UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Republic Day 2026: Tri-services tableau to showcase ‘Operation Sindoor: Victory Through Jointness’ at Kartavya Path
Q1. Operation Sindoor (May 2025) was conceived and executed under the direct charge of which one of the following?
- A. The Indian Armed Forces under the Ministry of Defence, after approval by the Cabinet Committee on Security
- B. The Central Reserve Police Force under the Ministry of Home Affairs
- C. The National Investigation Agency under the Ministry of Home Affairs
- D. The National Security Guard under the Ministry of Home Affairs
Q2. Under Operation Sindoor, which one of the following constituted the primary category of targets struck across the border?
- A. Terrorist infrastructure, including the headquarters of Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed
- B. Forward military garrisons of the Pakistan Army
- C. Air-defence radar and missile installations of the Pakistan Air Force
- D. Naval assets and port facilities of the Pakistan Navy
Q3. How many persons were killed in the Pahalgam terror attack of 22 April 2025?
Q4. With reference to the Pahalgam terror attack (2025) and its aftermath, consider the following statements:
1. All 26 persons killed in the Pahalgam attack were Indian nationals.
2. The Pahalgam attack preceded Operation Sindoor, just as the Pulwama attack had preceded the Balakot air strike.
3. The Pahalgam attack occurred in April 2025, whereas Operation Sindoor was launched the following month.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- All 26 persons killed in the Pahalgam attack were Indian nationals.
- The Pahalgam attack preceded Operation Sindoor, just as the Pulwama attack had preceded the Balakot air strike.
- The Pahalgam attack occurred in April 2025, whereas Operation Sindoor was launched the following month.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q5. Which one of the following was adopted as the overall theme of the 77th Republic Day Parade (2026) at Kartavya Path?
- A. 150 years of Vande Mataram
- B. 75 years of the Constitution of India
- C. Nari Shakti — Women-led Development
- D. Viksit Bharat @2047
Q6. The Tri-services tableau at the 77th Republic Day Parade (2026) was notable primarily because—
- A. for the first time a joint tableau was fielded together by the Army, Navy and Air Force at the parade
- B. it was the only tableau permitted to any Ministry or Service that year
- C. it replaced all the State and Union Territory tableaux for 2026
- D. it was fielded solely by the Indian Army on behalf of the three Services
Q7. With reference to India's cross-border counter-terror operations, consider the following:
1. Uri surgical strike (2016) — conducted by Army Para (Special Forces) across the Line of Control.
2. Balakot air strike (2019) — carried out by the Indian Air Force using Mirage 2000 aircraft.
3. Balakot air strike (2019) — launched in response to the Pulwama terror attack.
4. Uri surgical strike (2016) — launched in response to the Pahalgam terror attack.
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?
- Uri surgical strike (2016) — conducted by Army Para (Special Forces) across the Line of Control.
- Balakot air strike (2019) — carried out by the Indian Air Force using Mirage 2000 aircraft.
- Balakot air strike (2019) — launched in response to the Pulwama terror attack.
- Uri surgical strike (2016) — launched in response to the Pahalgam terror attack.
- A. 1, 2 and 3 only
- B. 1 and 4 only
- C. 2, 3 and 4 only
- D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Q8. Which one of the following was the first of India's recent cross-border counter-terror responses to be executed as a declared, joint tri-Service operation?
- A. Operation Sindoor (2025)
- B. Uri surgical strike (2016)
- C. Balakot air strike (2019)
- D. Operation Mahadev (2025)
Q9. With reference to the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and the Department of Military Affairs, consider the following statements:
1. The post of Chief of Defence Staff was created in December 2019.
2. The Chief of Defence Staff heads the Department of Military Affairs.
3. The Chief of Defence Staff is a four-star officer and principal military adviser to the Defence Minister on tri-Service matters.
4. The Chief of Defence Staff exercises direct operational command over the three Services.
Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?
- The post of Chief of Defence Staff was created in December 2019.
- The Chief of Defence Staff heads the Department of Military Affairs.
- The Chief of Defence Staff is a four-star officer and principal military adviser to the Defence Minister on tri-Service matters.
- The Chief of Defence Staff exercises direct operational command over the three Services.
- A. 4 only
- B. 2 and 4 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 3 only
Q10. With reference to theaterisation and integrated commands in India, consider the following statements:
1. Under theaterisation, an Integrated Theatre Command would control land, air and naval assets in a region, unlike the present largely single-Service commands.
2. The Andaman and Nicobar Command is India's first integrated tri-Service command.
3. The Department of Military Affairs is headed by the Defence Secretary rather than the Chief of Defence Staff.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- Under theaterisation, an Integrated Theatre Command would control land, air and naval assets in a region, unlike the present largely single-Service commands.
- The Andaman and Nicobar Command is India's first integrated tri-Service command.
- The Department of Military Affairs is headed by the Defence Secretary rather than the Chief of Defence Staff.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q11. The BrahMos supersonic cruise missile has been jointly developed by India's DRDO and which one of the following?
- A. NPO Mashinostroyeniya (NPOM) of Russia
- B. Dassault Aviation of France
- C. Almaz-Antey of Russia
- D. Israel Aerospace Industries
Q12. In the context of Aatmanirbhar Bharat in defence, what does a 'Positive Indigenisation List' precisely denote?
- A. A list of defence items that, after notified timelines, may be procured only from domestic manufacturers and cannot be imported
- B. A list of defence items reserved exclusively for import owing to lack of domestic capability
- C. A list of defence items cleared for export to friendly foreign countries
- D. A list of defence items in which higher foreign direct investment is specially permitted