Q181. Conceptually, NavIC satellites broadcast signals in which frequency bands to provide position data?
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 181–190 of 195 questions
Q182. Which of the following is a negative event that affected the IRNSS constellation?
Explanation
The development of the navigation system faced some significant challenges. One early satellite experienced a failure of the critical clocks needed for its signals to work. Later, an attempt to launch a replacement was unsuccessful because a part of the rocket did not separate as it should have, leaving the satellite stuck inside. These setbacks were difficult but provided important lessons that were used to improve the reliability and success of future launches and satellite designs in the program.
Q183. Identify the correctly matched pair regarding the NavIC system components:
Explanation
The system is made up of several parts that work together to provide navigation data. The group of satellites flying high above the Earth is responsible for sending out the signals. There is also a network of ground stations that monitor and control the satellites, and a user part that includes all the devices that receive and use the data. Correctly identifying these sections is key to understanding how the entire indigenous positioning and timing network is organized and operated.
Q184. What historical military event acts as the primary cause for India deciding to build its own indigenous navigation system (NavIC)?
Explanation
The primary reason the country decided to build its own navigation system was a difficult lesson learned during a past conflict. When accurate position data was needed for military operations, access to the global system managed by another nation was restricted. This showed the danger of relying on foreign technology for national security. Since then, the focus has been on achieving independence in satellite navigation to ensure that reliable and secure data is always available, especially during times of crisis.
Q185. Which of the following is the odd one out as it is NOT a satellite navigation system?
Explanation
Most of the listed names refer to satellite networks designed to provide positioning data on Earth. China, Japan, and Russia all have their own systems for this purpose. This particular name stands out because it belongs to a mission sent to another planet for scientific study. While it used sophisticated navigation to reach its target, it is an interplanetary orbiter, not a constellation used for day-to-day position finding on our home planet, making it the clear exception in this group.
Q186. Consider the following payloads onboard the Aditya-L1 spacecraft:
I. Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC)
II. Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (SUIT)
III. Aditya Solar wind Particle Experiment (ASPEX)
IV. Plasma Analyser Package for Aditya (PAPA)
V. Solar Low Energy X-ray Spectrometer (SoLEXS)
Which of the above statement(s) is/are payloads designed to study the Sun and solar wind?
I. Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC)
II. Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (SUIT)
III. Aditya Solar wind Particle Experiment (ASPEX)
IV. Plasma Analyser Package for Aditya (PAPA)
V. Solar Low Energy X-ray Spectrometer (SoLEXS)
Which of the above statement(s) is/are payloads designed to study the Sun and solar wind?
Explanation
This first solar observatory carries a wide array of specialized instruments to study different aspects of the sun. Some are designed to take pictures of the sun’s outer atmosphere, while others analyze the flow of particles and magnetic fields coming from it. Each tool has a specific job, such as measuring X-rays or studying the thin layer of plasma. Together, these seven major payloads provide a complete and detailed view of the sun’s activity and its effects on space.
Q187. Aditya-L1, India’s first solar observatory mission, is placed in a halo orbit around which Lagrange point of the Sun-Earth system?
Explanation
This mission is placed in a very special location in space where the gravity of the sun and the Earth balance out. This spot, located about 1.5 million kilometers away, allows the spacecraft to stay in a stable position while always having a clear view of the sun. This is ideal for a solar observatory, as it can monitor the sun 24 hours a day without any interruptions from the Earth or the moon, providing a continuous stream of data.
Q188. Aditya-L1 spacecraft was successfully launched by which ISRO launch vehicle?
Explanation
For this historic mission to study the sun, the agency used its highly reliable and versatile four-stage rocket. The launch was successful, placing the spacecraft on the first part of its long journey to its final destination in space. This rocket has a long history of carrying important scientific and commercial payloads and was the perfect choice for this precise and ambitious task. Its performance on this mission once again proved its status as the mainstay of the national space program.
Q189. Consider the following statements:
Statement I: Placing Aditya-L1 in a halo orbit around the L1 point allows it to view the Sun continuously without any eclipses or occultations.
Statement II: The L1 point is located at a distance of about 1.5 million kilometers from the Earth.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Statement I: Placing Aditya-L1 in a halo orbit around the L1 point allows it to view the Sun continuously without any eclipses or occultations.
Statement II: The L1 point is located at a distance of about 1.5 million kilometers from the Earth.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
The spacecraft is positioned in a unique path around a balance point in space, far away from Earth. This location is about 1.5 million kilometers from our planet. Because of this strategic position, the observatory can watch the sun continuously without ever being blocked by the Earth or experiencing an eclipse. These features are essential for a mission that aims to study the sun’s dynamic behavior and its impact on the environment of the entire solar system.
Q190. Conceptually, the "coronal heating problem" that Aditya-L1 intends to study refers to the mystery of why:
Explanation
One of the biggest mysteries in solar science is why the sun’s outer atmosphere is much hotter than its surface. Normally, temperature drops as you move away from a heat source, but the sun’s corona behaves differently. The mission is carrying instruments to study this phenomenon and help scientists understand what causes this intense heating. Solving this puzzle is important for knowing how energy is moved from the sun’s interior into space and how it affects the space weather around Earth.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 181 | (a) L5 and S bands |
| 182 | (d) Both (1) and (2) are true negative events. |
| 183 | (b) Space Segment : The 7 satellite constellation |
| 184 | (c) 1999 Kargil War GPS data denial. |
| 185 | (d) Mangalyaan |
| 186 | (d) I, II, III, IV, and V |
| 187 | (a) L1 |
| 188 | (b) PSLV-C57 |
| 189 | (c) Both statements are correct. |
| 190 | (c) The corona is vastly hotter than the photosphere. |
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.