Q10. BrahMos, a supersonic cruise missile, is a joint venture between which countries?
[UPPSC Civil Service 2018]
(A) India and Russia
(B) India and China
(C) India and Israel
(D) None of the above
Answer: (A) India and Russia
Explanation: BrahMos Aerospace is an Indo-Russian joint venture involving DRDO and NPO Mashinostroyeniya. The missile has land, sea and air applications, and is a well-known example of defence technology cooperation between India and Russia.
Q9. Who has supreme command of the Indian Defence Forces?
[SSC CGL, 9 Aug 2017 Shift 3]
(A) Prime Minister
(B) Defence Minister
(C) Council of Ministers
(D) President of India
Answer: (D) President of India
Explanation: The President is the Supreme Commander of India’s armed forces under the constitutional structure. Actual policy and executive control operate through the elected government, the Cabinet and the Ministry of Defence, while military command follows the prescribed chain.
Q8. Consider the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS):
1. The inaugural IONS was held in India in 2015.
2. It is a voluntary initiative to enhance naval cooperation among Indian Ocean littoral states.
Which statements are correct?
[UPSC CSE Prelims 2017]
(A) 1 only
(B) 2 only
(C) Both 1 and 2
(D) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (B) 2 only
Explanation: The inaugural IONS meeting was hosted by India in 2008, not 2015. The forum brings together navies from the Indian Ocean region to build confidence, dialogue and cooperation on maritime security. Hence only the second statement holds.
Q7. Sunil Lanba was which of the following?
[MPPSC General Studies 2017]
(A) Author of the novel Messiah
(B) A Hindi novelist
(C) 23rd Chief of the Naval Staff of India
(D) Director General of the BSF
Answer: (C) 23rd Chief of the Naval Staff of India
Explanation: Admiral Sunil Lanba served as Chief of the Naval Staff from 2016 to 2019 and is counted as the 23rd Navy Chief. The professional head of the Navy leads the maritime service’s operational and organisational responsibilities.
Q6. Which of the following is a submarine of the Indian Navy?
[MPPSC General Studies 2016]
(A) INS Viraat
(B) INS Sindhurakshak
(C) INS Rajali
(D) INS Vikrant
Answer: (B) INS Sindhurakshak
Explanation: INS Sindhurakshak was a Kilo-class diesel-electric submarine of the Indian Navy. INS Viraat and INS Vikrant are associated with aircraft carriers, whereas INS Rajali is a naval air station, not a submarine.
Q5. Which of the following is the Indian Air Force’s first indigenous light combat fighter?
[CGPSC Prelims General Studies 2016]
(A) Tejas
(B) Vinashak
(C) Ojas
(D) Agni
Answer: (A) Tejas
Explanation: Tejas is India’s indigenous light combat aircraft developed through the Aeronautical Development Agency and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. It is distinct from the earlier HAL HF-24 Marut, which was India’s first indigenous jet fighter.
Q4. Pakistan’s medium-range Shaheen-III ballistic missile is launched in which mode?
[WBCS Prelims 2016]
(A) Surface to surface
(B) Surface to air
(C) Coast to sea
(D) Sea to coast
Answer: (A) Surface to surface
Explanation: Shaheen-III is Pakistan’s surface-to-surface ballistic missile. It follows a ballistic trajectory and is designed to strike land targets at extended distances. It is not classified as a surface-to-air or coastal anti-ship missile.
Q3. India developed the Barak-8 missile jointly with which country?
[UPPSC Civil Service 2016]
(A) Russia
(B) USA
(C) Israel
(D) France
Answer: (C) Israel
Explanation: Barak-8 was developed through India–Israel defence cooperation, involving DRDO and Israel Aerospace Industries. It is a surface-to-air missile system designed to defend military assets and naval vessels against hostile aircraft and missile threats.
Q2. Which is an Indian surface-to-air missile?
[RPSC RAS Prelims 2013]
(A) Agni
(B) Nag
(C) Trishul
(D) Prithvi
Answer: (C) Trishul
Explanation: Trishul is a short-range surface-to-air missile developed as part of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme. Agni and Prithvi are surface-to-surface ballistic missile families, while Nag is an anti-tank guided missile.
Q1. Which pair is correctly matched?
(a) Trishul–surface-to-surface missile
(b) Prithvi–surface-to-air missile
(c) Nag–anti-tank missile
(d) Pinaka–light combat aircraft
[UPPSC Civil Service 2012]
(A) (a)
(B) (b)
(C) (c)
(D) (d)
Answer: (C) (c)
Explanation: Nag is an indigenous anti-tank guided missile. Trishul is a surface-to-air system, Prithvi is a surface-to-surface ballistic missile and Pinaka is a multi-barrel rocket-launcher system. Thus only the third match is accurate.
