UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Strategic autonomy must guide India’s Starlink policy

Q1. With reference to low-earth-orbit (LEO) and geostationary (GEO) communication satellites, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. A geostationary satellite appears fixed over one point on the equator because its orbital period matches the period of Earth's rotation.
  2. Because a low-earth-orbit satellite is much closer to Earth, each such satellite covers a larger area of the surface than a geostationary satellite does.
  3. A user terminal of a low-earth-orbit broadband system has to switch between satellites as they pass overhead, so such a system needs many satellites to give continuous coverage.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q2. Geostationary (GEO) satellite broadband is generally considered less suited than low-earth-orbit (LEO) broadband for interactive uses such as remotely piloting a drone. Which of the following best explains this?

  • A. The satellites cannot use radio frequencies that pass through the ionosphere
  • B. The satellites can cover only narrow strips of territory near the poles
  • C. Signals travel a far longer path up to the satellite and back, adding delay
  • D. The satellites drift across the sky, forcing constant re-pointing of ground antennas

Q3. Consider the following facts about a low-earth-orbit satellite broadband service: I. It has stopped accepting new residential customers in some areas because it ran out of capacity there. II. It is considered best suited to isolated settlements, border regions, ships and disaster-affected areas. Which of the following inferences can be drawn from the above?

  1. The main constraint on such a service is the number of users it can serve in an area, not the geographic area it can reach.
  2. Adding more satellites to the constellation cannot increase the number of users the service can serve in a region.
  3. Such a service is most competitive where users are thinly spread and laying cables or building towers is not viable.
  • A. 2 and 3 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 3
  • C. 1 only
  • D. 1 and 3 only

Q4. With reference to the regulatory pathway for a private satellite broadband operator to offer services in India, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Recommendations of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India on satcom spectrum must be accepted by the government without modification.
  2. A licence to provide satellite-based telecom services does not by itself give the operator the right to use spectrum; spectrum has to be separately assigned.
  3. A private satellite operator needs authorisation from India's space-sector authorisation body in addition to a telecom service licence.
  • A. 2 and 3 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q5. Consider the following statements: Which of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

  1. In India, the grant of a GMPCS licence to a satellite broadband operator is by itself sufficient for it to begin commercial services.
  2. In India, the telecom regulator's role in satcom spectrum assignment has been advisory, with the final decision resting with the government.
  • A. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
  • B. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
  • C. Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
  • D. Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct

Q6. Consider the following statements: Which of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

  1. Under the Telecommunications Act, 2023, spectrum for satellite-based services can be assigned through an administrative process instead of an auction.
  2. Spectrum assigned through an administrative process is made available to the assignee free of any spectrum charges.
  • A. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
  • B. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
  • C. Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
  • D. Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct

Q7. With reference to the allocation of natural resources such as spectrum in India, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. In its 2012 opinion on a Presidential Reference, the Supreme Court held that auction is not a constitutional requirement for disposing of all natural resources.
  2. The Telecommunications Act, 2023 makes administrative assignment the default method of assigning spectrum, with auction used only for listed exceptions.
  3. Once spectrum is assigned under the Telecommunications Act, 2023, the Central Government cannot permit the assignee to lease or trade it.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 3
  • C. 1 and 2 only
  • D. 2 and 3 only