UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — DRDO carries out successful demonstration of Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet technology

Q1. A ramjet engine of the type used in the SFDR produces useful thrust only above approximately which Mach number?

  • A. Mach 2
  • B. Mach 0.8
  • C. Mach 5
  • D. Mach 8

Q2. The February 2026 SFDR demonstration was executed by the DRDO, which functions under which one of the following departments of the Ministry of Defence?

  • A. Department of Defence Research and Development
  • B. Department of Defence Production
  • C. Department of Military Affairs
  • D. Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare

Q3. In the 03 February 2026 demonstration, how many principal SFDR subsystems were reported to have performed as expected once the vehicle reached ramjet operating speed?

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

Q4. In the DRDO cluster that developed the SFDR, the High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL), Pune, is primarily concerned with which one of the following?

  • A. Development of propellants, explosives and high-energy materials, including the nozzle-less booster
  • B. Development of missile seekers, avionics, navigation and onboard guidance systems
  • C. Aerodynamic wind-tunnel testing and airframe structural design of missiles
  • D. Manufacture and serial production of finished missiles for the armed forces

Q5. Which one of the following is the lead (nodal) DRDO laboratory for the SFDR project?

  • A. Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), Hyderabad
  • B. Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad
  • C. High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL), Pune
  • D. Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur

Q6. The first successful flight demonstration of SFDR technology by DRDO from ITR Chandipur took place in which year?

  • A. 2021
  • B. 2018
  • C. 2022
  • D. 2026

Q7. The Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, from which the SFDR was flight-demonstrated, is administered by which one of the following?

  • A. Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
  • B. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
  • C. Indian Air Force
  • D. Ministry of Home Affairs

Q8. Which one of the following statements correctly describes the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)?

  • A. It is the premier research and development agency under the Department of Defence R&D, Ministry of Defence, mandated to develop defence technologies and achieve self-reliance
  • B. It is a defence public sector undertaking that manufactures and exports finished weapon systems for profit
  • C. It is a tri-services command responsible for the operational deployment of missiles
  • D. It is a research bureau under the Ministry of Home Affairs dealing with internal-security technologies