Space, Defence and Emerging Technology MCQs for UPSC Prelims

This UPSC Prelims practice paper on space, defence and emerging technology has 15 questions on ISRO missions, launch vehicles, satellites, missiles and new technologies like 5G. Science and technology questions in the Prelims are mostly application-based, and they are directly linked to the news. Each answer has a short explanation, and the sections after the key give tables on ISRO missions, launch vehicles, defence systems and emerging technologies.

Why Space and Defence Technology Matter for UPSC

Missions like Chandrayaan, Aditya-L1 and the private space sector appear in the news again and again, so the UPSC asks about their objectives and importance. In the Mains, these topics support answers in GS Paper 3 on science, technology, security and indigenisation. The best way to prepare is to learn the purpose of every mission, the launch vehicle used and the new technical term in a simple language, rather than to memorise only dates.

Instructions

• Total questions: 15. Suggested time: 15 minutes.
• Each correct answer gives 2 marks and each wrong answer deducts 0.66 marks, as in the real Prelims.
• Attempt all the questions first and check the answer key only after you finish.

Practice Questions

Q1. The headquarters of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is at
(a) Thiruvananthapuram
(b) Bengaluru
(c) Sriharikota
(d) Hyderabad

Q2. India's first satellite, Aryabhata, was launched in
(a) 1969
(b) 1975
(c) 1980
(d) 1993

Q3. India's main satellite launch site, the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, is located at
(a) Thumba
(b) Sriharikota
(c) Kulasekarapattinam
(d) Balasore

Q4. The PSLV is mainly used for launching satellites into
(a) Geostationary orbit
(b) Polar and sun-synchronous orbits
(c) Interplanetary orbit only
(d) The Moon directly

Q5. Chandrayaan-3 made a soft landing on the Moon in
(a) 2008
(b) 2019
(c) 2023
(d) 2025

Q6. India's Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan) is notable because India
(a) Was the first country to land a rover on Mars
(b) Reached Mars orbit in its first attempt
(c) Brought back samples of Mars
(d) Sent humans to Mars

Q7. Aditya-L1 is an Indian space mission to study the
(a) Moon
(b) Mars
(c) Sun
(d) Venus

Q8. NavIC is
(a) A missile defence system
(b) An Indian regional navigation satellite system
(c) A weather satellite
(d) A communication satellite for TV

Q9. A geostationary satellite orbits the Earth at a height of about
(a) 400 km
(b) 2,000 km
(c) 36,000 km
(d) 3,60,000 km

Q10. IN-SPACe, set up in 2020, is meant to
(a) Build rockets for ISRO
(b) Authorise and promote private space activities
(c) Manage the Indian Navy
(d) Run the Gaganyaan crew module

Q11. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has its headquarters in
(a) Bengaluru
(b) New Delhi
(c) Hyderabad
(d) Pune

Q12. BrahMos is a
(a) Ballistic missile with a range of 5,000 km
(b) Supersonic cruise missile developed jointly by India and Russia
(c) Anti-tank missile
(d) Air-defence gun

Q13. INS Vikrant, commissioned in 2022, is India's first
(a) Nuclear submarine
(b) Indigenous aircraft carrier
(c) Stealth frigate
(d) Hospital ship

Q14. Agni-V is a
(a) Surface-to-air missile
(b) Intercontinental ballistic missile with a range of over 5,000 km
(c) Anti-ship missile
(d) Short-range tactical missile

Q15. The 5G mobile services were launched in India in
(a) 2018
(b) 2020
(c) 2022
(d) 2024

