UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — How reusability can lead to sustainable, cost-effective access to space

Q1. Which one of the following ISRO centres serves as the lead centre for the development of the Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) programme, including the Pushpak technology demonstrator?

  • A. Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC), Valiamala
  • B. Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Thiruvananthapuram
  • C. U R Rao Satellite Centre (URSC), Bengaluru
  • D. Space Applications Centre (SAC), Ahmedabad

Q2. With reference to the Reusable Launch Vehicle Landing Experiment (RLV-LEX) series carried out by ISRO with external partners, consider the following organisations: 1. Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), DRDO 2. Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC) 3. Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), Hyderabad 4. Indian Air Force (IAF) Which of the above is/are correctly identified as collaborating partners in the RLV-LEX missions?

  1. Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), DRDO
  2. Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC)
  3. Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), Hyderabad
  4. Indian Air Force (IAF)
  • A. 1 and 4 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q3. As recognised in the Department of Space Year End Review 2025, how many autonomous Reusable Launch Vehicle Landing Experiments (RLV-LEX) using the winged 'Pushpak' vehicle has ISRO successfully completed in the LEX series?

  • A. Two
  • B. Three
  • C. Four
  • D. Five

Q4. In the context of ISRO's reusable launch vehicle roadmap, the term 'Orbital Re-entry Vehicle (ORV)' refers to which one of the following?

  • A. A capsule-shaped crew module that splashes down in the sea after re-entry, similar to the Gaganyaan crew module
  • B. A winged body that will be launched to orbit by an ascent vehicle and will subsequently re-enter the atmosphere for an autonomous approach and horizontal landing on a runway
  • C. An expendable upper stage that is recovered from low Earth orbit using a deployable parachute
  • D. A semi-cryogenic booster recovered after a vertical propulsive landing on a drone ship

Q5. With reference to the design and configuration of ISRO's Pushpak Reusable Launch Vehicle Technology Demonstrator (RLV-TD), consider the following features: 1. A lift-off mass of about 1.75 tonnes 2. A wingspan of about 3.6 metres 3. Around 600 heat-resistant tiles on its underside for thermal protection 4. A cryogenic upper-stage engine integrated within the winged body for orbital insertion Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. A lift-off mass of about 1.75 tonnes
  2. A wingspan of about 3.6 metres
  3. Around 600 heat-resistant tiles on its underside for thermal protection
  4. A cryogenic upper-stage engine integrated within the winged body for orbital insertion
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 3 only
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 2 and 4 only
  • NRAA-Funded Wild Rice Conservation Project Secures Major Milestone in Assam
    NRAA-Funded Wild Rice Conservation Project Secures Major Milestone in Assam

    The notification of Borjuli site in Sonitpur, Assam as a Biodiversity Heritage Site under an NRAA-funded wild rice conservation project is a named, verifiable fact. Biodiversity Heritage Sites and wild crop genetic resource conservation are tested Prelims topics.

  • India Advances Global Green Hydrogen Leadership under National Green Hydrogen Mission

    Under the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM), a landmark commercial deal for green ammonia and methanol export to Japan (IHI Corporation named) is a concrete outcome. India's green hydrogen ambitions and NGHM are recurring Prelims themes; this adds a factual export-deal hook.

  • NITI Aayog launches report on "Strategic Roadmap for Making Ayurveda Global"
    NITI Aayog launches report on "Strategic Roadmap for Making Ayurveda Global"

    A named NITI Aayog report on Ayurveda's global expansion is testable as a policy document. NITI Aayog reports, AYUSH sector initiatives, and traditional medicine diplomacy are recurring Prelims themes; the report's launch date and authoring body are clean factual hooks.

  • INDIAN NAVAL SHIP TRIKAND RESPONDS TO PIRACY ATTEMPT ON MV GOLDEN ARSENAL IN THE GULF OF ADEN

    A named Indian Navy anti-piracy operation with specific ship (INS Trikand — identified as a stealth frigate), vessel flag state (St. Vincent and the Grenadines), and location (Gulf of Aden) offers testable facts. India's maritime security operations are plausible Prelims hooks but appear occasionally, not frequently.

  • Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan launches nationwide ‘Viksit Bharat – G-Ram G Act’ from Andhra Pradesh with Chief Minister Shri Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister Shri Pawan Kalyan

    A newly named nationwide scheme launched by the Rural Development ministry that explicitly positions itself as moving 'beyond MGNREGA' is potentially testable. However, the excerpt lacks concrete numbers or statutory grounding, keeping it at 3 rather than 4.

  • MANAS: A Digital Shield Against Drugs

    MANAS is a named government digital initiative (national narcotics helpline) with a specific mandate under Nasha Mukt Bharat. Named government portals/helplines with specific functions are tested in Prelims, though this release is a backgrounder without new launch data.

  • VB-G RAM G Act comes into force across the country from today; “A historic day for rural India”: Shivraj Singh Chouhan

    The VB-G RAM G Act (likely a renamed/revised MGNREGA or rural employment guarantee framework) came into force across India from July 1, 2026. Key facts: national launch in Tirupati on July 2; revised wage rates notified with no daily wage below ₹300; national average wage increased by over 10%. A new central Act coming into force with specific wage figures is high-priority Prelims material.

  • India Achieves Major Milestone with Approval of Country’s First PinS Instrument Approach Procedure for Helicopter Operations

    DGCA approved India's first Private Point-in-Space (PinS) Instrument Approach Procedure for helicopter operations, implemented at Undavalli Heliport (developed by AAI). This is a named first in Indian aviation with a specific location and implementing body — classic Prelims material for science/tech and aviation sections.

  • 11 Years of Digital India: Better Healthcare & Digital Markets Making Lives Easier

    This release contains high-quality testable data: Greece is named as the 10th country to adopt UPI; every second real-time digital transaction globally is processed via India's UPI; 13 lakh Anganwadi workers connected via Poshan Tracker covering 9 crore beneficiaries. Multiple concrete facts that are prime Prelims material.

  • India, EU Advance Cooperation on Sustainable Ship Recycling; Three Indian Yards Ready for EU Recognition

    India has a 35.4% global market share in sustainable ship recycling. Three Indian ship-recycling yards are ready for EU recognition. India committed $8 billion to strengthen shipbuilding and recycling, with a target of recycling 16,000 ships. These are specific, verifiable figures in a sector where India leads globally — strong Prelims material on maritime/shipping sector.

  • GAGAN: Navigating India’s Skies with Precision

    Detailed backgrounder on GAGAN (GPS Aided GEO Augmented Navigation), India's Satellite-Based Augmentation System developed jointly by ISRO and Airports Authority of India (AAI). It enhances GPS accuracy for aviation, is certified to international standards, and supports satellite-based landing approaches. GAGAN is a recurring Prelims topic and this backgrounder consolidates key testable facts about its developers, purpose, and certification status.

  • The Hindu

    Latest PIB

    Latest from The Hindu

    Explore