Defence and Space Technology in India: RAS Prelims MCQs
195 RAS Prelims MCQs on defence and space technology in India cover DRDO, the missile programme, nuclear policy and space missions. The founding year of DRDO, its motto, the five missiles of the IGMDP, Agni-V, the Nuclear Doctrine and the major ISRO missions are asked as facts, and each explanation connects the system to its purpose.
Practice questions based on the RPSC RAS Prelims syllabus. They follow the exam pattern but are not past-paper questions.
Showing 141–150 of 195 questions
RAS PrelimsScience and Technology · Defence and Space Technology in India
Q141. Consider the following statements: Statement I: The lunar south pole is a region of high scientific interest because of permanently shadowed craters that may contain water ice. Statement II: India is the fourth country to land on the Moon, but the first to land near the lunar south pole. Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
The region near the moon’s south pole is highly valued by scientists because it contains craters that are always in shadow and may hold frozen water. Studying this area is essential for future long-term missions. By landing there, the country became the first to reach this specific part of the moon, although it was the fourth nation overall to achieve a soft landing on the lunar surface. This feat demonstrated exceptional technical precision and advanced capability in deep space exploration.
RAS PrelimsScience and Technology · Defence and Space Technology in India
Q142. Conceptually, what was the significance of the "hop experiment" performed by the Vikram lander before it went to sleep?
Explanation
Before the lander was shut down for the lunar night, it performed a brief maneuver where it fired its engines and lifted off the surface to move a short distance. This unexpected test was a major success as it proved that the vehicle could take off again after landing. This capability is a fundamental step toward future missions that aim to collect samples and bring them back to Earth or launch vehicles from the surface of another celestial body for exploration.
RAS PrelimsScience and Technology · Defence and Space Technology in India
Q143. Which of the following countries did NOT achieve a soft landing on the Moon before India?
Explanation
While several major nations had reached the lunar surface in the past, including the Soviet Union, the United States, and China, others were still working toward this goal. At the time of the successful landing in 2023, this particular East Asian nation had not yet achieved a soft landing on the moon. This achievement placed the country in a very select group of global powers with the technology and expertise to successfully land and operate vehicles on another world’s surface.
RAS PrelimsScience and Technology · Defence and Space Technology in India
Q144. To commemorate the success of Chandrayaan-3, August 23 has been declared in India as:
Explanation
To honor the historic success of the mission that landed near the moon’s south pole, the government designated this day as a special annual celebration. It serves to inspire future generations and recognize the immense hard work of the scientists and engineers involved in the space program. This day commemorates the nation’s growth into a leading spacefaring power and its commitment to exploring the frontiers of science and technology for the benefit of all humanity through peaceful space research.
RAS PrelimsScience and Technology · Defence and Space Technology in India
Q145. The cause of the Vikram lander and Pragyan rover permanently losing communication after 14 Earth days was:
Explanation
The mission was designed to operate for one lunar day, which lasts about two Earth weeks. When the sun went down at the landing site, the vehicles lost their source of energy and were exposed to extreme cold that they were not built to survive. While there was hope that they might wake up when the sun returned, the damage from the freezing night meant they stayed silent. This was the planned end for the primary phase of the successful mission.
RAS PrelimsScience and Technology · Defence and Space Technology in India
Q146. Identify the odd one out among the following Indian space missions:
Explanation
Most of the listed missions are part of a series dedicated to exploring the moon. This particular mission stands out because its target is a completely different planet. While the others have successfully reached or orbited the moon, this one is a future project aimed at studying the atmosphere and surface of Venus. This difference in target and mission class makes it the clear exception in a list otherwise focused on the country’s long-running and successful lunar exploration program.
