UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — MoD inks Rs 5,083 crore contracts for ALH Mk-III (MR) & VL-Shtil missiles

Q1. The ALH Mk-III (MR) helicopters covered by the March 2026 contract are designed and manufactured by which one of the following?

  • A. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
  • B. Bharat Electronics Limited
  • C. Bharat Dynamics Limited
  • D. Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited

Q2. The Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020, which defines the 'Buy (Indian-IDDM)' category used for the ALH Mk-III (MR) order, is promulgated and administered under which one of the following?

  • A. Ministry of Defence
  • B. Ministry of Commerce and Industry
  • C. Ministry of Heavy Industries
  • D. NITI Aayog

Q3. Under the Defence Acquisition Procedure, the 'Buy (Indian-IDDM)' category is reserved exclusively for Indian vendors in which foreign direct investment (FDI) does not exceed which one of the following limits?

  • A. 26 per cent
  • B. 49 per cent
  • C. 51 per cent
  • D. 74 per cent

Q4. With reference to the two defence contracts signed by the Ministry of Defence in March 2026, consider the following. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. The combined value of the two contracts is Rs 5,083 crore.
  2. HAL's ALH Mk-III (MR) order is valued at Rs 2,901 crore.
  3. The VL-Shtil order placed with JSC Rosoboronexport is valued at Rs 2,182 crore.
  4. The end-user of the VL-Shtil missiles is the Indian Coast Guard.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1 and 4
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q5. Comparing the March 2026 ALH Mk-III (MR) contract with the earlier 2024 HAL helicopter contract, consider the following statements. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The 2024 contract was for 34 ALH Dhruv Mk III for the Indian Army and Indian Coast Guard, whereas the 2026 contract is for six ALH Mk-III (MR) for the Indian Coast Guard.
  2. Both the 2024 and the 2026 ALH contracts were placed with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.
  3. The 2026 ALH Mk-III (MR) contract is of higher monetary value than the 2024 thirty-four-helicopter contract.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q6. The Shtil-1 vertically-launched surface-to-air missile is fielded on the Tushil-class (upgraded Krivak III/Project 1135.6) frigates. Which one of the following is the lead (first) ship of this class?

  • A. INS Tushil
  • B. INS Tamal
  • C. INS Teg
  • D. INS Talwar

Q7. With reference to the VL-Shtil system being procured for the Indian Navy, consider the following statements. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. It is a surface-to-air missile system.
  2. It employs vertical launch.
  3. It is of Russian origin.
  4. It is a surface-to-surface anti-ship cruise missile.
  • A. 1 and 3
  • B. 2 only
  • C. 1 and 2
  • D. 4 only

Q8. With reference to the ALH Dhruv platform and its indigenous credentials, consider the following statements. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. The ALH Dhruv is indigenously designed by HAL, Bengaluru.
  2. The ALH Dhruv is a single-engine helicopter.
  3. It is powered by the Shakti engine.
  4. It belongs to the 5.5-tonne weight class.
  • A. 1, 3 and 4
  • B. 1 and 2
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 2 and 4

Q9. Consider the following statements relating to recent HAL/MoD helicopter and missile deals. Which of the above is/are NOT correctly identified?

  1. The 2024 HAL contract covered 34 ALH Dhruv Mk III for the Indian Army and Indian Coast Guard.
  2. The 2026 HAL contract is for ALH Mk-III (MR) helicopters for the Indian Coast Guard.
  3. The 2026 contract with JSC Rosoboronexport is for VL-Shtil missiles for the Indian Navy.
  4. The Shakti engines that power the ALH Mk-III are imported from the Russian Federation.
  • A. 1 and 3
  • B. 2 only
  • C. 3 and 4
  • D. 4 only

Q10. Which one of the following was the first ALH Mk-III squadron commissioned on the western seaboard of the Indian Coast Guard?

  • A. 835 Sqn (CG), Porbandar
  • B. 840 Sqn (CG), Chennai
  • C. 845 Sqn (CG), Kochi
  • D. 850 Sqn (CG), Daman

Q11. INS Tushil and INS Tamal, the Russian-origin frigates that field the Shtil-1 missile, were built at which one of the following Russian shipyards?

  • A. Yantar Shipyard, Kaliningrad
  • B. Baltiysky Shipyard, St. Petersburg
  • C. Sevmash, Severodvinsk
  • D. Admiralty Shipyards, St. Petersburg