatible chargers, prevent crushing or puncturing, and choose products with credible safety certification. Never place a visibly damaged power bank in checked baggage or continue charging one that becomes unusually hot.
Question 2: INS Mangrol
Consider the following statements about INS Mangrol:
- It is an Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) shallow-water craft.
- It is the third of eight indigenously designed and built Mahe-class vessels constructed by Cochin Shipyard Limited at Kochi.
- It is named after Mangrol, a coastal town and prominent fishing harbour in Gujarat’s Junagadh district.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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- (a) 1 and 2 only
- (b) 2 and 3 only
- (c) 1 and 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3
All three statements are correct. The Indian Navy commissioned INS Mangrol at Mumbai’s Naval Dockyard on October 12, 2026. It is the third of eight Mahe-class ASW shallow-water craft in an indigenous design-and-build programme, with construction undertaken by Cochin Shipyard Limited at Kochi.
Its name connects the new vessel to Mangrol, a coastal town and important fishing harbour in Gujarat’s Junagadh district. It also preserves naval lineage: the former INS Mangrol (M85) was a minesweeper that served from 1983 to 2004. In a prelims question, do not confuse the new ship’s ASW role with the predecessor’s minesweeping role; the vessels share a name but not the same operational description.
Question 3: Adenocarcinoma
With reference to adenocarcinoma, consider the following statements:
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- It develops in cells lining the airways or producing mucus.
- It is a cancer that originates in bone or muscle.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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- (a) 1 only
- (b) 2 only
- (c) 1 and 2 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (c) 1 and 2 only
Adenocarcinoma is a non-small-cell lung cancer arising in glandular or mucus-producing cells, including cells lining parts of the airways. It is not a cancer originating in bone or muscle. That third statement describes a different tissue origin and is therefore incorrect.
The topic entered current affairs after reports of Pope Leo XIV’s diagnosis. The seriousness of an adenocarcinoma diagnosis cannot be determined from the name alone. Clinicians assess tumour size and location, whether lymph nodes or distant organs are involved, and the biological characteristics of the cancer cells. Those factors guide staging, treatment selection and prognosis.
Question 4: NASA’s Perseverance rover
Consider the following statements about NASA’s Perseverance rover:
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- Its mission includes looking for signs of ancient life.
- It is collecting rock and regolith samples for possible return to Earth.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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- (a) 1 and 2 only
- (b) 2 and 3 only
- (c) 1, 2 and 3
- (d) 1 only
Answer: (c) 1, 2 and 3
All three statements are correct. Perseverance landed in Jezero Crater on February 18, 2021. Jezero is a scientifically important target because it contains evidence of an ancient lake-and-delta environment, where conditions may once have been suitable for microbial life.
The rover’s work combines astrobiology and sample science. It investigates rocks and sediments for signs of ancient life and seals selected rock and regolith samples so that a future mission could potentially bring them to Earth. The rover has also been reported to set an off-world record for total distance driven by a vehicle on the surface of another world while travelling toward the Idubi area near Jezero’s western rim. The mission-purpose combination—ancient-life investigation, sample collection and mobility on Mars—is more important for revision than memorising a single distance figure that can change as the rover continues operating.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Question 5: National Quantum Mission
Consider the following statements about India’s National Quantum Mission:
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- It runs from 2023–24 to 2030–31 and has an approved investment of ₹6,003.65 crore.
- Its quantum-secure-communication target is 5,000 km.
- Its objectives include satellite-enabled links, inter-city quantum key distribution and multi-node quantum networks.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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- (a) 1 and 2 only
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- (c) 2 and 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (b) 1 and 3 only
Statement 1 is correct. The mission covers 2023–24 to 2030–31 and carries an approved investment of ₹6,003.65 crore. Statement 2 is incorrect: the stated quantum-secure-communication target is 2,000 km, not 5,000 km. A 1,000-km milestone was reported as achieved in three years, but that achievement does not replace the programme’s overall target.
Quantum-secure communications use quantum properties to detect interception and support secure key exchange. The mission’s communications objectives include satellite-enabled links, inter-city quantum key distribution and multi-node networks using quantum memories, entanglement swapping and synchronised repeaters. These components address the challenge of extending quantum links beyond the range of a single fibre or free-space connection.
The programme also covers intermediate-scale quantum computers, quantum sensing and clocks, and quantum materials and devices. For prelims revision, retain the timeline, investment, 2,000-km target and the distinction between a reported 1,000-km milestone and the final mission goal.
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Answer key at a glance
| Question | Topic | Correct option | Core fact |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lithium-ion power banks | (b) | High energy density and defective cells are separate safety considerations. |
| 2 | INS Mangrol | (d) | Third of eight Mahe-class ASW shallow-water craft; commissioned October 12, 2026. |
| 3 | Adenocarcinoma | (c) | Non-small-cell lung cancer arising in airway or mucus-producing cells. |
| 4 | Perseverance | (c) | Landed in Jezero on February 18, 2021; searches for ancient-life evidence and collects samples. |
| 5 | National Quantum Mission | (b) | ₹6,003.65 crore programme through 2030–31 with a 2,000-km quantum-secure-communication target. |
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