Defence Technology MCQs for UPSC Prelims

43 practice questions on Defence Technology from the Science & Technology section of the UPSC Prelims syllabus. 43 come with a written explanation and 9 are actual previous year questions. Try the sample set below - the answer stays hidden until you ask for it.

4 Easy 29 Medium 10 Hard 9 from past papers

Sample questions

Q1
Previous year question hard

Which one of the following is the best description of 'INS Astradharini', that was in the news recently?

  1. A Amphibious warfare ship
  2. B Nuclear-powered submarine
  3. C Torpedo launch and recovery vessel
  4. D Nuclear-powered aircraft carrier
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: C - Torpedo launch and recovery vessel

INS Astradharini is an indigenously built torpedo launch and recovery vessel used to support testing and trials of underwater weapons and systems, so option (c) is correct. It is not designed to land troops on shore, ruling out the amphibious warfare ship in option (a). It is a conventional surface support vessel, not a nuclear-powered submarine, so option (b) is wrong. It is also not an aircraft carrier, let alone a nuclear-powered one, eliminating option (d).

Q2
Previous year question medium

With reference to Agni-IV Missile, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. It is a surface-to-surface missile. 2. It is fuelled by liquid propellant only 3. It can deliver one-tonne nuclear warheads about 7500 km away. Select the correct answer using the code given below.

  1. A 1 only
  2. B 2 and 3 only
  3. C 1 and 3 only
  4. D 1, 2 and 3
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: A - 1 only

Only statement 1 is correct: Agni-IV is a surface-to-surface ballistic missile. Statement 2 is wrong because Agni-IV is a two-stage missile powered by solid propellant, not liquid propellant only. Statement 3 is wrong because its range is roughly 3500-4000 km, far short of 7500 km. So only 1 is correct.

Q3
Previous year question medium

What is the common characteristic of the chemical substances generally known as CL-20, HMX and LLM-105, which are sometimes talked about in media?

  1. A These are alternatives to hydro-fluorocarbon refrigerants
  2. B These are explosives in military weapons
  3. C These are high-energy fuels for cruise missiles
  4. D These are fuels for rocket propulsion
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: B - These are explosives in military weapons

CL-20, HMX and LLM-105 are all high-energy nitrogen-rich compounds used as powerful explosives in military munitions and warheads. They are not refrigerant substitutes, nor are they primarily fuels for cruise missiles or rocket propulsion. Hence their common characteristic is that they are explosives used in military weapons.

Q4
Previous year question hard

Which one of the following statements best reflects the idea behind the 'Fractional Orbital Bombardment System' often talked about in media?

  1. A A hypersonic missile is launched into space to counter the asteroid approaching the Earth and explodes it in space.
  2. B A spacecraft lands on another planet after making several orbital motions.
  3. C A missile is put into a stable orbit around the Earth and deorbits over a target on the Earth.
  4. D A spacecraft moves along a comet with the same speed and places a probe on its surface.
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: C - A missile is put into a stable orbit around the Earth and deorbits over a target on the Earth.

A Fractional Orbital Bombardment System places a nuclear-capable warhead into a low Earth orbit and then deorbits it to strike a target, allowing it to approach from unexpected directions and evade early warning. The other options describe asteroid defence, planetary landing and comet rendezvous missions, which are unrelated. Hence option (c) is correct.

Q5
Previous year question medium

With reference to India's defence, consider the following pairs : Aircraft type : Description I. Dornier-228 : Maritime patrol aircraft II. IL-76 : Supersonic combat aircraft III. C-17 Globemaster III : Military transport aircraft How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

  1. A Only one
  2. B Only two
  3. C All the three
  4. D None
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: B - Only two

The Dornier-228 is used for maritime patrol and the C-17 Globemaster III is a heavy military transport aircraft, so these two pairs are correctly matched. The IL-76 is a heavy-lift transport aircraft, not a supersonic combat aircraft, so that pair is wrong. Hence only two pairs are correctly matched.

Q6
Previous year question medium

Consider the following activities: 1. Identification of narcotics on passengers at airports or in aircraft 2. Monitoring of precipitation 3. Tracking the migration of animals In how many of the above activities can the radars be used?

  1. A Only one
  2. B Only two
  3. C All three
  4. D None
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: B - Only two

Radar uses electromagnetic waves to detect and track objects, and it is routinely used to monitor precipitation through weather radar and to track animal movements, so activities 2 and 3 qualify, giving two. Detecting narcotics on passengers relies on chemical sensors, sniffer dogs and scanners that read material composition, not radar, so activity 1 does not qualify. Hence radar can be used in two of the three activities, making option (b) correct.

Q7
Previous year question easy

What is "Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD)", sometimes seen in the news?

  1. A An Israeli radar system
  2. B India's indigenous anti-missile programme
  3. C An American anti-missile system
  4. D A defence collaboration between Japan and South Korea
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: C - An American anti-missile system

THAAD is an American anti-ballistic missile defence system designed to intercept short, medium and intermediate-range ballistic missiles in their terminal phase, and it featured in the news over its deployment in South Korea. It is not an Israeli radar system, which describes systems like Green Pine. It is not India's indigenous anti-missile effort, which is the Ballistic Missile Defence programme using Prithvi-based interceptors. It is also not a Japan-South Korea project. Hence THAAD is correctly described as an American anti-missile system.

Q8
Previous year question medium

Consider the following aircraft: 1. Rafael 2. MiG-29 3. Tejas MK-1 How many of the above are considered fifth generation fighter aircraft?

  1. A Only one
  2. B Only two
  3. C All three
  4. D None
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: D - None

None of the listed aircraft is a fifth-generation fighter, so option (d) is correct. The Rafale is a 4.5-generation multirole fighter, the MiG-29 is a fourth-generation jet, and the Tejas Mk-1 is a 4 to 4.5-generation light combat aircraft. Fifth-generation fighters are defined by stealth airframes, advanced sensor fusion and supercruise, features none of these three fully possess. Hence the count is none.

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