Q60. Which of these pairs of equivalent ranks in Army–Air Force–Navy are correctly matched?
1. Brigadier–Air Commodore–Commander
2. Major General–Air Vice Marshal–Vice Admiral
3. Major–Squadron Leader–Lieutenant Commander
4. Lieutenant Colonel–Group Captain–Captain
[UPSC CSE Prelims 2024]
(A) 1 and 4
(B) 1 and 3
(C) 2, 3 and 4
(D) 3 only
Answer: (D) 3 only
Explanation: A Major in the Army corresponds to Squadron Leader in the Air Force and Lieutenant Commander in the Navy. Brigadier corresponds to Commodore, Major General to Rear Admiral, and Lieutenant Colonel to Wing Commander. Only pair three is correct.
Q59. What are the duties of Chief of Defence Staff as Head of the Department of Military Affairs?
1. Permanent Chairman of Chiefs of Staff Committee
2. Exercising military command over the three Service Chiefs
3. Principal military adviser to Defence Minister on tri-service matters
[UPSC CSE Prelims 2024]
(A) 1, 2 and 3
(B) 1 and 2 only
(C) 2 and 3 only
(D) 1 and 3 only
Answer: (D) 1 and 3 only
Explanation: The CDS is Permanent Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee and principal military adviser on tri-service issues. The office promotes integration and jointness, but does not exercise operational military command over the Army, Navy and Air Force Chiefs.
Q58. Operations by the Army to uplift local populations in remote areas and meet their basic needs are called which of the following?
[UPSC CSE Prelims 2024]
(A) Operation Sankalp
(B) Operation Maitri
(C) Operation Sadbhavana
(D) Operation Madad
Answer: (C) Operation Sadbhavana
Explanation: Operation Sadbhavana is the Indian Army’s civic-action programme, notably associated with Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. It provides education, medical support, infrastructure and community assistance, helping strengthen trust between the armed forces and people in sensitive areas.
Q57. Consider Exercise Mitra Shakti-2023:
1. It was held between India and Bangladesh.
2. It commenced at Aundh, Pune.
3. Joint counter-terrorism response was an objective.
4. Indian Air Force participated.
Which statements are correct?
[UPSC CSE Prelims 2024]
(A) 1, 2 and 3
(B) 1, 2 and 4
(C) 1, 3 and 4
(D) 2, 3 and 4
Answer: (D) 2, 3 and 4
Explanation: Mitra Shakti is the India–Sri Lanka joint military exercise, not an India–Bangladesh drill. The 2023 edition was hosted at Pune and addressed counter-terrorism cooperation, with Indian Air Force participation. Therefore statements two, three and four are correct.
Q56. Consider INS Sagardhwani:
1. It is an oceanographic research vessel of DRDO’s Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory.
2. It undertook Sagar Maitri Mission-4 to build Indian Ocean scientific partnerships.
Which statements are correct?
[UPSC NDA & NA I 2024]
(A) 1 only
(B) 2 only
(C) Both 1 and 2
(D) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (C) Both 1 and 2
Explanation: INS Sagardhwani supports ocean research for DRDO’s Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory. The Sagar Maitri mission promotes collaborative marine science and oceanographic observations with Indian Ocean countries, contributing to scientific knowledge useful for maritime operations.
Q55. Exercise Desert Cyclone is a joint military exercise between India and which country?
[UPSC NDA & NA I 2024]
(A) Kuwait
(B) Saudi Arabia
(C) United Arab Emirates
(D) Oman
Answer: (C) United Arab Emirates
Explanation: Desert Cyclone is an Army exercise between India and the United Arab Emirates. It involves tactical training and sharing practices in counter-terrorism, urban operations and interoperability. This is distinct from India’s naval and air exercises with Gulf nations.
Q54. Assam Rifles guards India’s international border with which country?
[UP Police Assistant Operator 2024, 8 Feb Shift 2]
(A) Bhutan
(B) Tibet
(C) Myanmar
(D) Nepal
Answer: (C) Myanmar
Explanation: Assam Rifles plays a major border-guarding role along the India–Myanmar frontier and conducts counter-insurgency duties in the Northeast. Its operational links with the Army and administrative association with the Home Ministry are distinctive features.
Q53. The book “Nation First: The Golden Saga of 82 Years” narrates the history of which organization?
[UPSC NDA & NA II 2023]
(A) Indo-Tibetan Border Police
(B) Border Security Force
(C) Central Reserve Police Force
(D) Central Industrial Security Force
Answer: (C) Central Reserve Police Force
Explanation: The book chronicles the long history of the Central Reserve Police Force, whose origins lie in the Crown Representative’s Police established in 1939. It highlights national security, internal order and the force’s contribution over more than eight decades.
Q52. Match bilateral exercises:
A. Garuda Shakti
B. Nomadic Elephant
C. Mitra Shakti
D. Dharma Guardian
with
1. India–Japan
2. India–Sri Lanka
3. India–Mongolia
4. India–Indonesia.
Choose code A-B-C-D.
[UPSC NDA & NA II 2023]
(A) 4-2-3-1
(B) 4-3-2-1
(C) 1-3-2-4
(D) 1-2-3-4
Answer: (B) 4-3-2-1
Explanation: Garuda Shakti is with Indonesia, Nomadic Elephant with Mongolia, Mitra Shakti with Sri Lanka and Dharma Guardian with Japan. Remembering these pairs helps distinguish training programmes involving the Indian Army and its partners.
Q51. Which DRDO post sits at Level I, the highest level of its organisational structure?
[SSC CHSL 2023, 14 Aug Shift 3]
(A) Director General, Technical Cluster
(B) Secretary, Department of Defence R&D
(C) Director General, Corporate
(D) Director of Laboratory
Answer: (B) Secretary, Department of Defence R&D
Explanation: The Secretary of the Department of Defence Research and Development, who also chairs DRDO, occupies its top organisational level. This position guides defence research policy and coordinates the numerous laboratories and technical programmes of DRDO.
