UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — The Defence Decade

Q1. Who functions as the Permanent Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee in India?

  • A. The senior-most among the three Service Chiefs, on rotation
  • B. The Chief of Defence Staff
  • C. The Defence Secretary, Government of India
  • D. The National Security Advisor

Q2. With reference to the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and the Department of Military Affairs (DMA), consider the following statements: 1. Unlike the earlier Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee, who was the senior-most among the three Service Chiefs holding the post by rotation, the CDS is a permanent appointment. 2. Unlike the three Service Chiefs, the CDS exercises direct operational military command over the tri-Service commands of the Armed Forces. 3. Unlike the Department of Defence, which is headed by the Defence Secretary, the Department of Military Affairs is headed by the CDS as its Secretary. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Unlike the earlier Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee, who was the senior-most among the three Service Chiefs holding the post by rotation, the CDS is a permanent appointment.
  2. Unlike the three Service Chiefs, the CDS exercises direct operational military command over the tri-Service commands of the Armed Forces.
  3. Unlike the Department of Defence, which is headed by the Defence Secretary, the Department of Military Affairs is headed by the CDS as its Secretary.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q3. Under the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020, which one of the following categories of capital acquisition is accorded the topmost priority?

  • A. Buy (Indian-IDDM)
  • B. Buy (Indian)
  • C. Buy and Make (Indian)
  • D. Buy (Global – Manufacture in India)

Q4. The Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020 was unveiled and brought into effect under the chairship/authority of which one of the following?

  • A. Raksha Mantri (Chairman, Defence Acquisition Council)
  • B. National Security Advisor (Chairman, Strategic Policy Group)
  • C. Chief of Defence Staff (Permanent Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee)
  • D. Cabinet Secretary (Chairman, Defence Planning Committee)

Q5. The Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) framework functions under the aegis of which one of the following organisations?

  • A. Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
  • B. Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO)
  • C. Directorate General of Quality Assurance (DGQA)
  • D. Department of Military Affairs (DMA)

Q6. In which year was the ADITI (Acing Development of Innovative Technologies with iDEX) scheme, aimed at promoting critical and strategic defence technologies, launched by the Raksha Mantri?

  • A. 2018
  • B. 2020
  • C. 2022
  • D. 2024

Q7. Within the Ministry of Defence, the Agnipath Scheme for enrolment of Agniveers into the three Services is operationalised under which one of the following?

  • A. Department of Defence Production
  • B. Department of Military Affairs
  • C. Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare
  • D. Department of Defence Research and Development

Q8. As per official figures for FY 2025-26, how many Indian entities/exporters were engaged in the export of defence items?

  • A. 100
  • B. 128
  • C. 145
  • D. 165

Q9. Within the Ministry of Defence, which one of the following is the authority that notifies the Positive Indigenisation Lists (PILs) applicable to Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs)?

  • A. Department of Defence Production
  • B. Department of Military Affairs
  • C. Defence Acquisition Council chaired by the Raksha Mantri
  • D. Defence Research and Development Organisation

Q10. Which one of the following cities is NOT one of the notified nodes of the Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor (UPDIC)?

  • A. Chitrakoot
  • B. Jhansi
  • C. Meerut
  • D. Aligarh

Q11. Which of the following is the nodal implementing agency for the Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor?

  • A. Uttar Pradesh State Industrial Development Authority (UPSIDA)
  • B. Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA)
  • C. Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA)
  • D. New Okhla Industrial Development Authority (NOIDA)

Q12. With reference to the Inter-Services Organisations (Command, Control and Discipline) Act, 2023, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. The Act received the assent of the President on 15 August 2023.
  2. The Act was brought into force with effect from 10 May 2024.
  3. The Rules framed under the Act came into effect from 27 May 2025.
  4. The Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha in March 2022.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 3 only
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 2 and 4 only

Q13. The Inter-Services Organisations (Command, Control and Discipline) Act, 2023 empowers which one of the following authorities to exercise disciplinary and administrative control over all service personnel serving in or attached to an Inter-Services Organisation, irrespective of their parent service?

  • A. The Chief of Defence Staff, in his capacity as Permanent Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee
  • B. The Commander-in-Chief or Officer-in-Command of the Inter-Services Organisation concerned
  • C. The respective Service Chief (Army, Navy or Air Force) to which the personnel belong
  • D. The Secretary, Department of Military Affairs, Ministry of Defence