UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — PARLIAMENT QUESTION: THE ADVANTAGES AND BENEFITS OF BHARATIYA ANTRIKSH STATION

Q1. Which module of the Bharatiya Antariksh Station is designated to be the first one placed in orbit, with a target launch in the 2028 timeframe?

• A. BAS-01
• B. BAS-02
• C. BAS-03
• D. BAS-05

Q2. In the context of India's space programme, the term 'Bharatiya Antariksh Station' most precisely refers to which one of the following?

• A. India's planned indigenous five-module space station in Low Earth Orbit
• B. India's first crewed lunar landing mission planned for 2040
• C. India's human-rated reusable launch vehicle for the Gaganyaan crew
• D. India's deep-space tracking and communication network for interplanetary missions

Q3. With reference to the revised scope of the Gaganyaan Programme, consider the following statements: 1. The revised total outlay of the programme is ₹20,193 crore. 2. The programme was expanded to a total of eight missions to be completed by December 2028. 3. Four of these missions are precursor missions for the Bharatiya Antariksh Station. 4. The revised scope was approved by the Union Cabinet in September 2026. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

1. The revised total outlay of the programme is ₹20,193 crore.
2. The programme was expanded to a total of eight missions to be completed by December 2028.
3. Four of these missions are precursor missions for the Bharatiya Antariksh Station.
4. The revised scope was approved by the Union Cabinet in September 2026.

• A. 1 and 2
• B. 3 only
• C. 2 and 4
• D. 4 only

Q4. Under the revised eight-mission Gaganyaan roadmap, which event is planned to mark the culmination of the programme by December 2028?

• A. The first crewed Gaganyaan mission to Low Earth Orbit
• B. The G1 uncrewed test mission
• C. The launch of the first module of the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS-01)
• D. The SpaDeX in-space docking experiment

Q5. The development of the Bharatiya Antariksh Station is being undertaken by which one of the following?

• A. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) under the Department of Space
• B. Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) under the Ministry of Defence
• C. Department of Science and Technology under the Ministry of Science and Technology
• D. Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe)

Q6. Which ISRO centre is the lead centre for realisation of the structure of the first module of the Bharatiya Antariksh Station?

• A. U R Rao Satellite Centre (URSC), Bengaluru
• B. Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Thiruvananthapuram
• C. Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota
• D. Space Applications Centre (SAC), Ahmedabad

Q7. With reference to the stated objectives and benefits of the Bharatiya Antariksh Station, consider the following: 1. Conducting multidisciplinary microgravity experiments as a National Space Laboratory. 2. Demonstrating in-orbit refuelling and rendezvous & docking technologies. 3. Serving as a gateway for future lunar exploration. 4. Functioning as India's primary geostationary weather-forecasting platform. Which of the above is/are correctly identified as objectives/benefits of BAS?

1. Conducting multidisciplinary microgravity experiments as a National Space Laboratory.
2. Demonstrating in-orbit refuelling and rendezvous & docking technologies.
3. Serving as a gateway for future lunar exploration.
4. Functioning as India's primary geostationary weather-forecasting platform.

• A. 1 and 2
• B. 1, 2 and 3
• C. 2, 3 and 4
• D. 1 and 4

Q8. On completion of the Bharatiya Antariksh Station, India will become which numbered country in the world to have an indigenously developed space station?

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

Q9. As envisaged in India's human spaceflight roadmap, the fully operational Bharatiya Antariksh Station targeted for 2035 will consist of how many modules?

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

Q10. In which year was the parent Gaganyaan Programme — the framework under which the Bharatiya Antariksh Station was later added — approved by the Government of India?

• A. 2014
• B. 2018
• C. 2019
• D. 2023

Q11. Autonomous docking — a capability essential for operating a multi-module space station like BAS — was first demonstrated by India through the SpaDeX mission in which month and year, making it the fourth nation to do so?

• A. December 2024
• B. January 2025
• C. March 2025
• D. January 2024

Q12. Regarding the recent status of the Bharatiya Antariksh Station, consider the following: 1. VSSC has issued an Expression of Interest (EoI) to Indian industries for realising the structure of the first BAS module. 2. A National Level Review Committee has reviewed the overall five-module configuration of BAS. 3. The first module, BAS-01, is sanctioned at a cost of ₹1,763 crore for the period 2025–2028. 4. The full five-module station has already been declared operational ahead of schedule. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

1. VSSC has issued an Expression of Interest (EoI) to Indian industries for realising the structure of the first BAS module.
2. A National Level Review Committee has reviewed the overall five-module configuration of BAS.
3. The first module, BAS-01, is sanctioned at a cost of ₹1,763 crore for the period 2025–2028.
4. The full five-module station has already been declared operational ahead of schedule.

• A. 1, 2 and 3
• B. 1 and 2
• C. 2, 3 and 4
• D. 3 only