UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — India Achieves Major Milestone with Approval of Country’s First PinS Instrument Approach Procedure for Helicopter Operations
Q1. The Point-in-Space (PinS) instrument approach procedure approved in India is designed to serve how many categories of aircraft?
- A. Only one (helicopters alone)
- B. Two (helicopters and light fixed-wing aircraft)
- C. Three (helicopters, turboprops and jets)
- D. All categories of civil aircraft
Q2. Which one of the following is the primary enabling technology for a PinS instrument approach procedure, distinguishing it from conventional instrument approaches?
- A. Satellite-based navigation (GNSS/SBAS)
- B. Instrument Landing System (ILS)
- C. VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR)
- D. Non-Directional Beacon (NDB)
Q3. With reference to the ICAO Performance-Based Navigation (PBN) framework, consider the following statements:
1. The PBN concept is defined in the ICAO PBN Manual, Doc 9613.
2. An RNP navigation specification includes a requirement for on-board self-contained performance monitoring and alerting.
3. An RNAV navigation specification also includes on-board performance monitoring and alerting.
4. Under PBN, navigation system performance is defined in terms of accuracy, integrity, continuity and functionality.
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?
- The PBN concept is defined in the ICAO PBN Manual, Doc 9613.
- An RNP navigation specification includes a requirement for on-board self-contained performance monitoring and alerting.
- An RNAV navigation specification also includes on-board performance monitoring and alerting.
- Under PBN, navigation system performance is defined in terms of accuracy, integrity, continuity and functionality.
- A. 1, 2 and 4
- B. 1 and 3 only
- C. 2, 3 and 4
- D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Q4. The ICAO Performance-Based Navigation (PBN) Manual (Doc 9613) is organised into how many Volumes?
- A. Two
- B. Three
- C. Four
- D. Five
Q5. With reference to India's first PinS approval and the related satellite-navigation demonstrations of 2026, consider the following statements:
1. The recently demonstrated GAGAN-based precision approach at Udaipur involved a commercial fixed-wing airliner, whereas the PinS procedure was approved for helicopter operations.
2. India's first PinS procedure was approved under the Performance-Based Navigation (PBN) framework.
3. India's first PinS procedure was classified as a 'Public/published' PinS procedure.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- The recently demonstrated GAGAN-based precision approach at Udaipur involved a commercial fixed-wing airliner, whereas the PinS procedure was approved for helicopter operations.
- India's first PinS procedure was approved under the Performance-Based Navigation (PBN) framework.
- India's first PinS procedure was classified as a 'Public/published' PinS procedure.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q6. The PinS instrument approach procedure approved at Undavalli Heliport represents which numbered such procedure to be approved in India?
- A. The first
- B. The second
- C. The third
- D. The fifth
Q7. Which one of the following agencies was responsible for developing (designing) India's first PinS instrument approach procedure at Undavalli Heliport?
- A. Airports Authority of India (AAI)
- B. Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)
- C. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
- D. Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA)
Q8. With reference to the roles of India's civil aviation bodies, consider the following identifications:
1. AAI — sole provider of Air Navigation Services in India.
2. DGCA — the civil aviation safety regulator.
3. AAI — a statutory authority functioning under the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
4. DGCA — the agency that designed the PinS procedure at Undavalli Heliport.
Which of the above is/are NOT correctly matched?
- AAI — sole provider of Air Navigation Services in India.
- DGCA — the civil aviation safety regulator.
- AAI — a statutory authority functioning under the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
- DGCA — the agency that designed the PinS procedure at Undavalli Heliport.
- A. 4 only
- B. 1 and 4
- C. 2 and 3
- D. 3 only
Q9. GAGAN was certified by the DGCA in which year for Approach with Vertical Guidance (APV-1) and en-route (RNP 0.1) operations?
- A. 2015
- B. 2011
- C. 2018
- D. 2022
Q10. Indian heliports have historically lacked how many categories of the conventional ground-based navigation aids named as ILS, VOR and NDB, a gap that PinS is designed to overcome?
- A. Three
- B. Two
- C. Four
- D. Five
Q11. With reference to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), consider the following statements:
1. ICAO is a specialized agency of the United Nations.
2. ICAO's Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) are set out in the 19 Annexes to the Chicago Convention.
3. ICAO was established under the Convention on International Civil Aviation adopted in 1944.
4. India is not a contracting State to the Chicago Convention.
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?
- ICAO is a specialized agency of the United Nations.
- ICAO's Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) are set out in the 19 Annexes to the Chicago Convention.
- ICAO was established under the Convention on International Civil Aviation adopted in 1944.
- India is not a contracting State to the Chicago Convention.
- A. 1, 2 and 3
- B. 1 and 4 only
- C. 2, 3 and 4
- D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Q12. The UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) Regional Connectivity Scheme, whose 5.1 version expands helicopter services in hilly areas, is administered by which Union Ministry?
- A. Ministry of Civil Aviation
- B. Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
- C. Ministry of Tourism
- D. Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways