UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Delayed honour

Q1. During Operation Sindoor in May 2025, Indian armed forces carried out precision strikes on how many terror infrastructure targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir?

  • A. Four
  • B. Six
  • C. Nine
  • D. Twelve

Q2. With reference to Operation Sindoor (2025), consider the following statements: 1. It was launched on 7 May 2025. 2. The strikes were carried out exclusively by the Indian Air Force. 3. The understanding to cease all firing took effect from 1700 hours IST on 10 May 2025. 4. The targets included terror camps at Bahawalpur and Muridke. Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. It was launched on 7 May 2025.
  2. The strikes were carried out exclusively by the Indian Air Force.
  3. The understanding to cease all firing took effect from 1700 hours IST on 10 May 2025.
  4. The targets included terror camps at Bahawalpur and Muridke.
  • A. 1, 3 and 4
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q3. Indian security officials identified The Resistance Front (TRF), which initially claimed the April 2025 Pahalgam attack, as an offshoot of which parent terrorist organisation?

  • A. Jaish-e-Mohammed
  • B. Lashkar-e-Taiba
  • C. Hizbul Mujahideen
  • D. Al-Badr

Q4. With reference to the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack, consider the following statements: 1. It took place on 22 April 2025. 2. Forty civilians were killed in the attack. 3. It occurred in the Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir. 4. The attackers were later neutralised in a follow-up operation codenamed Operation Mahadev. Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. It took place on 22 April 2025.
  2. Forty civilians were killed in the attack.
  3. It occurred in the Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir.
  4. The attackers were later neutralised in a follow-up operation codenamed Operation Mahadev.
  • A. 1, 3 and 4
  • B. 1, 2 and 3
  • C. 2 and 4 only
  • D. 1 and 2 only

Q5. Which one of the following best describes the office of the Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) in India?

  • A. A senior Army officer who plans and oversees military operations and is the designated point of contact for military-to-military communication with the adversary's counterpart
  • B. The single-point military adviser to the Cabinet who heads the Department of Military Affairs
  • C. The four-star tri-service chief who exercises operational command over the Army, Navy and Air Force
  • D. The constitutional Supreme Commander of the armed forces

Q6. Regarding the conduct of the 11 May 2025 Operation Sindoor briefing, consider the following statements: 1. The DGMO who briefed was an officer of the Indian Army, while air operations were presented by the Director General Air Operations. 2. The briefing was addressed jointly by the DGMO together with Air Force and Navy representatives. 3. The DGMO at the time held the rank of a full (four-star) General. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The DGMO who briefed was an officer of the Indian Army, while air operations were presented by the Director General Air Operations.
  2. The briefing was addressed jointly by the DGMO together with Air Force and Navy representatives.
  3. The DGMO at the time held the rank of a full (four-star) General.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q7. With reference to the acknowledgment of Indian casualties in Operation Sindoor, consider the following statements: 1. At the 11 May 2025 DGMO briefing, tribute was paid to personnel who made the supreme sacrifice without disclosing their names. 2. The fallen soldiers were cremated with full military honours. 3. All six soldiers were publicly named by the government at the same 11 May 2025 briefing. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. At the 11 May 2025 DGMO briefing, tribute was paid to personnel who made the supreme sacrifice without disclosing their names.
  2. The fallen soldiers were cremated with full military honours.
  3. All six soldiers were publicly named by the government at the same 11 May 2025 briefing.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q8. More than a year after Operation Sindoor, the government formally acknowledged that how many Indian soldiers had been killed during the operation?

  • A. Four
  • B. Six
  • C. Eight
  • D. Twelve

Q9. Under Section 24 of the Right to Information Act, 2005, where information concerning allegations of human rights violations is sought from an exempted intelligence or security organisation, within how many days must such information be provided after the requisite approval?

  • A. 30 days
  • B. 45 days
  • C. 60 days
  • D. 90 days

Q10. In the context of the 'delayed honour' debate over Operation Sindoor casualties, consider the following statements: 1. The editorial criticism held that the delay in acknowledging casualties served partisan political interest rather than national interest. 2. The state's duty to publicly honour those who die in its service is regarded as a foundational ethical obligation. 3. It is the Director General of Military Operations, rather than the political executive, who bears the constitutional responsibility for the public acknowledgment of war casualties. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The editorial criticism held that the delay in acknowledging casualties served partisan political interest rather than national interest.
  2. The state's duty to publicly honour those who die in its service is regarded as a foundational ethical obligation.
  3. It is the Director General of Military Operations, rather than the political executive, who bears the constitutional responsibility for the public acknowledgment of war casualties.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q11. With reference to India's cross-border counter-terror operations, consider the following statements: 1. The 2016 surgical strikes were launched in response to the Uri attack. 2. The Balakot air strike was carried out in 2019. 3. Operation Sindoor was launched in response to the April 2025 Pahalgam attack. 4. Operation Sindoor was carried out solely by ground forces crossing the Line of Control. Which of the statements given above are correctly identified?

  1. The 2016 surgical strikes were launched in response to the Uri attack.
  2. The Balakot air strike was carried out in 2019.
  3. Operation Sindoor was launched in response to the April 2025 Pahalgam attack.
  4. Operation Sindoor was carried out solely by ground forces crossing the Line of Control.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1 and 4 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1 and 2 only

Q12. Regarding constitutional command over India's armed forces, consider the following statements: 1. The President of India is the Supreme Commander of the armed forces. 2. The supreme command of the armed forces is part of the executive power of the Union vested in the President under Article 53. 3. The President exercises this supreme command independently of, and without being bound by, the advice of the Council of Ministers. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The President of India is the Supreme Commander of the armed forces.
  2. The supreme command of the armed forces is part of the executive power of the Union vested in the President under Article 53.
  3. The President exercises this supreme command independently of, and without being bound by, the advice of the Council of Ministers.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3