UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — STRENGTHENING NATIONAL SPACE INFRASTRUCTURE

Q1. Within the reformed governance architecture of India's space sector, IN-SPACe is designed to authorise the space activities of government and non-government entities by operating as an agency with how many windows for clearance?

  • A. A single (one) window
  • B. Two parallel windows, one each for ISRO and private entities
  • C. Three windows across DoS, ISRO and NSIL
  • D. Four sector-specific windows

Q2. In the institutional structure of India's space sector, NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) is most accurately described as:

  • A. A wholly owned Central Public Sector Enterprise under the Department of Space serving as its commercial arm
  • B. An autonomous single-window regulator that authorises private space activities
  • C. A statutory tribunal that adjudicates space-related commercial disputes
  • D. An inter-ministerial council chaired by the Prime Minister to set space policy

Q3. The Space Docking Experiment (SPADEX), which demonstrated autonomous docking and inter-satellite power transfer, was designed and executed primarily by which of the following?

  • A. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
  • B. IN-SPACe
  • C. NewSpace India Limited (NSIL)
  • D. Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)

Q4. With the successful SPADEX docking, India attained which rank among nations to have independently demonstrated autonomous spacecraft docking in orbit?

  • A. Second
  • B. Third
  • C. Fourth
  • D. Fifth

Q5. Consider the following statements regarding the revised (2024) scope of the Gaganyaan programme: 1. The programme was expanded to eight missions to be completed by December 2028. 2. The total funding was enhanced to ₹20,193 crore. 3. It incorporates the launch of the first module of the Bharatiya Antariksh Station by 2028. 4. Responsibility for human-rating the launch vehicle was transferred from ISRO to a private consortium. Which of the above are correctly identified?

  1. The programme was expanded to eight missions to be completed by December 2028.
  2. The total funding was enhanced to ₹20,193 crore.
  3. It incorporates the launch of the first module of the Bharatiya Antariksh Station by 2028.
  4. Responsibility for human-rating the launch vehicle was transferred from ISRO to a private consortium.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1 and 4 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 2 and 4

Q6. Consider the following statements about the revised Gaganyaan programme: 1. Four additional missions were added to demonstrate technologies for the space station. 2. The net additional funding approved was ₹11,170 crore. 3. The first module of the Bharatiya Antariksh Station is to be launched by 2028. 4. The revised total budget of the programme is ₹9,023 crore. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. Four additional missions were added to demonstrate technologies for the space station.
  2. The net additional funding approved was ₹11,170 crore.
  3. The first module of the Bharatiya Antariksh Station is to be launched by 2028.
  4. The revised total budget of the programme is ₹9,023 crore.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 2 and 3
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 1 and 4

Q7. The 2024 amendment liberalising Foreign Direct Investment in the space sector is framed and administered through which of the following?

  • A. Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry
  • B. IN-SPACe under the Department of Space
  • C. Reserve Bank of India
  • D. NewSpace India Limited

Q8. Consider the following sub-sector and its permitted automatic-route FDI limit under the 2024 space FDI policy: 1. Satellite manufacturing and operation — up to 74% 2. Launch vehicles and spaceports — up to 49% 3. Manufacturing of components and sub-systems — up to 100% 4. Ground segment and user segment — up to 49% Which of the above pairings is/are NOT correct?

  1. Satellite manufacturing and operation — up to 74%
  2. Launch vehicles and spaceports — up to 49%
  3. Manufacturing of components and sub-systems — up to 100%
  4. Ground segment and user segment — up to 49%
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 2 and 3
  • C. 3 only
  • D. 4 only

Q9. Consider the following statements comparing India's operational launch vehicles: 1. LVM3 can place about 4,200 kg into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit, exceeding the roughly 2-tonne-class capability of the GSLV Mk-II. 2. The SSLV is designed to launch satellites in the 10-500 kg range into low Earth orbit. 3. The PSLV is a three-stage vehicle using solid propulsion in all its stages. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. LVM3 can place about 4,200 kg into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit, exceeding the roughly 2-tonne-class capability of the GSLV Mk-II.
  2. The SSLV is designed to launch satellites in the 10-500 kg range into low Earth orbit.
  3. The PSLV is a three-stage vehicle using solid propulsion in all its stages.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q10. The Third Launch Pad recently approved for the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, is being established primarily to support the launch of which vehicle?

  • A. Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV)
  • B. LVM3
  • C. PSLV
  • D. SSLV

Q11. Under Space Vision 2047, the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS) is best described as:

  • A. A five-module crewed space station in Low Earth Orbit for long-duration human missions and microgravity research
  • B. A permanent human habitat on the lunar surface to be set up during the 2040 Moon landing
  • C. A deep-space communication and tracking ground station on Indian soil
  • D. An automated in-orbit satellite-servicing depot stationed in Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit

Q12. In the NISAR Earth-observation mission, the launch vehicle (GSLV-F16), the spacecraft bus and the S-band synthetic aperture radar payload were provided by which agency?

  • A. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
  • B. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
  • C. IN-SPACe
  • D. NewSpace India Limited (NSIL)