Q90. Where was Exercise Vayu Shakti-26 conducted in February 2026?
[RRB Group D 2025, held 14 Aug 2026]
(A) Leh, Ladakh
(B) Kachchh, Gujarat
(C) Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir
(D) Pokhran Field Firing Range, Jaisalmer
Answer: (D) Pokhran Field Firing Range, Jaisalmer
Explanation: Vayu Shakti-26 was held at the Pokhran Field Firing Range in Jaisalmer district of Rajasthan. The demonstration allowed the Indian Air Force to display aerial firepower and strike capabilities under operational training conditions.
Q89. Which of the following statements with regard to drone swarms is/are correct?
1. They use Terahertz band of frequency to communicate with the command centre.
2. Individual drones in the swarm can communicate with other drones in the swarm.
3. GPS spoofing is a commonly used technique to counter drone swarm attack.
[UPSC CSE Prelims 2026]
(A) 1 only
(B) 2 and 3 only
(C) 1 and 2 only
(D) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (B) 2 and 3 only
Explanation: Swarm drones coordinate through inter-drone communication, enabling collective movements and missions. GPS spoofing can deliberately mislead navigation receivers and may be used as a countermeasure. Terahertz-band communication is not the standard defining method used by these drone swarms.
Q88. Consider the following statements about Mission Sudarshan Chakra of India:
1. It aims to enhance India’s air defence, ballistic missile defence and aerial offensive capabilities.
2. It seeks rapid, precise and powerful responses while reinforcing strategic autonomy.
3. It aims to cover all public places under a security shield by 2035.
Which are correct?
[UPSC CSE Prelims 2026]
(A) 1, 2 and 3
(B) 1 and 2 only
(C) 2 and 3 only
(D) 1 only
Answer: (B) 1 and 2 only
Explanation: Mission Sudarshan Chakra concerns integrated protection against aerial and missile threats and development of rapid indigenous responses. It does not promise coverage of every public place. The incorrect third statement makes the inclusive option unsuitable.
Q87. Which of the following items of defence hardware is/are manufactured in India?
1. Su-30MKI fighter jets
2. T-90 MK-III tanks
3. Akula-class submarine
[UPSC CSE Prelims 2026]
(A) 1 and 2
(B) 1 and 3
(C) 1 only
(D) 2 only
Answer: (A) 1 and 2
Explanation: India manufactures Su-30MKI aircraft under licence through Hindustan Aeronautics and produces T-90 tanks through domestic defence facilities. The nuclear-powered Akula-class submarine has been supplied by Russia on lease and is not manufactured in India.
Q86. Which one of the following pairs of Indian Army corps and headquarters is NOT correctly matched?
[UPSC CSE Prelims 2026]
(A) 3 Corps — Dimapur
(B) 4 Corps — Tezpur
(C) 14 Corps — Leh
(D) 33 Corps — Srinagar
Answer: (D) 33 Corps — Srinagar
Explanation: The Indian Army’s 3 Corps is based at Dimapur, 4 Corps at Tezpur and 14 Corps at Leh. The headquarters of 33 Corps is at Sukna near Siliguri, not Srinagar. Therefore the fourth pair is incorrect.
Q85. BIS introduced a national standard for bomb-disposal systems. Consider:
1. It is IS 19445:2025.
2. It is intended to improve interoperability across agencies.
3. It was developed by TBRL, DRDO jointly with Russia’s 30th Central Scientific Research Institute.
Which statements are correct?
[UPSC CSE Prelims 2026]
(A) 1, 2 and 3
(B) 2 and 3 only
(C) 1 and 2 only
(D) 1 only
Answer: (C) 1 and 2 only
Explanation: The BIS specification IS 19445:2025 addresses evaluation of bomb-disposal systems and supports interoperability of relevant equipment. The claimed institutional collaboration in the third statement is not part of the stated standard’s development, leaving the first two statements correct.
Q84. Which Indian naval vessels participated in SLINEX-25 in Sri Lanka in August 2025?
[RRB NTPC UG CBT-I, 16 Jun 2026 Shift 2]
(A) INS Vikrant and INS Trikand
(B) INS Talwar and INS Shivalik
(C) INS Kolkata and INS Satpura
(D) INS Rana and INS Jyoti
Answer: (D) INS Rana and INS Jyoti
Explanation: INS Rana and INS Jyoti represented the Indian Navy during SLINEX-25. SLINEX is a bilateral exercise with Sri Lanka designed to improve maritime cooperation, communication and coordinated seamanship between the neighbouring navies.
Q83. Which Indian naval ship participated in the November 2025 Malabar naval exercise?
[RRB NTPC UG CBT-I, 17 Jun 2026 Shift 3]
(A) INS Shivalik
(B) INS Vikrant
(C) INS Kolkata
(D) INS Sahyadri
Answer: (D) INS Sahyadri
Explanation: INS Sahyadri represented India at the Malabar 2025 multinational naval exercise. This stealth frigate supports the Indian Navy’s blue-water presence. Malabar brings together maritime forces of India, the United States, Japan and Australia.
Q82. Which operation led to the integration of Hyderabad into the Indian Union?
[DSSSB MTS, 1 May 2026 Shift 2]
(A) Operation Vijay
(B) Operation Polo
(C) Operation Meghdoot
(D) Operation Pawan
Answer: (B) Operation Polo
Explanation: Operation Polo was launched in September 1948 and resulted in the integration of Hyderabad into India. Often described as a police action, the military operation ended the Nizam’s attempt to remain outside the Indian Union.
Q81. Consider India–Russia defence cooperation:
I. BrahMos was jointly developed by DRDO and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyeniya.
II. The IRRPL rifle factory is in Korwa, Madhya Pradesh.
Which statements are correct?
[UPSC NDA & NA I 2026]
(A) I only
(B) II only
(C) Both I and II
(D) Neither I nor II
Answer: (A) I only
Explanation: BrahMos is a joint programme between DRDO and NPO Mashinostroyeniya. Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited operates at Korwa in Amethi district of Uttar Pradesh, not Madhya Pradesh. Thus the first statement alone is correct.
