GENERAL STUDIES:

The Central Board of Secondary Education had introduced

“General Studies” at the Senior school stage as a part of
implementation of the National Policy on Education 1986.It was
visualised as a subject that would transcend all discipline and
would bring a positive change in students.

Science and Technology:

Science encompasses the systematic study of the structure and
behaviour of the physical and natural world through
observation and experiment, and technology is the application
of scientific knowledge for practical purposes

• Below are few of the many areas where science

has played an important role:
• Preventing Outbreak of Deadly Diseases
• In early 14th century, 'plague' wiped out nearly a third of
entire human population. In 2009, a similar pandemic called
'swine flu' was brought under control before it could cause
significant damage (Source: Wikipedia). Even diseases such
as cancer, HIV are curable when detected in early stage.
• Reason: Advancement in medical technology, Availablity of
medical facilities, Improved disease prevention mechanism
like vaccinations.

• Science has transformed humans from 'Forest Wanderers'

to 'Space Wanderers'
• Science has made immense contribution in uplifting
human society, filling our minds with knowledge and
intelligence. It helped us notice the marvels of mother
nature to which we were previously oblivious. It also
reminded us that we are just an infinitesimally small part
of this ever expanding universe. Right from invention of
wheels to building a supercomputer, science has made our
lives easier while we enjoy the comfort of every day life.

• Early warning against Natural Disasters

• In 1999, super cyclone ‘05B’ lashed the east Indian state of
Orissa killing more than 15000 people and leaving an
estimated 1.5 million people homeless with damages
amounting $4.4 billion. It was the strongest cyclone ever
recorded in the north Indian ocean with wind speed
reaching 260 kmph (Source: Wikipedia). After 13 years a
similar cyclone hit Orissa, but this time the casualties were
close to 40. How did India manage to reduce this number.
• Reason: Improved weather forecasting from Remote
sensing and meteorological satellites launched after 1999
helped in developing an early warning system.
 • How India went from 15,000 cyclone deaths in 1999 to
just 38 last year
• Uninhabitable lands turned into modern day Oasis
• Although 71% of Earth's surface is covered with water,
less than 1% is drinkable and not every available lands on
earth is cultivable.
• However, desserts of middle east with the dry and hot
climatic conditions have managed to become global
finance and tourism hubs. These gulf countries with
depleting water resources have installed several
desalination plants to tackle and prolong impending water
crisis. Moreover, countries like Israel have managed to
turn their barren lands into productive fertile agricultural
fields that feeds millions of people.
• Reason: Innovation in the field of Agriculture, Improved
crop storage facilities, Water harvesting techniques.

Emerging Technologies:
Emerging technologies are those technical innovations which
represent progressive developments within a field
for competitive advantage;[2] converging technologies
represent previously distinct fields which are in some way
moving towards stronger inter-connection and similar goals.
• Emerging technologies include a variety of technologies such
as educational technology, information
technology, nanotechnology, biotechnology, cognitive
science, robotics, and artificial intelligence.

• Artificial intelligence (AI) is the sub intelligence exhibited by

machines or software, and the branch of computer
science that develops machines and software with animal-
like intelligence. Major AI researchers and textbooks define
the field as "the study and design of intelligent agents,"
where an intelligent agent is a system that perceives its
environment and takes actions that maximize its chances of
success. John McCarthy, who coined the term in 1956,
defines it as "the study of making intelligent machines".

Nanotechnology:
Nanotechnology (sometimes shortened to nanotech) is the
manipulation of matter on an atomic, molecular,
and supramolecular scale. The earliest widespread description
of nanotechnology[31][32] referred to the particular technological
goal of precisely manipulating atoms and molecules for
fabrication of macroscale products, also now referred to
as molecular nanotechnology.
 Robotics:
Robotics is the branch of technology that deals with the design,
construction, operation, and application of robots,[33] as well as
computer systems for their control, sensory feedback, and
information processing. These technologies deal with
automated machines that can take the place of humans in
dangerous environments or manufacturing processes, or
resemble humans in appearance, behavior, and/or cognition. A
good example of a robot that resembles humans is Sophia, a
social humanoid robot developed by Hong Kong-based
company Hanson Robotics which was activated on April 19,
2015.

3D Bioprinting:
Three-dimensional (3D) organ bioprinting is the utilization
of 3D printing technologies to assemble multiple cell types or
stem cells/growth factors along with other biomaterials in a
layer-by-layer fashion to produce bioartificial organs that
maximally imitate their natural counterparts

• 3D bioprinting can be used to reconstruct tissue from various

regions of the body. Patients with end-stage bladder disease
can be treated by using engineered bladder tissues to rebuild
the damaged organ. This technology can also potentially be
applied to bone, skin, cartilage and muscle tissue.
 Nanomedicine:
Nanomedicine is a branch of medicine that applies the
knowledge and tools of nanotechnology to the prevention and
treatment of disease. Nanomedicine involves the use of
nanoscale materials, such as biocompatible nanoparticles and
nanorobots, for diagnosis, delivery, sensing or actuation
purposes in a living organism.

Example of Nanomedicines:
• Doxil (liposomal doxorubicin HCl injection, Janssen) and
Abraxane (paclitaxel protein-bound particles for injectable
suspension, Celgene) are two notable examples of FDA-
approved cancer nanomedicines that have been clinically
successful.

Green Technology:
Green Technology
Green tech–or green technology–is an umbrella term that
describes the use of technology and science to create products
that are more environment friendly. The goal of green tech is
to protect the environment and in some cases, to even repair
past damage done to the environment.
• Green technology helps manage and recycle waste material.
It allows it to be used for beneficial purposes.
This technology is used for waste management, waste
incineration, and more. A lot of recyclable material has
allowed individuals to create plant fertilizer, sculptures, fuel,
and even furniture

Mechatronics:
Mechatronics, also called mechatronics engineering, is an
interdisciplinary branch of engineering that focuses on the
engineering of electronic, electrical and mechanical engineering
systems, and also includes a combination of robotics,
electronics, computer, telecommunications, systems, control,
and product

Biotechnology:
Biotechnology is technology that utilizes biological systems,
living organisms or parts of this to develop or create different
products. Brewing and baking bread are examples of processes
that fall within the concept of biotechnology (use of yeast (=
living organism) to produce the desired product).
• Biotechnology has applications in four major industrial areas,
including health care (medical), crop production and
agriculture, non-food (industrial) uses of crops and other
products (e.g. biodegradable plastics, vegetable oil, biofuels),
and environmental uses.