RAS PrelimsScience and Technology · Defence and Space Technology in India
Q147. Consider the following statements regarding the Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan): I. It was launched in 2013 using the PSLV-C25. II. It made India the first Asian nation to reach Martian orbit. III. It made ISRO the first space agency to succeed in a Mars mission on its maiden attempt. IV. The total cost of the mission was approximately Rs 450 crore. V. It included a lander named ‘Mars-Vikram’. Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
The mission to the red planet was launched in 2013 and achieved several major records. It made the nation the first in Asia to reach Mars and the first in the world to succeed on its initial attempt. The mission was also famous for being extremely cost-effective. However, it was an orbiter-only mission and did not include any landing vehicle. All statements regarding its launch date, cost, and historical significance are accurate, while the claim about a lander is incorrect.
RAS PrelimsScience and Technology · Defence and Space Technology in India
Q148. Mangalyaan (MOM) was launched from Sriharikota on:
Explanation
On this day, the mission to explore the red planet began with a successful lift-off from the national spaceport. The spacecraft started its journey using a reliable polar launch vehicle, which placed it into an initial orbit around Earth before it headed for Mars. This event marked the beginning of one of the most successful and celebrated chapters in the country’s space history, eventually leading to a perfect entry into Martian orbit nearly a year later in 2014.
RAS PrelimsScience and Technology · Defence and Space Technology in India
Q149. A globally recognized hallmark of the Mars Orbiter Mission was its cost-effectiveness. The mission’s approximate cost of $74 million was famously compared to:
Explanation
One of the most talked-about aspects of the mission was how little it cost compared to other deep space projects. The total expense was famously noted to be less than the amount spent on producing a major space-themed film in the United States. This achievement highlighted the efficiency and ingenuity of the national space agency, showing that high-quality scientific exploration could be done at a fraction of the cost typically associated with such ambitious interplanetary missions in other countries.
RAS PrelimsScience and Technology · Defence and Space Technology in India
Q150. Consider the following statements: Statement I: India became the fourth space agency globally to reach Mars, after Roscosmos, NASA, and the European Space Agency. Statement II: The Mars Orbiter Mission was designed for an operational life of 10 years but lasted only 6 months. Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
The successful arrival at the red planet placed the nation among a very small group of global agencies that have reached Mars. While the mission was originally designed to last for only six months, its performance was so good that it continued to operate and send data for many years. Suggestions that it failed early are completely false, as the spacecraft far outlived its expected lifespan, providing a wealth of information about the Martian atmosphere and surface features during its operation.
Answer key for these questions
Q
Correct answer
141
(c) Both statements are correct.
142
(a) Engine firing for tech validation of future return missions.
143
(c) Japan
144
(d) National Space Day
145
(c) Lunar night onset, freezing temperatures, and no solar power.
146
(b) Shukrayaan-1
147
(a) I, II, III, and IV only
148
(a) November 5, 2013
149
(c) The budget of the Hollywood movie ‘Gravity’.
150
(a) Statement I is correct but Statement II is incorrect.
Key facts from Defence and Space Technology in India
The Defence Research and Development Organisation was established in 1958; its motto is Balasya Mulam Vigyanam.
The five core missiles of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme are Prithvi, Agni, Trishul, Nag and Akash, remembered as PATNA.
The IGMDP was reinforced by the limits of the Missile Technology Control Regime; Dr A. P. J. Abdul Kalam is called the Missile Man of India.
Agni-V is an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile; the Prithvi is a surface-to-surface battlefield missile.
India formally adopted its Nuclear Doctrine in 2003.
The Atmanirbhar Bharat reforms opened the space sector to private participation.
Frequently asked questions
How many RAS Prelims practice MCQs are there on Defence and Space Technology in India?
This page has 195 practice MCQs on Defence and Space Technology in India (Science and Technology). Each has the correct answer, and most have an explanation.
When was DRDO established?
In 1958. It is the research and development wing of the Ministry of Defence, and its motto is Balasya Mulam Vigyanam, meaning the source of strength is science.
What does PATNA stand for?
The five core missile systems of the IGMDP: Prithvi, Agni, Trishul, Nag and Akash. The programme was led by Dr A. P. J. Abdul Kalam and launched in 1983.
What is the category of the Agni-V missile?
An Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM), with a range of more than 5,000 km. It can carry a payload of around 1,500 kg, and it can carry multiple warheads, which makes it a strategic weapon.
