UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — INDIGENOUS STEALTH FRIGATE ‘DUNAGIRI’ DELIVERED TO INDIAN NAVY – A MAJOR BOOST TO AATMANIRBHARTA IN WARSHIP BUILDING

Q1. In the context of indigenous warship construction for the Indian Navy, 'Project 17A' refers to which one of the following?

• A. A class of multi-mission stealth guided-missile frigates
• B. A class of guided-missile destroyers
• C. A class of diesel-electric attack submarines
• D. A class of anti-submarine warfare corvettes

Q2. Which one of the following is the lead ship (first of class) of the Project 17A Nilgiri-class stealth frigates?

• A. Nilgiri
• B. Himgiri
• C. Dunagiri
• D. Mahendragiri

Q3. With reference to the stealth frigate Dunagiri and the Project 17A delivery sequence, consider the following statements: 1. Dunagiri is the fifth ship of Project 17A and the second of the class to be built at GRSE, Kolkata. 2. Himgiri, delivered in July 2025, was the first Project 17A frigate built by GRSE. 3. The build period of Dunagiri was longer than that of the lead ship of the class. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. Dunagiri is the fifth ship of Project 17A and the second of the class to be built at GRSE, Kolkata.
2. Himgiri, delivered in July 2025, was the first Project 17A frigate built by GRSE.
3. The build period of Dunagiri was longer than that of the lead ship of the class.

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

Q4. With reference to the CODOG propulsion arrangement used on the Project 17A frigates, consider the following: 1. It pairs diesel engines for cruising speed with gas turbines for high-speed dash. 2. Only one type of prime mover drives a propeller shaft at any given time. 3. At maximum speed the diesel engine and the gas turbine run together and combine their power on the same shaft. 4. CODOG is the propulsion configuration fitted on Dunagiri. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

1. It pairs diesel engines for cruising speed with gas turbines for high-speed dash.
2. Only one type of prime mover drives a propeller shaft at any given time.
3. At maximum speed the diesel engine and the gas turbine run together and combine their power on the same shaft.
4. CODOG is the propulsion configuration fitted on Dunagiri.

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

Q5. Consider the following naval combined-propulsion abbreviations and their expansions: 1. CODOG – Combined Diesel or Gas 2. COGAG – Combined Gas and Gas 3. CODAD – Combined Diesel and Diesel 4. CODAG – Combined Diesel or Gas Which of the above pairs is/are NOT correctly matched?

1. CODOG – Combined Diesel or Gas
2. COGAG – Combined Gas and Gas
3. CODAD – Combined Diesel and Diesel
4. CODAG – Combined Diesel or Gas

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

Q6. What is the approximate indigenous (indigenisation) content of the Project 17A stealth frigates such as Dunagiri?

• A. About 45%
• B. About 60%
• C. About 75%
• D. About 95%

Q7. With reference to the indigenisation features of the Project 17A frigates, consider the following: 1. The structural hull is built from DMR 249A steel produced indigenously by SAIL. 2. The programme has involved over 200 MSMEs. 3. DMR 249A is a high-carbon stainless steel that India still imports for warship hulls. 4. The frigates exemplify Aatmanirbharta (self-reliance) in indigenous warship building. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

1. The structural hull is built from DMR 249A steel produced indigenously by SAIL.
2. The programme has involved over 200 MSMEs.
3. DMR 249A is a high-carbon stainless steel that India still imports for warship hulls.
4. The frigates exemplify Aatmanirbharta (self-reliance) in indigenous warship building.

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

Q8. With reference to the two shipyards building the Project 17A frigates, consider the following statements: 1. GRSE is headquartered at Kolkata while Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL) is at Mumbai. 2. GRSE functions under the administrative control of the Ministry of Defence. 3. Of the seven Project 17A frigates, GRSE was assigned four and MDL three. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. GRSE is headquartered at Kolkata while Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL) is at Mumbai.
2. GRSE functions under the administrative control of the Ministry of Defence.
3. Of the seven Project 17A frigates, GRSE was assigned four and MDL three.

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

Q9. The new Dunagiri is a 'reincarnation' of an earlier warship of the same name. With reference to that erstwhile INS Dunagiri, consider the following: 1. It was a Leander-class frigate. 2. It was commissioned in 1977. 3. It was decommissioned in 2010 after about 33 years of service. 4. It was a nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

1. It was a Leander-class frigate.
2. It was commissioned in 1977.
3. It was decommissioned in 2010 after about 33 years of service.
4. It was a nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine.

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

Q10. With reference to the physical and performance characteristics of the Project 17A (Nilgiri-class) frigates, consider the following statements: 1. They have a full-load displacement of about 6,670 tonnes. 2. They have an overall length of about 149 metres. 3. Their maximum speed is less than 25 knots. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. They have a full-load displacement of about 6,670 tonnes.
2. They have an overall length of about 149 metres.
3. Their maximum speed is less than 25 knots.

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

Q11. The Project 17A Nilgiri-class vessels are classified as frigates. The Project 15B Visakhapatnam-class vessels of the Indian Navy are classified as which one of the following?

• A. Guided-missile destroyers
• B. Anti-submarine corvettes
• C. Landing platform docks
• D. Fleet replenishment tankers