UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Raksha Mantri inaugurates Missile Integration facility at BEL, Bengaluru; Flags-off Akash 3rd and 4th Regiment Combat systems & unveils Mountain Fire Control Radar
Q1. Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), the Defence PSU associated with the Akash weapon system, operates how many manufacturing units across India?
- A. Five
- B. Seven
- C. Nine
- D. Eleven
Q2. With reference to Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), which one of the following statements is correct?
- A. It was established in 1954 under the Ministry of Defence and holds Navratna status.
- B. It was established in 1954 under the Ministry of Heavy Industries and holds Maharatna status.
- C. It was established in 1964 under the Ministry of Defence and holds Navratna status.
- D. It is a private-sector electronics firm that has been conferred Navratna status by the Ministry of Defence.
Q3. Which one of the following is correctly described as DRDO's first tactical missile system — the first indigenous surface-to-air missile successfully developed, produced and delivered to both the Indian Air Force and the Indian Army?
- A. Akash
- B. QRSAM
- C. Barak-8 (MRSAM)
- D. Trishul
Q4. With reference to the Akash weapon system, consider the following statements:
1. It is a Short Range Surface-to-Air Missile system meant to protect vulnerable areas and vulnerable points.
2. It can simultaneously engage multiple targets in Group Mode or Autonomous Mode.
3. It has built-in Electronic Counter-Counter Measures (ECCM) features.
4. It is India's first indigenously developed long-range surface-to-air missile.
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?
- It is a Short Range Surface-to-Air Missile system meant to protect vulnerable areas and vulnerable points.
- It can simultaneously engage multiple targets in Group Mode or Autonomous Mode.
- It has built-in Electronic Counter-Counter Measures (ECCM) features.
- It is India's first indigenously developed long-range surface-to-air missile.
- A. 1, 2 and 3
- B. 2 and 4 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Q5. With reference to the production of the Akash weapon system, consider the following statements:
1. Bharat Dynamics Limited is the nodal production agency for the system.
2. Bharat Electronics Limited is involved in producing its radars and command-and-control/ground systems.
3. Larsen & Toubro and Tata Advanced Systems are among the production partners.
4. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited is the nodal missile production agency.
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?
- Bharat Dynamics Limited is the nodal production agency for the system.
- Bharat Electronics Limited is involved in producing its radars and command-and-control/ground systems.
- Larsen & Toubro and Tata Advanced Systems are among the production partners.
- Hindustan Aeronautics Limited is the nodal missile production agency.
- A. 1, 2 and 3
- B. 1 and 4 only
- C. 2, 3 and 4
- D. 1, 3 and 4
Q6. With reference to the roles of agencies in the Akash programme, consider the following statements:
1. Bharat Dynamics Limited manufactures the missile while Bharat Electronics Limited supplies the radars and command-and-control systems.
2. The Akash weapon system was designed and developed by DRDL, a DRDO laboratory.
3. The high-altitude Akash Prime variant was inducted only by the Indian Air Force and not by the Indian Army.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- Bharat Dynamics Limited manufactures the missile while Bharat Electronics Limited supplies the radars and command-and-control systems.
- The Akash weapon system was designed and developed by DRDL, a DRDO laboratory.
- The high-altitude Akash Prime variant was inducted only by the Indian Air Force and not by the Indian Army.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q7. The July 2025 high-altitude (above 4,500 m) validation firing of the Akash Prime weapon system in Ladakh was carried out by which one of the following?
- A. Indian Army (Army Air Defence)
- B. Indian Air Force
- C. Indian Navy
- D. Border Security Force
Q8. With reference to the Akash-NG (New Generation) compared with the existing Akash, consider the following statements:
1. Compared to the existing Akash, Akash-NG offers better deployability with a canisterised launcher.
2. Akash-NG is propelled by a solid rocket motor and carries an indigenous Radio Frequency (RF) seeker.
3. Unlike the base Akash, Akash-NG has a much larger ground system footprint.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- Compared to the existing Akash, Akash-NG offers better deployability with a canisterised launcher.
- Akash-NG is propelled by a solid rocket motor and carries an indigenous Radio Frequency (RF) seeker.
- Unlike the base Akash, Akash-NG has a much larger ground system footprint.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q9. With reference to the 16 February 2026 event at BEL, Bengaluru, consider the following statements:
1. A Missile Integration Facility was inaugurated at BEL, Bengaluru.
2. The Akash 3rd and 4th Regiment combat systems were flagged off for the Indian Air Force.
3. With this flag-off, the number of Akash regiments inducted by the Indian Air Force rose to four.
4. The event was presided over by the Chief of Defence Staff.
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?
- A Missile Integration Facility was inaugurated at BEL, Bengaluru.
- The Akash 3rd and 4th Regiment combat systems were flagged off for the Indian Air Force.
- With this flag-off, the number of Akash regiments inducted by the Indian Air Force rose to four.
- The event was presided over by the Chief of Defence Staff.
- A. 1, 2 and 3
- B. 2 and 4 only
- C. 1 and 4 only
- D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Q10. The following are cited as systems/facilities unveiled or launched by the Raksha Mantri at the BEL, Bengaluru event of 16 February 2026:
1. Mountain Fire Control Radar
2. Missile Integration Facility
3. BEL's AI Policy
4. High-altitude validation firing of Akash Prime in Ladakh
Which of the above is/are NOT correct?
- Mountain Fire Control Radar
- Missile Integration Facility
- BEL's AI Policy
- High-altitude validation firing of Akash Prime in Ladakh
- A. 4 only
- B. 1 and 2
- C. 3 and 4
- D. 2 only
Q11. During Operation Sindoor (2025), which one of the following is described as India's fully indigenous, automated Air Defence Control and Reporting System that intercepted and neutralised inbound aerial threats?
- A. Akashteer
- B. Akash
- C. S-400 Triumf
- D. Barak-8
Q12. With reference to the launches at the 16 February 2026 BEL, Bengaluru event, consider the following statements:
1. The Missile Integration Facility was inaugurated at BEL, Bengaluru.
2. The Centre of Excellence for Artificial Intelligence is located in Pune.
3. BEL's AI Policy was formally unveiled at the same event.
4. The Centre of Excellence for Artificial Intelligence at Pune was inaugurated physically on-site by the Raksha Mantri.
Which of the above is/are NOT correct?
- The Missile Integration Facility was inaugurated at BEL, Bengaluru.
- The Centre of Excellence for Artificial Intelligence is located in Pune.
- BEL's AI Policy was formally unveiled at the same event.
- The Centre of Excellence for Artificial Intelligence at Pune was inaugurated physically on-site by the Raksha Mantri.
- A. 4 only
- B. 2 and 3
- C. 1 and 4
- D. 3 only