UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — India conducts successful flight-trial of Advanced Agni missile with Multiple Independently Targeted Re-Entry Vehicle system

Q1. Which one of the following was the first missile of the Agni series to be flight-tested with an indigenously developed Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) payload?

  • A. Agni-Prime
  • B. Agni-IV
  • C. Agni-V
  • D. Agni-III

Q2. Consider the following pairs regarding the Agni series of ballistic missiles: 1. Agni-I — Short-range, two-stage solid-fuelled missile 2. Agni-II — Intermediate-range, liquid-fuelled missile 3. Agni-Prime — Canisterised, two-stage solid-propellant missile with range up to 2,000 km 4. Agni-V — Three-stage solid-propellant missile with a strike range of over 5,000 km Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

  1. Agni-I — Short-range, two-stage solid-fuelled missile
  2. Agni-II — Intermediate-range, liquid-fuelled missile
  3. Agni-Prime — Canisterised, two-stage solid-propellant missile with range up to 2,000 km
  4. Agni-V — Three-stage solid-propellant missile with a strike range of over 5,000 km
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 3 and 4 only
  • C. 1, 3 and 4 only
  • D. 2, 3 and 4 only

Q3. With reference to recent developments in India's strategic missile programme, 'Mission Divyastra' refers to the maiden flight test of which one of the following missiles equipped with Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) technology?

  • A. Agni-Prime
  • B. Agni-IV
  • C. Agni-V
  • D. K-4 submarine-launched ballistic missile

Q4. In the context of India's recent Advanced Agni flight trial, the term 'Multiple Independently Targeted Re-Entry Vehicle (MIRV)' technology is best defined as:

  • A. A single ballistic missile that carries multiple warheads, each of which can be programmed to strike a different geographically separated target
  • B. A constellation of multiple missiles launched simultaneously from different bases to overwhelm a single target
  • C. A missile that always releases multiple decoy re-entry vehicles, none of which carries any warhead, solely to saturate enemy radar
  • D. A re-entry vehicle that uses multiple independent propulsion stages to manoeuvre exclusively against a single fixed target

Q5. Who chairs the Political Council of India's Nuclear Command Authority (NCA), which is the sole body authorised to order the use of nuclear weapons?

  • A. The Prime Minister
  • B. The National Security Advisor
  • C. The Raksha Mantri (Defence Minister)
  • D. The Chief of Defence Staff

Q6. With reference to India's Nuclear Command Authority (NCA) and Strategic Forces Command (SFC), consider the following statements: 1. The Political Council of the NCA is chaired by the Prime Minister of India. 2. The Executive Council of the NCA is chaired by the National Security Advisor. 3. The Strategic Forces Command is headed by the Cabinet Secretary of India. 4. The Political Council is the sole body that can authorise the use of nuclear weapons. Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. The Political Council of the NCA is chaired by the Prime Minister of India.
  2. The Executive Council of the NCA is chaired by the National Security Advisor.
  3. The Strategic Forces Command is headed by the Cabinet Secretary of India.
  4. The Political Council is the sole body that can authorise the use of nuclear weapons.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 4 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1 and 4 only

Q7. Under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP), the 'Trishul' missile was developed as which one of the following?

  • A. A short-range, quick-reaction surface-to-air missile
  • B. A third-generation fire-and-forget anti-tank guided missile
  • C. A short-range surface-to-surface ballistic missile
  • D. A medium-range surface-to-air missile with multi-target engagement capability

Q8. With reference to India's Nuclear Doctrine as operationalised by the Cabinet Committee on Security in January 2003, consider the following: 1. A posture of 'No First Use' under which nuclear weapons would be used only in retaliation against a nuclear attack on Indian territory or on Indian forces anywhere. 2. Authorisation of nuclear retaliatory attacks exclusively by the civilian political leadership through the Nuclear Command Authority. 3. Non-use of nuclear weapons against non-nuclear weapon states under all circumstances, with no exceptions whatsoever. 4. Continued observance of a moratorium on nuclear tests and participation in negotiations on the Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty. Which of the above is/are correctly identified as elements of the doctrine?

  1. A posture of 'No First Use' under which nuclear weapons would be used only in retaliation against a nuclear attack on Indian territory or on Indian forces anywhere.
  2. Authorisation of nuclear retaliatory attacks exclusively by the civilian political leadership through the Nuclear Command Authority.
  3. Non-use of nuclear weapons against non-nuclear weapon states under all circumstances, with no exceptions whatsoever.
  4. Continued observance of a moratorium on nuclear tests and participation in negotiations on the Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 4
  • C. 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q9. With reference to the 1999 Draft Nuclear Doctrine prepared by the National Security Advisory Board (NSAB) and the nuclear doctrine operationalised by the Cabinet Committee on Security in January 2003, consider the following statements: 1. While the 1999 Draft characterised India's nuclear response as 'punitive retaliation', the 2003 doctrine described nuclear retaliation to a first strike as 'massive' and designed to inflict unacceptable damage. 2. The principle of No First Use of nuclear weapons was introduced for the first time in the 2003 doctrine and was absent from the 1999 Draft. 3. The 2003 doctrine formally vested the authority to release nuclear weapons in the Nuclear Command Authority headed by the civilian political leadership. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. While the 1999 Draft characterised India's nuclear response as 'punitive retaliation', the 2003 doctrine described nuclear retaliation to a first strike as 'massive' and designed to inflict unacceptable damage.
  2. The principle of No First Use of nuclear weapons was introduced for the first time in the 2003 doctrine and was absent from the 1999 Draft.
  3. The 2003 doctrine formally vested the authority to release nuclear weapons in the Nuclear Command Authority headed by the civilian political leadership.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q10. Which one of the following is the designated custodian responsible for the operational deployment and employment of India's land-based strategic ballistic missiles such as the Agni series?

  • A. Integrated Defence Staff
  • B. Strategic Forces Command
  • C. Andaman and Nicobar Command
  • D. Defence Space Agency

Q11. The Integrated Test Range that operates the launch facilities on Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island and at Chandipur functions as a laboratory under which one of the following?

  • A. Indian Space Research Organisation
  • B. Defence Research and Development Organisation
  • C. Department of Atomic Energy
  • D. Strategic Forces Command