Q40. What is the name of the Chandrayaan-2 lander?
[UPSC NDA (II) 2019 – General Ability Test]
(A) Vigyan
(B) Anusandhan
(C) Pragyan
(D) Vikram
Answer: (D) Vikram
Explanation: Chandrayaan-2 comprised an orbiter, the Vikram lander and the Pragyan rover. Vikram was named in honour of physicist Vikram Sarabhai. The lander’s soft-landing attempt in 2019 did not achieve its intended touchdown.
Q39. Which of the following planets is farthest from the Sun?
[SSC CHSL, 2 July 2019, Shift 3]
(A) Jupiter
(B) Venus
(C) Mars
(D) Neptune
Answer: (D) Neptune
Explanation: Neptune is the eighth and outermost recognised major planet. Its average distance from the Sun is about 30 astronomical units, so it receives much less sunlight than the inner planets. Pluto is classified as a dwarf planet.
Q38. Which scientist is associated with the heliocentric model of the Solar System?
[SSC GD, 12 February 2019, Shift 2]
(A) Murphy
(B) Newton
(C) Copernicus
(D) Vasco da Gama
Answer: (C) Copernicus
Explanation: Nicolaus Copernicus developed a systematic Sun-centred model in which Earth and other planets orbit the Sun. Earlier heliocentric ideas existed, but Copernicus’s mathematical presentation became central to the scientific revolution and later planetary-motion theories.
Q37. Which are predictions of Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity?
1. Light is affected by gravity.
2. The Universe is constantly expanding.
3. Matter curves surrounding spacetime.
[UPSC CSE Prelims 2018]
(A) 1 and 2 only
(B) 3 only
(C) 1 and 3 only
(D) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (D) 1, 2 and 3
Explanation: General relativity relates matter and energy to the curvature of spacetime, explaining gravitational lensing and allowing cosmological expansion solutions. It underpins modern models of black holes, gravitational waves and the large-scale evolution of the universe.
Q36. Consider these Indian navigation satellite statements:
1. IRNSS has three geostationary and four geosynchronous satellites.
2. Its coverage is limited to India plus 5,500 square kilometres outside its borders.
3. It was to provide full global coverage by 2019.
Which is correct?
[UPSC CSE Prelims 2018]
(A) 1 only
(B) 1 and 2 only
(C) 2 and 3 only
(D) None
Answer: (A) 1 only
Explanation: The original NavIC/IRNSS configuration included three geostationary and four inclined geosynchronous spacecraft. Its regional service covers India and an extensive surrounding area, not merely 5,500 square kilometres, and it was not a full global navigation constellation.
Q35. Which statement about Indian launch vehicles is correct?
1. PSLV chiefly serves Earth-resource missions and GSLV mainly communication satellites.
2. PSLV satellites always appear fixed over Earth.
3. GSLV Mk III consists of four stages.
[UPSC CSE Prelims 2018]
(A) 1 only
(B) 2 and 3 only
(C) 1 and 2 only
(D) 3 only
Answer: (A) 1 only
Explanation: PSLV has often launched Earth-observation spacecraft, whereas GSLV was developed for heavier geosynchronous communication payloads. Geostationary appearance depends on the satellite’s orbit rather than launcher. LVM3/GSLV Mk III is not the four-stage vehicle described.
Q34. Which ISRO centre-location pairs are correct?
A. VSSC — Thiruvananthapuram
B. U R Rao Satellite Centre — Bengaluru
C. NRSC — Dehradun
D. IIRS — Hyderabad.
[RPSC RAS Prelims 2018]
(A) A and B only
(B) A, B and C only
(C) B, C and D only
(D) All four
Answer: (A) A and B only
Explanation: Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre is in Thiruvananthapuram and U R Rao Satellite Centre is in Bengaluru. The other locations are reversed: National Remote Sensing Centre is in Hyderabad, while Indian Institute of Remote Sensing is in Dehradun.
Q33. How many satellites did PSLV-C37 place into orbit in a single mission on 15 February 2017?
[RPSC RAS Prelims 2018]
(A) 80
(B) 104
(C) 72
(D) 98
Answer: (B) 104
Explanation: PSLV-C37 carried Cartosat-2 series satellite and 103 co-passengers, successfully deploying 104 satellites in one flight. This was a record at the time and demonstrated ISRO’s capacity for coordinated deployment of numerous small satellites.
Q32. Which space agency launched the unusually small SS-520-5 orbital rocket?
[RPSC RAS Prelims 2018]
(A) NASA
(B) ISRO
(C) CNSA
(D) JAXA
Answer: (D) JAXA
Explanation: The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency successfully launched an orbital-class SS-520-5 rocket in 2018. Its small size attracted attention because it demonstrated the feasibility of placing a miniature satellite into orbit using a compact launch vehicle.
Q31. Among Mars, Mercury, Venus and Jupiter, which planet is considered a relatively promising candidate for possible life?
[UPPSC Civil Services Prelims 2018 – General Studies I]
(A) Mars
(B) Mercury
(C) Venus
(D) Jupiter
Answer: (A) Mars
Explanation: Mars has evidence of ancient liquid water, sedimentary environments and chemical ingredients relevant to habitability. These observations make it an important target in astrobiology. They do not establish that life currently exists or previously existed there.
