The State Remote Sensing Application Centre working under Department of Science and Technology Rajasthan is situated at -
- (1)Jhalawar
- (2)Ajmer
- (3)Jodhpur
- (4)Jaipur
Answer
Why
Correct — option (3), Jodhpur.
Rajasthan's Economic Review 2020-21 describes the programmes of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and names the "State Remote Sensing Application Centre (SRSAC), Jodhpur". It adds that remote sensing activities are undertaken by this centre.
The department's own website (copy archived in April 2021) names its regional offices and then says: "Addition to these regional offices State Remote Sensing Application Centre, Jodhpur is also working under this Department."
So the centre is at Jodhpur.
The idea to remember: DST Rajasthan's office is in Jaipur, but its remote sensing centre, SRSAC, is in Jodhpur.
Why the others are wrong
- (1)Jhalawar — Jhalawar district hosts a different DST facility. The department's website (April 2021 copy) lists Jhalarapatan (Jhalawar) under Science Centers/Parks, alongside Jaipur, Kota, Udaipur, Bikaner, Jodhpur and Nawalgarh.
The website ties science centres and parks to popularising science; the remote sensing centre is a separate unit, and both DST sources place it at Jodhpur.
- (2)Ajmer — Ajmer is named in the Economic Review 2020-21's sentence on DST's regional offices, printed as: "regional offices located at Ajmer (Headquarter Jaipur), Bikaner, Kota, Jodhpur and Udaipur."
The next sentence reads: "In addition remote sensing activities are being undertaken by State Remote Sensing Application Centre (SRSAC), Jodhpur."
- (4)Jaipur — Jaipur is where the department itself sits: its website (April 2021 copy) gives its office as Vigyan Evam Praudyogiki Bhawan, Shastri Nagar, Jaipur.
SRSAC's list of achievements also mentions the "Establishment of Remote Sensing Sub – cell at Jaipur". A sub-cell is not the centre; the same list is headed "Significant Achievements of State Remote Sensing Application Centre, (SRSAC) Jodhpur".
Concept
Remote sensing gathers information about the Earth's surface from satellite data. A state remote sensing centre turns that data into maps and databases for government departments.
The DST website (April 2021 copy) traces SRSAC to an Aerial Photo Interpretation Laboratory set up in 1979 under the State Agriculture Department. In 1985 the laboratory was transferred to the State Department of Science & Technology and renamed SRSAC.
Projects it lists as in progress include georeferencing digitised cadastral maps for the Settlement Department, village maps for the Soil Health Card Scheme, and ground water quality maps sponsored by NRSC, ISRO.
RPSC's 2021 syllabus lists "Development of Science and Technology with special reference to Rajasthan." under Science & Technology.
The DST website (April 2021 copy) says the department was established in 1983 to develop scientific temper and to use science and technology for the socio-economic uplift of rural areas and weaker sections.
SRSAC's listed work includes a digital soil map and land use map of the state, revised election maps of all Vidhan Sabha and Lok Sabha constituencies as per the 2006 notification, and Ground Water, Watershed, Resource and Soil Atlases of Rajasthan.
Key facts
- The State Remote Sensing Application Centre (SRSAC), under DST Rajasthan, is at Jodhpur (Economic Review 2020-21).
- DST Rajasthan was established in 1983; SRSAC began as an Aerial Photo Interpretation Laboratory in 1979 and was renamed in 1985 (DST website, April 2021 copy).
- Economic Review 2020-21 lists DST regional offices "located at Ajmer (Headquarter Jaipur), Bikaner, Kota, Jodhpur and Udaipur".
- SRSAC's listed atlases include the Ground Water Atlas, Watershed Atlas, Resource Atlas and Soil Atlas of Rajasthan.
- ISRO's Regional Remote Sensing Centre, West (RRSC-West) is also in Jodhpur, at Kuri Bhagtasani Housing Board (NRSC website, archived January 2021).
From DST Rajasthan's website (archived April 2021) and Rajasthan's Economic Review 2020-21.
Study next
Common traps
- Department versus centre: DST Rajasthan's office is in Jaipur, but its remote sensing centre is in Jodhpur.
- A sub-cell is not the centre: SRSAC lists a Remote Sensing Sub-cell at Jaipur among its achievements; SRSAC itself is at Jodhpur.
- Two remote sensing centres in one city: the state's SRSAC and ISRO's RRSC-West are both in Jodhpur; 'working under Department of Science and Technology Rajasthan' points to SRSAC.
A question can name a state or central science institution and ask where it is, or name a city and ask which institution it hosts.
A question can also ask which department a centre works under, or what work it does, such as satellite-based mapping of natural resources.
Related PYQs
UnlockIAS will link similar questions from RAS Pre 2018 and 2016 here once those papers are published on this site.
Practice
- practice — not a real PYQ
ISRO's Regional Remote Sensing Centre, West (RRSC-West) is located at –
- (a)Jaipur
- (b)Jodhpur
- (c)Ahmedabad
- (d)Udaipur
Answer(2) — NRSC's website gives RRSC-West's address as New ISRO Complex, Kuri Bhagtasani Housing Board, Jodhpur. Options (1), (3) and (4) are not the location NRSC gives. - practice — not a real PYQ
The Department of Science and Technology, Government of Rajasthan, was established in –
- (a)1976
- (b)1983
- (c)1991
- (d)2001
Answer(2) — the department's website says it was established in the year 1983. Options (1), (3) and (4) are not the year it gives.