Q50. Which ISRO team received the Vigyan Team Award in 2024?
[RRB Technician Grade III, 29 December 2024 (Shift 1)]
A. Chandrayaan-2 Team
B. XPoSat Team
C. Aditya-L1 Team
D. Chandrayaan-3 Team
Answer: D. Chandrayaan-3 Team
Explanation: The Chandrayaan-3 team was honoured for India’s historic successful lunar soft landing and rover operations. The award recognised collaborative work across spacecraft systems, propulsion, navigation, operations and scientific instruments.
Q49. Arrange the following ISRO rockets by increasing payload capacity:
I. SLV-3,
II. GSLV,
III. PSLV-XL,
IV. ASLV.
[TSPSC Group 1 Prelims, 09 June 2024]
A. I, IV, III, II
B. I, III, IV, II
C. I, II, III, IV
D. I, III, II, IV
Answer: A. I, IV, III, II
Explanation: SLV-3 was an early light launcher, and ASLV improved upon it. The much larger PSLV supported operational polar-orbit launches, while GSLV was developed to carry heavier payloads, especially towards geosynchronous transfer orbit.
Q48. Who received the International Astronautical Federation World Space Award in October 2024 for Chandrayaan-3?
[RPF SI CBT-I, 02 December 2024 (Shift 3)]
A. S. Somanath
B. P. Veeramuthuvel
C. K. Sivan
D. L. Murugan
Answer: A. S. Somanath
Explanation: S. Somanath, then ISRO Chairman, accepted the World Space Award associated with the Chandrayaan-3 achievement at the International Astronautical Congress. The International Astronautical Federation promotes global collaboration across the space community.
Q47. Consider XPoSat:
1. It is India’s first dedicated X-ray polarimetry mission examining bright astronomical sources;
2. It carries two scientific payloads in low Earth orbit.
Which statements are correct?
[CGPSC State Service Prelims, 11 February 2024 (GS Paper I)]
A. 1 only
B. 2 only
C. Both 1 and 2
D. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: C. Both 1 and 2
Explanation: XPoSat is India’s first dedicated X-ray polarimetry satellite. Its two scientific instruments, POLIX and XSPECT, observe polarisation and spectral properties of energetic astronomical sources such as black holes and neutron stars from a low Earth orbit.
Q46. Two claims are made about Chandrayaan-3: it was the first successful landing near the lunar south pole; India became the fourth country to soft-land on the Moon. Which claims are incorrect?
[IB ACIO Grade II, 18 January 2024 (Shift 2)]
A. Neither 1 nor 2
B. Both 1 and 2
C. 2 only
D. 1 only
Answer: A. Neither 1 nor 2
Explanation: Both statements are correct. Chandrayaan-3 landed on 23 August 2023, making India the fourth country to achieve a successful soft landing on the Moon and the first to land in its south polar region.
Q45. Which Indian mission won the 2024 John L. “Jack” Swigert Jr. Award for Space Exploration?
[UP Police Constable Re-exam, 25 August 2024 (Shift 2)]
A. Chandrayaan-3
B. Mars Orbiter Mission
C. Gaganyaan
D. Chandrayaan-2
Answer: A. Chandrayaan-3
Explanation: The Space Foundation recognised Chandrayaan-3 for its lunar exploration milestone. The award honours exceptional space-exploration achievements and commemorates Apollo 13 astronaut Jack Swigert, celebrating technological achievement and mission teamwork.
Q44. Which was India’s first artificial satellite?
[RPF SI CBT-I, 02 December 2024 (Shift 2)]
A. Bhaskara
B. ScatSat
C. Resourcesat
D. Aryabhata
Answer: D. Aryabhata
Explanation: Aryabhata was India’s first indigenously built satellite. It was launched on 19 April 1975 aboard a Soviet launch vehicle, marking an early milestone in Indian spacecraft design and scientific experimentation.
Q43. Under the 2024 space-sector FDI reform, which activity was allowed 100% foreign investment through the automatic route?
[RPF SI CBT-I, 02 December 2024 (Shift 1)]
A. Manufacturing components and subsystems for satellites
B. Complete satellite manufacturing
C. Satellite products and operation
D. Launch vehicles and systems
Answer: A. Manufacturing components and subsystems for satellites
Explanation: The policy permits up to 100% automatic-route FDI in manufacturing satellite components and subsystems. Different approval thresholds apply to satellite manufacturing and operation and to launch-vehicle activities, encouraging investment while distinguishing strategic sectors.
Q42. What is the principal goal of the NASA–ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission?
[RRB Technician Grade III, 29 December 2024 (Shift 2)]
A. Monitoring Earth for climate and environmental change
B. Developing defence satellites
C. Space tourism
D. Monitoring international trade
Answer: A. Monitoring Earth for climate and environmental change
Explanation: NISAR combines NASA and ISRO radar technology to observe changes in the Earth’s land, ice and ecosystems. Repeated measurements support research on environmental change, land deformation, natural hazards and resource management.
Q41. Which private Indian organisation established the launchpad used for Agnibaan–SorTeD at Sriharikota?
[RPF SI CBT-I, 13 December 2024 (Shift 3)]
A. Agnikul
B. Dhanush
C. Agnisthal
D. Dhara
Answer: A. Agnikul
Explanation: Agnikul Cosmos established a private launchpad and mission-control facility at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre. Its Agnibaan–SorTeD technology demonstration in May 2024 marked progress in India’s private launch ecosystem.
