UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Centre inks ₹770-crore pact with BEL for low-level radars

Q1. Consider the following statements: Which of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

  1. Although the Defence Acquisition Council accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for Low Level Light Weight Radars in December 2025, the contract for such radars with Bharat Electronics Ltd. was signed only in October 2026.
  2. Acceptance of Necessity is an in-principle approval of a requirement, and a binding contract with a vendor follows only after the subsequent stages of the procurement cycle are completed.
  • 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

Q2. Consider the following facts: The Army had earlier acquired Low Level Light Weight Radars through emergency procurement. In December 2025 the Defence Acquisition Council accorded Acceptance of Necessity for Low Level Light Weight Radars, and in October 2026 the Ministry of Defence signed a contract with Bharat Electronics Ltd. for an improved version. Which of the following inferences can validly be drawn from these facts?

  1. The December 2025 approval was the instrument under which the earlier emergency-procured radars had been bought.
  2. The Army's need for low-level radars was treated as operationally urgent even before the regular procurement cycle for them was completed.
  3. Bharat Electronics Ltd. is the only Indian firm technically capable of manufacturing low-level radars.
  4. The same class of equipment can be acquired through both the emergency route and the regular capital-acquisition route.
  • A. 2, 3 and 4 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 4 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 2 and 4 only

Q3. With reference to the Buy (Indian-IDDM) category under the Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. It is placed highest in the order of preference among the procurement categories.
  2. A product assembled in India to an imported design qualifies for it as long as its indigenous content is high.
  3. Only Defence Public Sector Undertakings, and not private Indian companies, are eligible to bid under it.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 2 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q4. A conventional air-defence radar optimised for fighter aircraft repeatedly fails to pick up a small quadcopter flying slowly a few metres above uneven ground. Consider the following statements offered as reasons: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The quadcopter's radar cross-section is very small, so its echo is much weaker than that of a fighter at the same range.
  2. The quadcopter's slow speed gives it a larger Doppler shift than a fast aircraft, making it harder to separate from ground echoes.
  3. Echoes from the nearby terrain can swamp the weak return from a target flying close to the ground.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 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. Ground-based radars find small, low-flying drones harder to detect and track than aircraft flying at higher altitudes, which is why dedicated low-level radars are procured.
  2. The radar cross-section of an aircraft is expressed in square metres and can change sharply with even a slight change in the angle from which it is viewed.
  • 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. With reference to Bharat Electronics Ltd. (BEL) and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. A Ministry of Defence contract with BEL for radars is a DRDO procurement, because BEL functions as DRDO's production wing.
  2. Counter-drone technology developed by DRDO has been transferred to BEL for production.
  3. A single Defence PSU can supply radars to more than one of the armed Services.
  • A. 2 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1 and 3 only

Q7. With reference to the Defence Acquisition Council's decision of December 2025 clearing proposals worth about ₹79,000 crore, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The ₹79,000 crore represented amounts already committed to vendors under signed contracts on the date of the decision.
  2. Proposals covering different types of equipment for more than one Service can receive Acceptance of Necessity in a single DAC meeting.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 2 only
  • C. Both 1 and 2
  • D. Neither 1 nor 2