Q30. Which was India’s first indigenously developed nuclear-powered submarine?
[IB ACIO Grade II, 15 September 2013]
(A) INS Chakra
(B) INS Arihant
(C) INS Shalki
(D) INS Sindhuvir
Answer: (B) INS Arihant
Explanation: INS Arihant was constructed under the Advanced Technology Vessel programme and forms part of India’s nuclear-powered ballistic-missile submarine force. It was an important landmark in indigenous naval propulsion and shipbuilding. A ballistic-missile submarine is designed to provide survivable sea-based deterrence through concealed underwater patrols.
Q29. Which pairing is correctly matched?
[UPPSC Prelims 2012]
(A) Trishul—surface-to-surface missile
(B) Prithvi—surface-to-air missile
(C) Nag—anti-tank missile
(D) Pinaka—light combat aircraft
Answer: (C) Nag—anti-tank missile
Explanation: Nag is an anti-tank guided missile. Trishul is a surface-to-air weapon; Prithvi is surface-to-surface; and Pinaka is a multi-barrel rocket artillery system. Anti-tank weapons are designed to overcome vehicle armour, so seeker accuracy and the attack angle are particularly important.
Q28. On which date was Agni-V first successfully test-fired from Wheeler Island?
[Rajasthan PTET 2012, memory-based]
(A) 7 March 2012
(B) 7 April 2012
(C) 17 March 2012
(D) 19 April 2012
Answer: (D) 19 April 2012
Explanation: Agni-V was first successfully flight-tested on 19 April 2012 from Wheeler Island off Odisha. The test marked a major advance in India’s long-range ballistic missile-development programme. Unlike a cruise missile, a ballistic missile relies chiefly on its momentum and gravity after its initial powered stages.
Q27. Admiral Gorshkov, later acquired by India, was a:
[UPPSC Prelims 2012]
(A) Russian naval chief
(B) Naval aircraft carrier
(C) Air Force headquarters
(D) Naval organisation
Answer: (B) Naval aircraft carrier
Explanation: Admiral Gorshkov was a Soviet/Russian aircraft carrier. After a major refit, it entered Indian Navy service as INS Vikramaditya, expanding India’s carrier aviation capabilities.
Q26. The missile Astra belongs to which category?
[UPPSC Prelims 2011]
(A) Land-to-land missile
(B) Land-to-air missile
(C) Air-to-air missile
(D) Water-to-land missile
Answer: (C) Air-to-air missile
Explanation: Astra is an air-to-air guided missile developed in India. Its beyond-visual-range role allows combat aircraft to engage hostile aerial targets at distances beyond direct human sight. Beyond-visual-range engagement combines aircraft sensors, launch guidance and terminal target tracking rather than relying solely on the pilot’s unaided eyesight.
Q25. Which Indian Agni missile has a range exceeding approximately 2,000 km?
[UPPSC Mains 2011]
(A) Prithvi
(B) Trishul
(C) Akash
(D) Agni-II
Answer: (D) Agni-II
Explanation: Agni-II belongs to the medium-range ballistic-missile family with a commonly cited range around 2,000 to 2,500 kilometres. The other options represent substantially shorter-range or defensive missile systems. Unlike a cruise missile, a ballistic missile relies chiefly on its momentum and gravity after its initial powered stages.
Q24. Which statement about Shaurya was identified as incorrect?
[UPPSC Mains 2011]
(A) It is a hypersonic missile
(B) It is surface-to-surface
(C) Its striking range is 900 km
(D) It was tested on 24 September 2011
Answer: (C) Its striking range is 900 km
Explanation: The source’s historical answer key rejects the specific 900-kilometre range claim. Shaurya is a high-speed surface-to-surface ballistic missile; range figures in different reports and versions should not be conflated. Missile classification depends on launch mode, propulsion and trajectory rather than on its popular name alone.
Q23. What is Tejas?
[MPPSC Prelims 2010]
(A) Indigenous fighter aircraft
(B) Air-to-air missile
(C) Remotely operated aircraft
(D) Fastest aeroplane
Answer: (A) Indigenous fighter aircraft
Explanation: Tejas is an Indian-developed light combat aircraft, not a missile or uncrewed aircraft. It was developed under the Indian Light Combat Aircraft programme for multirole fighter operations. A fighter-aircraft programme requires flight-control engineering, avionics integration and years of flight-testing before operational induction.
Q22. Match
Arihant, AWACS, Atlas-Centaur and Nag
with atomic submarine, Israeli Phalcon surveillance system, US rocket and anti-tank missile.
[UPPSC Prelims 2010]
(A) 4-3-2-1
(B) 4-3-1-2
(C) 3-4-1-2
(D) 3-4-2-1
Answer: (B) 4-3-1-2
Explanation: Arihant is a nuclear-powered submarine; AWACS denotes airborne warning and control technology; Atlas-Centaur is a rocket system; and Nag is India’s guided anti-tank missile. Anti-tank weapons are designed to overcome vehicle armour, so seeker accuracy and the attack angle are particularly important.
Q21. Which of these is NOT an aircraft?
[UPPSC Mains 2009]
(A) Jaguar
(B) Dornier-228
(C) Sarath BMP-II
(D) MiG-27M
Answer: (C) Sarath BMP-II
Explanation: Sarath is India’s designation for a BMP-II infantry combat vehicle. Jaguar, Dornier-228 and MiG-27M are aircraft, serving different combat or transport roles.
