UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Defence production soars to a record Rs 1.78 lakh crore in Financial Year 2025-26

Q1. With reference to India's defence exports performance, consider the following statements comparing FY 2025-26 with FY 2024-25: 1. Defence exports in FY 2025-26 grew by more than 60% over FY 2024-25. 2. In FY 2025-26, the private sector's share in defence exports exceeded that of Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) for the first time. 3. The number of countries to which India exports defence equipment rose above 80 in FY 2025-26. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. Defence exports in FY 2025-26 grew by more than 60% over FY 2024-25.
2. In FY 2025-26, the private sector's share in defence exports exceeded that of Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) for the first time.
3. The number of countries to which India exports defence equipment rose above 80 in FY 2025-26.

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

Q2. As per the Ministry of Defence figures for Financial Year 2025-26, how many defence exporters did India have, up from 128 in the previous fiscal?

• A. 137
• B. 145
• C. 158
• D. 172

Q3. Under which of the following is the Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) framework implemented?

• A. Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence
• B. Department of Defence Research and Development, Ministry of Defence
• C. Department of Military Affairs, Ministry of Defence
• D. Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry

Q4. The Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO), which funds and manages iDEX, was established as a Section 8 company with which of the following pairs of Defence Public Sector Undertakings as its founder members?

• A. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL)
• B. Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) and Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL)
• C. Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) and Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE)
• D. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL)

Q5. As per the Ministry of Defence (February 2025), approximately how many items listed on the SRIJAN portal have been successfully indigenised by the Indian industry?

• A. Over 3,000
• B. Over 14,000
• C. Over 24,000
• D. Over 38,000

Q6. Which one of the following is the nodal body that launched and operates the SRIJAN indigenisation portal (srijandefence.gov.in)?

• A. Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
• B. Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence
• C. Department of Military Affairs, Ministry of Defence
• D. Directorate General of Quality Assurance (DGQA)

Q7. In the context of India's defence indigenisation policy, what is a 'Positive Indigenisation List' (PIL)?

• A. A list of defence items beyond fixed timelines for which imports are restricted and procurement is to be made only from Indian industry
• B. A list of defence platforms eligible for accelerated export clearance and incentives under the Defence Exports Promotion Scheme
• C. A list of critical defence technologies earmarked for mandatory foreign technology transfer to Indian DPSUs
• D. A list of items reserved exclusively for procurement from MSMEs and start-ups under the iDEX framework

Q8. The Positive Indigenisation Lists covering highly-complex systems, sensors, weapons and ammunition for the Armed Forces (Services) are notified by which authority?

• A. Department of Defence Production (DDP), Ministry of Defence
• B. Department of Military Affairs (DMA), Ministry of Defence
• C. Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
• D. Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) chaired by the Raksha Mantri

Q9. In the context of India's defence exports, the term 'Open General Export Licence (OGEL)' most accurately refers to which one of the following?

• A. A one-time export licence granted to an Indian defence firm permitting export of specified items to specified destination countries listed in the licence, without the need to seek separate export authorisation for each shipment during its validity period
• B. A reciprocal trade concession extended by friendly foreign governments allowing duty-free import of Indian defence products into their territory
• C. A blanket export waiver issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade exempting defence exporters from the SCOMET end-use certification requirement
• D. A multilateral arrangement under which Indian Defence Public Sector Undertakings transfer technology, on a royalty-free basis, to subsidiaries of foreign parent companies

Q10. Under the Ministry of Defence, which one of the following is the nodal authority for the administrative control of all Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) and for operationalising the SRIJAN indigenisation portal and the Positive Indigenisation Lists?

• A. Department of Defence (DoD)
• B. Department of Defence Production (DDP)
• C. Department of Defence Research and Development (DDR&D)
• D. Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare (DESW)

Q11. With reference to India's defence production and exports performance in FY 2025-26 vis-à-vis FY 2024-25, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. Defence production in FY 2025-26 registered a year-on-year growth of more than 15% over FY 2024-25.
2. In FY 2025-26, the share of the private sector in India's defence exports exceeded that of Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs), reversing the pattern of FY 2024-25.
3. Defence exports in FY 2025-26 grew at a higher percentage rate over the previous year than defence production did in the same period.

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

Q12. Under the Government of India's Atmanirbhar Bharat in Defence framework, which of the following financial figures is/are correctly identified with the milestone/target indicated?

1. ₹3 lakh crore — Annual defence production target set to be achieved by 2029.
2. ₹50,000 crore — Annual defence exports target set to be achieved by 2029.
3. ₹38,424 crore — Record defence exports achieved in FY 2025-26.
4. ₹1.54 lakh crore — Record defence production achieved in FY 2025-26.

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

Q13. In the context of India's defence-industrial base, the initiative 'Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX)' is best described as:

• A. A Department of Defence Production framework that engages start-ups, MSMEs, individual innovators and R&D institutes through grants and prototype-development contracts for defence and aerospace problems
• B. A funding window operated exclusively by Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) to license their in-house patents to private Indian firms on a royalty basis
• C. An online indigenisation portal that lists items already produced by Indian private defence manufacturers and automatically bans all further imports of those items
• D. A statutory body under DRDO whose sole mandate is to procure dual-use technologies from foreign OEMs for transfer to Indian private-sector firms