Q10. Tejas, developed with indigenous technologies, is a:
[UPPSC Mains 2004]
(A) Submarine
(B) Medium-range missile
(C) Light combat aircraft
(D) Aircraft carrier
Answer: (C) Light combat aircraft
Explanation: Tejas is a light combat aircraft designed within India’s indigenous aerospace programme. It is a supersonic, multirole fighter, not a naval platform or guided missile. A fighter-aircraft programme requires flight-control engineering, avionics integration and years of flight-testing before operational induction.
Q9. Agni-II was launched from which location according to the examination?
[UPPSC Mains 2004]
(A) Sriharikota
(B) Chandipur
(C) Thumba
(D) Pokhran
Answer: (B) Chandipur
Explanation: Chandipur in Odisha was the answer used for the missile-testing location. Agni-II is a two-stage ballistic missile from India’s strategic Agni family, tested from the Odisha coastal range region. Unlike a cruise missile, a ballistic missile relies chiefly on its momentum and gravity after its initial powered stages.
Q8. Which air-to-air missile was tested near Balasore in May 2003?
[UP Lower Subordinate Services Prelims 2004]
(A) Astra
(B) Akash
(C) Tejas
(D) Vajra
Answer: (A) Astra
Explanation: Astra is the indigenous air-to-air missile tested in the Balasore area. Akash is a surface-to-air missile; Tejas is an aircraft rather than a missile. Beyond-visual-range engagement combines aircraft sensors, launch guidance and terminal target tracking rather than relying solely on the pilot’s unaided eyesight.
Q7. INDRA refers to a:
[UP Lower Subordinate Services Prelims 2004]
(A) Missile
(B) Unmanned aircraft
(C) Radar
(D) Tank
Answer: (C) Radar
Explanation: INDRA is the name of an Indian radar system developed for defence surveillance. Radar uses radio waves to detect and track objects, providing information useful for monitoring airspace.
Q6. The BrahMos missile was developed jointly by India and which country?
[UPPSC Mains 2004]
(A) United States
(B) Russia
(C) Israel
(D) United Kingdom
Answer: (B) Russia
Explanation: BrahMos is the result of India–Russia technical cooperation. Its name reflects the Brahmaputra and Moskva rivers, and it is a supersonic guided cruise missile. Cruise missiles remain powered through most of their guided flight, which distinguishes their operating principle from ballistic missiles.
Q5. BrahMos was jointly developed by India and:
[UPPSC Prelims 2003]
(A) United States
(B) Russia
(C) Israel
(D) United Kingdom
Answer: (B) Russia
Explanation: Russia is India’s development partner for BrahMos. The missile is a supersonic cruise weapon associated with both nations’ aerospace and defence industries. Cruise missiles remain powered through most of their guided flight, which distinguishes their operating principle from ballistic missiles.
Q4. INDRA is the name of which defence technology?
[UP Lower Subordinate Services Prelims 2003]
(A) Missile
(B) Unmanned aircraft
(C) Radar
(D) Tank
Answer: (C) Radar
Explanation: INDRA is an indigenous radar programme. Radar systems transmit and receive radio-frequency signals to find objects and help supply situational awareness to military operators.
Q3. Match List I—
A. Prithvi,
B. Trishul,
C. Pinaka,
D. Nishant—
with List II—
1. multi-barrel rocket launcher,
2. remotely operated battlefield reconnaissance vehicle,
3. surface-to-surface missile,
4. surface-to-air missile.
Choose the correct A-B-C-D sequence.
[UP Lower Subordinate Services Prelims 2002]
(A) 1-2-3-4
(B) 3-4-1-2
(C) 3-4-2-1
(D) 2-3-4-1
Answer: (B) 3-4-1-2
Explanation: Prithvi is surface-to-surface; Trishul is surface-to-air; Pinaka is a multi-barrel rocket launcher; and Nishant is a remotely controlled unmanned aerial reconnaissance system. This missile belongs to India’s early indigenous ballistic-weapons development, which helped establish the country’s strategic engineering base.
Q2. The short-range Trishul missile test-fired from Chandipur is a:
[Uttarakhand PCS Mains 2002]
(A) Subsonic missile
(B) Supersonic missile
(C) Hypersonic missile
(D) None of these
Answer: (B) Supersonic missile
Explanation: Trishul was developed as a supersonic short-range surface-to-air missile project. A supersonic missile travels faster than sound, useful for reducing interception time against aerial targets. Missile range and intended target determine whether a weapon is a short-range air-defence system or a strategic strike system.
Q1. The first indigenously assembled T-90S battle tank was named:
[Uttarakhand PCS Mains 2002]
(A) Arjun
(B) Bhima
(C) Bhishma
(D) Tarang
Answer: (C) Bhishma
Explanation: Bhishma is the Indian designation of the T-90S main battle tank, originally a Russian design assembled and manufactured in India under technology cooperation arrangements.
