UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — DELIVERY OF PROJECT 17A INDIGENOUS ADVANCED STEALTH FRIGATE ‘MAHENDRAGIRI’

Q1. With reference to the Project 17A (Nilgiri-class) stealth frigate programme of the Indian Navy, which one of the following best describes the 'Warship Design Bureau'?

• A. An in-house design organisation of the Indian Navy responsible for indigenous warship design
• B. A defence public sector undertaking under the Ministry of Defence engaged in warship construction
• C. An autonomous laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) that develops naval weapon systems
• D. A statutory body under the Ministry of Shipping that certifies all warship designs built in Indian shipyards

Q2. With reference to the Project 17A frigate programme of the Indian Navy in comparison with its predecessor, consider the following statements: 1. Project 17A is the follow-on programme to the Shivalik-class (Project 17) frigates. 2. Under the Project 17A programme, four frigates are being built at Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata, and three at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDSL), Mumbai. 3. Project 17A frigates have approximately the same displacement as the Shivalik-class but possess a reduced radar cross-section and an upgraded weapon-sensor fit. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. Project 17A is the follow-on programme to the Shivalik-class (Project 17) frigates.
2. Under the Project 17A programme, four frigates are being built at Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata, and three at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDSL), Mumbai.
3. Project 17A frigates have approximately the same displacement as the Shivalik-class but possess a reduced radar cross-section and an upgraded weapon-sensor fit.

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

Q3. In the context of Project 17A Nilgiri-class stealth frigates, what does the propulsion configuration 'CODOG' refer to?

• A. Combined Diesel Or Gas — one diesel engine or one gas turbine drives the shaft via a controllable-pitch propeller
• B. Combined Diesel And Gas — diesel and gas turbines run simultaneously through a common gearbox at all speeds
• C. Combined Diesel-electric Or Gas — electric motors at cruise speeds switched to gas turbines at high speeds
• D. Coupled Diesel On Generator — diesel engines drive only electric generators powering propulsion motors

Q4. How many ships in total constitute the Indian Navy's Project 17A (Nilgiri-class) stealth frigate programme?

• A. 4
• B. 6
• C. 7
• D. 10

Q5. With reference to the ships of Project 17A (Nilgiri-class stealth frigates) and the geographical features they are named after, consider the following pairs: Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

1. Mahendragiri — a peak in the Eastern Ghats in the State of Odisha
2. Nilgiri — a hill range in the Western Ghats in the State of Tamil Nadu
3. Taragiri — a peak in the Aravalli range in the State of Rajasthan
4. Udaygiri — a mountain range in the State of Andhra Pradesh

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

Q6. With reference to the Nilgiri-class (Project 17A) stealth frigates of the Indian Navy and the geographical features after which they are named, consider the following pairs: Which of the pairs given above is NOT correctly matched?

1. Mahendragiri — a peak in the Eastern Ghats in the State of Odisha
2. Dunagiri — a peak in the Garhwal Himalayas in the State of Uttarakhand
3. Himgiri — a peak in the Himalayan range
4. Udaygiri — a hill range in the State of Madhya Pradesh

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

Q7. Under Project 17A (Nilgiri-class advanced stealth frigates), which one of the following is the lead shipyard, constructing the majority of the ships in the seven-ship programme?

• A. Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers, Kolkata
• B. Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited, Mumbai
• C. Cochin Shipyard Limited, Kochi
• D. Hindustan Shipyard Limited, Visakhapatnam

Q8. With reference to the Project 17A stealth frigate programme of the Indian Navy, approximately how many Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) have been engaged in construction at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited?

• A. More than 50
• B. More than 100
• C. More than 200
• D. More than 500

Q9. Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDSL) and Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), the public sector shipyards executing Project 17A stealth frigates, function as Defence Public Sector Undertakings under the administrative control of which one of the following Union Ministries?

• A. Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
• B. Ministry of Heavy Industries
• C. Ministry of Defence
• D. Ministry of Commerce and Industry

Q10. With reference to the construction of Nilgiri-class (Project 17A) stealth frigates of the Indian Navy, which one of the following shipyards is the lead/principal builder, having delivered the lead ship 'Nilgiri' and constructing the largest share (four out of seven) of the warships in the programme?

• A. Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd, Kolkata
• B. Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited, Mumbai
• C. Cochin Shipyard Limited, Kochi
• D. Hindustan Shipyard Limited, Visakhapatnam

Q11. In the context of the propulsion plant fitted on India's Project 17A (Nilgiri-class) stealth frigates, the term 'CODOG' refers to which one of the following arrangements?

• A. Combined Diesel And Gas — a diesel engine and a gas turbine are engaged on the same shaft simultaneously for higher combined power
• B. Combined Diesel Or Gas — a diesel engine is used for cruise while a gas turbine is used alternately for high-speed sprint, only one driving the shaft at a time
• C. Combined Gas And Gas — two gas turbines drive a single shaft, one for cruise and both for sprint
• D. Combined Diesel-eLectric And Gas — diesel generators supply electric motors for cruise, with a mechanically-coupled gas turbine for sprint

Q12. With reference to the Nilgiri-class (Project 17A) frigates as compared to the Shivalik-class (Project 17) frigates of the Indian Navy, consider the following statements: 1. The hull of a Project 17A ship is geo-symmetrically larger than a Project 17 ship by about 4.54%. 2. Unlike the Shivalik-class which was designed in Russia, the Nilgiri-class is the first Indian frigate class designed indigenously by the Warship Design Bureau. 3. While Project 17 ships were built only at Mazagon Dock, Mumbai, Project 17A ships are being built at both Mazagon Dock, Mumbai and Garden Reach Shipbuilders, Kolkata. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. The hull of a Project 17A ship is geo-symmetrically larger than a Project 17 ship by about 4.54%.
2. Unlike the Shivalik-class which was designed in Russia, the Nilgiri-class is the first Indian frigate class designed indigenously by the Warship Design Bureau.
3. While Project 17 ships were built only at Mazagon Dock, Mumbai, Project 17A ships are being built at both Mazagon Dock, Mumbai and Garden Reach Shipbuilders, Kolkata.

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