UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Operation Sindoor demonstrated that indigenous systems are strengthening India’s operational readiness: Raksha Mantri
Q1. During Operation Sindoor (May 2025), which one of the following locations represented the deepest strike into Pakistan's Punjab heartland, a target once considered out of bounds even for U.S. drones?
- A. Muzaffarabad
- B. Kotli
- C. Bahawalpur
- D. Rawalakot
Q2. With reference to Operation Sindoor (7-10 May 2025), consider the following statements:
1. It was launched on 7 May 2025 as a response to the Pahalgam terror attack.
2. It struck nine terror sites located in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu & Kashmir.
3. Pakistani military airbases were struck as the primary objectives of the operation.
4. It was executed by the Indian armed forces and was officially described as focused, measured and non-escalatory.
Which of the above is/are NOT correct?
- It was launched on 7 May 2025 as a response to the Pahalgam terror attack.
- It struck nine terror sites located in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu & Kashmir.
- Pakistani military airbases were struck as the primary objectives of the operation.
- It was executed by the Indian armed forces and was officially described as focused, measured and non-escalatory.
- A. 1 and 2
- B. 2 and 4
- C. 3 only
- D. 3 and 4
Q3. The Akash surface-to-air missile system, employed in the layered air-defence grid during Operation Sindoor, was designed and developed indigenously under which one of the following organisations?
- A. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)
- B. Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
- C. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
- D. Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL)
Q4. The DRDO, which developed the indigenous missile and air-defence systems used in Operation Sindoor, functions under which one of the following departments of the Ministry of Defence?
- A. Department of Defence Production
- B. Department of Military Affairs
- C. Department of Defence Research and Development
- D. Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare
Q5. Within the Ministry of Defence, DRDO functions as the premier/nodal organisation for which one of the following functions?
- A. Defence research and development
- B. Production of defence equipment through public-sector undertakings
- C. Capital acquisition and procurement of arms
- D. Administration of the three armed services and military operations
Q6. With reference to the DRDO's evolution, consider the following statements:
1. DRDO was formed in 1958 by amalgamating the Technical Development Establishments of the Army and the Directorate of Technical Development & Production with the Defence Science Organisation.
2. Whereas it began with 10 establishments, DRDO is today a network of around 41 laboratories.
3. DRDO is presently the R&D wing of the Ministry of Home Affairs, having been transferred from the Ministry of Defence.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- DRDO was formed in 1958 by amalgamating the Technical Development Establishments of the Army and the Directorate of Technical Development & Production with the Defence Science Organisation.
- Whereas it began with 10 establishments, DRDO is today a network of around 41 laboratories.
- DRDO is presently the R&D wing of the Ministry of Home Affairs, having been transferred from the Ministry of Defence.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q7. Consider the following initiatives:
1. Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX)
2. ADITI scheme
3. Positive Indigenisation Lists
4. PM-KUSUM
Which of the above is/are NOT correctly identified as an initiative to promote Aatmanirbharta in the defence sector?
- Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX)
- ADITI scheme
- Positive Indigenisation Lists
- PM-KUSUM
- A. 1 and 3
- B. 4 only
- C. 2 and 4
- D. 3 only
Q8. With reference to India's defence indigenisation framework, consider the following statements:
1. iDEX was launched in 2018 and is implemented by the Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO).
2. The ADITI scheme aims to develop about 30 deep-tech critical and strategic technologies.
3. Under the Positive Indigenisation Lists, all defence procurement of the armed forces must be sourced exclusively from domestic vendors with immediate effect.
4. iDEX exclusively funds Defence PSUs and bars start-ups from participation.
Which of the statements given above is/are correctly identified?
- iDEX was launched in 2018 and is implemented by the Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO).
- The ADITI scheme aims to develop about 30 deep-tech critical and strategic technologies.
- Under the Positive Indigenisation Lists, all defence procurement of the armed forces must be sourced exclusively from domestic vendors with immediate effect.
- iDEX exclusively funds Defence PSUs and bars start-ups from participation.
- A. 1 and 2
- B. 1, 2 and 3
- C. 3 and 4
- D. 2 and 4
Q9. In his January 2026 address to DRDO, Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh identified which one of the following as the foremost parameter for judging DRDO's performance?
- A. The number of patents filed each year
- B. Timely induction of systems into the Armed Forces
- C. The volume of defence export revenue earned
- D. The number of new laboratories established
Q10. In his January 2026 DRDO address, Rajnath Singh cautioned that, given the pace of change, a technology that is new today may become irrelevant within roughly how many years?
- A. 1-2 years
- B. 4-5 years
- C. 8-10 years
- D. 15-20 years
Q11. Among India's three major cross-border counter-terror actions of the last decade, which one was the first to be executed using fighter air power rather than a ground assault?
- A. Uri surgical strikes (2016)
- B. Balakot air strike (2019)
- C. Operation Sindoor (2025)
- D. Kargil operations (1999)
Q12. In the context of the 22 April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack, the term 'Operation Mahadev' refers to which one of the following?
- A. The July 2025 counter-terror operation in which three Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists responsible for the Pahalgam attack were killed
- B. The evacuation and rescue of surviving tourists from Baisaran Valley immediately after the attack
- C. India's diplomatic outreach to brief foreign governments on cross-border terrorism
- D. The activation of the integrated air-defence grid to intercept Pakistani drones