Answer Key with Explanations

1. Q1: (b) ISRO, formed in 1969, has its headquarters in Bengaluru. Vikram Sarabhai is regarded as the father of the Indian space programme.
2. Q2: (b) Aryabhata was launched in April 1975 with the help of a Soviet launch vehicle.
3. Q3: (b) Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh is the main launch site of ISRO. Thumba in Kerala is a site for sounding rockets.
4. Q4: (b) The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) places earth observation satellites into polar and sun-synchronous orbits. The GSLV is meant for geosynchronous orbits.
5. Q5: (c) Chandrayaan-3 landed near the lunar south polar region on 23 August 2023. India became the fourth country to make a soft landing on the Moon.
6. Q6: (b) The mission entered the Mars orbit in September 2014, and India became the first country to do so in its first attempt.
7. Q7: (c) Aditya-L1 was launched in September 2023 to study the Sun from the Lagrange point 1 of the Sun-Earth system.
8. Q8: (b) NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation) is India's own regional satellite navigation system, earlier called IRNSS.
9. Q9: (c) A geostationary satellite orbits at about 36,000 km above the equator and takes 24 hours, so it appears fixed over one point.
10. Q10: (b) The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre allows private companies to take part in space activities.
11. Q11: (b) DRDO was established in 1958, and its headquarters is in New Delhi.
12. Q12: (b) BrahMos is a supersonic cruise missile that can be launched from land, sea, sub-sea and air platforms.
13. Q13: (b) INS Vikrant was built at Cochin Shipyard and is the first aircraft carrier designed and built in India.
14. Q14: (b) Agni-V is a nuclear-capable, surface-to-surface missile with a range of more than 5,000 km.
15. Q15: (c) 5G services were launched in October 2022. 5G provides high speed, low delay and the capacity to connect many devices.

Important ISRO Missions

Launch Vehicles and Orbits

Defence Technology and Missiles

• Agni series: Surface-to-surface ballistic missiles of different ranges; Agni-V is an intercontinental missile.
• Prithvi: Short-range surface-to-surface missile.
• Akash: Surface-to-air missile system.
• BrahMos: Supersonic cruise missile jointly developed with Russia.
• INS Vikrant: The first indigenous aircraft carrier, commissioned in 2022.
• Tejas: Indigenous light combat aircraft developed by HAL and ADA.

The government promotes self-reliance in defence through the Make in India in Defence policy, positive indigenisation lists and defence industrial corridors. DRDO designs the weapons and systems, while HAL, BEL and the shipyards manufacture them. You can follow the topics in our ISRO and space technology notes.

Private Sector in Space

India opened the space sector to private companies in 2020. IN-SPACe works as a single window to authorise private activity, NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) is the commercial arm of ISRO, and ISRO continues to focus on research and strategic missions. Start-ups are now building small launch vehicles and satellites. This is important for the Mains, because the reform increases investment, creates jobs, and helps India to get a larger share of the global space economy.

Emerging Technologies in Brief

Tricks for Science and Technology Questions

• Ask "why" for every mission: Moon for water and minerals, Sun for space weather, Mars for atmosphere.
• Link the vehicle with the orbit: PSLV for polar, GSLV for geosynchronous and LVM3 for heavy payloads.
• Understand terms in plain words: If you can explain a term to a friend, you can solve its question.
• Read the news with a notebook: Note the term, the department and the purpose.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Mixing the Mars Orbiter Mission and Chandrayaan: One went to Mars and the other to the Moon.
• Confusing a cruise missile with a ballistic missile: A cruise missile flies in the atmosphere like a jet, while a ballistic missile follows a high arc.
• Memorising only the names: The exam asks the purpose and the application.
• Ignoring recent launches: Check the latest missions in the news before the exam.

Continue with the science and technology MCQs for more practice.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Where is the ISRO headquarters?

The headquarters of ISRO is in Bengaluru.

Which was India's first satellite?

Aryabhata, launched in 1975, was India's first satellite.

Where is the main launch site of ISRO?

The Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh is the main launch site.

What is the difference between PSLV and GSLV?

PSLV places satellites in polar and sun-synchronous orbits, while GSLV places heavier satellites in geosynchronous transfer orbits.

What was special about Chandrayaan-3?

Chandrayaan-3 made a soft landing near the Moon's south polar region on 23 August 2023, and India became the fourth country to land softly on the Moon.

Why is the Mars Orbiter Mission famous?

India reached the Mars orbit in its first attempt in 2014, which no other country had done before.

What is Aditya-L1?

It is India's first space-based solar observatory mission, placed near the Sun-Earth Lagrange point 1.

What is NavIC?

NavIC is India's regional satellite navigation system, earlier called IRNSS.

What is a geostationary satellite?

It is a satellite that orbits about 36,000 km above the equator with a period of 24 hours, so it appears fixed over one place.

What is the role of IN-SPACe?

IN-SPACe authorises and promotes the activities of private companies in the space sector.

What is BrahMos?

BrahMos is a supersonic cruise missile developed jointly by India and Russia.

How should I prepare space and defence technology for the Prelims?

Learn each mission's purpose and vehicle, make tables of missiles and technologies, and read the latest news with short notes.