UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Raksha Mantri approves two-fold increase in financial ceiling for Field Commanders to strengthen operational efficiency

Q1. With reference to the Delegation of Financial Powers for Defence Services (DFPDS-2026), consider the following statements:

1. DFPDS-2026 succeeds the DFPDS regime last notified in 2021.
2. Compared to the earlier regime, financial powers delegated for indigenisation and Research & Development within the military ecosystem have been doubled under DFPDS-2026.
3. Unlike its predecessor, DFPDS-2026 applies only to Capital Route procurement and explicitly excludes Revenue Route procurement and works projects.

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

Q2. The Delegation of Financial Powers for Defence Services (DFPDS-2026), which enhanced financial ceilings for Field Commanders by up to 100% and doubled powers for indigenisation and R&D, was released in June 2026 by which one of the following authorities?

• A. The Chief of Defence Staff
• B. The Defence Secretary, Ministry of Defence
• C. The Raksha Mantri (Union Minister of Defence)
• D. The Vice Chief of the Army Staff, as the designated Competent Financial Authority

Q3. With reference to the Delegation of Financial Powers to Defence Services (DFPDS) framework of the Ministry of Defence, consider the following statements:

1. Under DFPDS-2021, the delegated financial powers of the Vice Chiefs of the Services were increased by 10 per cent, subject to an overall ceiling of Rs 500 crore.
2. DFPDS-2026 covers Revenue Route procurement of an annual value exceeding Rs 1.25 lakh crore.
3. Unlike DFPDS-2021, DFPDS-2026 applies exclusively to Capital Acquisition and explicitly excludes Revenue Route procurement from its ambit.

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

Q4. Under the Delegation of Financial Powers to Defence Services (DFPDS-2026), the newly introduced 'Lead Service' provision empowers a designated Service to undertake Joint-Service revenue procurement on behalf of how many Services of the Indian Armed Forces?

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

Q5. Under the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP)-2020, which one of the following is the apex body that accords 'Acceptance of Necessity' (AoN) to capital acquisition proposals of the Armed Forces?

• A. Defence Procurement Board
• B. Defence Acquisition Council
• C. Defence Planning Committee
• D. Defence Production Board

Q6. With reference to the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP)-2020, which of the following are correctly identified as categories of CAPITAL acquisition?

1. Buy (Indian-IDDM)
2. Make-II (Industry-funded)
3. Strategic Partnership (SP) Model
4. Delegation of Financial Powers for Defence Services (DFPDS)

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

Q7. Under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat push in defence, which one of the following is the apex 'Not-for-Profit' company, incorporated under Section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013, that implements the Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) framework?

• A. Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO)
• B. Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
• C. Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM)
• D. Defence Acquisition Council (DAC)

Q8. With reference to initiatives promoting Aatmanirbharta in the Indian defence sector, consider the following statements:

1. The SRIJAN portal is maintained by the Department of Defence Production and lists items that Indian industry can take up for indigenisation in place of imports by DPSUs/OFB/Service Headquarters.
2. The Positive Indigenisation Lists for Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) are notified by the Department of Military Affairs.
3. Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) was launched in 2018 to engage start-ups and MSMEs in co-creation and co-development of defence technologies.
4. The Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO) functions under the aegis of the Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence.

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

Q9. Which one of the following best describes the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) of India?

• A. A four-star General-rank officer who heads the Department of Military Affairs as its Secretary and is the Permanent Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee
• B. A five-star Field Marshal-rank officer who exercises operational command over all three Services through the Integrated Theatre Commands
• C. A four-star officer attached to the Department of Defence as Principal Military Adviser to the Defence Secretary on capital acquisitions
• D. A civilian Secretary-rank officer nominated by the Cabinet Secretariat to chair the Defence Acquisition Council and Defence Planning Committee

Q10. With reference to the Department of Military Affairs (DMA) under the Ministry of Defence, which of the following are correctly identified as its allocated subjects/functions?

1. Capital acquisitions for the Armed Forces
2. The Territorial Army
3. Promoting jointness in procurement, training and staffing of the three Services
4. Facilitation of restructuring of Military Commands, including through establishment of joint/theatre commands

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

Q11. With reference to the organisational structure of the Ministry of Defence, consider the following statements:

1. The Department of Military Affairs is headed by the Chief of Defence Staff as its Secretary, whereas the Department of Defence is headed by the Defence Secretary.
2. Unlike the Department of Defence, the Department of Military Affairs exclusively handles all matters of capital acquisition and defence procurement for the three Services.
3. The Border Roads Organisation and the National Cadet Corps fall under the Department of Defence and not under the Department of Military Affairs.

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

Q12. The Department of Military Affairs (DMA) within the Ministry of Defence was created pursuant to a decision taken by which one of the following?

• A. The Cabinet Committee on Security in December 2019
• B. The Union Cabinet on the recommendation of the Kargil Review Committee in 2001
• C. The Ministry of Defence following the Shekatkar Committee report in 2017
• D. Parliament through an amendment to the Allocation of Business Rules in 2015

Q13. As per the Union Budget 2026-27, defence pension is disbursed monthly through SPARSH and other authorities to approximately how many pensioners?

• A. More than 14 lakh
• B. More than 24 lakh
• C. More than 34 lakh
• D. More than 44 lakh

Q14. Under which dedicated digital system does the Ministry of Defence disburse monthly defence pension to its pensioners, as referenced in Union Budget 2026-27 documents?

• A. SPARSH
• B. PCDA(P) Allahabad portal
• C. CGDA e-Pension
• D. Bhavishya