UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — DRDO conducts successful flight-test of Pinaka Long Range Guided Rocket

Q1. In the context of the DRDO flight-test conducted on 8 July 2026, the 'Pinaka Long Range Guided Rocket (LRGR)' is best described as which one of the following?

  • A. A guided artillery rocket fired from the in-service Pinaka launcher, extending the reach of the Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher system
  • B. A supersonic surface-to-air missile developed to replace the Akash air-defence system
  • C. A shoulder-fired anti-tank guided missile for infantry units
  • D. A submarine-launched ballistic missile of the K-series family

Q2. The Pinaka Long Range Guided Rocket flight-tested in July 2026 was designed, as the lead establishment, by which one of the following DRDO laboratories?

  • A. Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE), Pune
  • B. High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL), Pune
  • C. Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), Hyderabad
  • D. Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad

Q3. In the maiden flight test conducted on 29 December 2025, the designation 'LRGR-120' denotes which one of the following?

  • A. The Pinaka Long Range Guided Rocket variant tested at its maximum range of 120 km
  • B. A single salvo of 120 Pinaka rockets fired from one launcher
  • C. The 120th Rocket Regiment of the Indian Army
  • D. A 120 mm calibre mortar-launched guided munition

Q4. In its maiden flight test of December 2025, the Pinaka LRGR-120 was tested at a maximum range of how many kilometres?

  • A. 60 km
  • B. 90 km
  • C. 120 km
  • D. 150 km

Q5. A single Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher can fire a salvo of how many rockets in about 44 seconds?

  • A. 6
  • B. 12
  • C. 18
  • D. 24

Q6. The Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher was developed for the Indian Army, as an indigenous alternative to the BM-21 'Grad', by which one of the following organisations?

  • A. Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
  • B. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)
  • C. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
  • D. Munitions India Limited (MIL)

Q7. Consider the following statements comparing the Pinaka system with its Soviet-origin predecessor: 1. The Pinaka was developed by DRDO as an indigenous alternative to the Soviet-origin BM-21 'Grad' rocket launchers. 2. Development of the Pinaka programme began in the late 1980s. 3. Unlike the imported Grad systems, the Pinaka was designed and produced entirely abroad and imported into India. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Pinaka was developed by DRDO as an indigenous alternative to the Soviet-origin BM-21 'Grad' rocket launchers.
  2. Development of the Pinaka programme began in the late 1980s.
  3. Unlike the imported Grad systems, the Pinaka was designed and produced entirely abroad and imported into India.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q8. The name 'Pinaka', given to the DRDO rocket system, is derived from which one of the following?

  • A. The bow of Lord Shiva
  • B. The bow of Lord Rama
  • C. The discus (Sudarshana Chakra) of Lord Vishnu
  • D. The trident (Trishula) of Lord Shiva

Q9. With reference to the Pinaka family and the concept of variant commonality, consider the following statements: 1. The Pinaka LRGR (60 km) and the LRGR-120 (120 km) were fired from two different, variant-specific launchers. 2. The Pinaka Area Denial Munition carries a specialised warhead that delivers sub-munitions over an area. 3. The Pinaka Mk-I (Enhanced) rocket system was flight-tested by DRDO and the Indian Army in 2020. 4. The Guided Pinaka Weapon System flight tests of 2024 validated PSQR parameters including accuracy and rate of fire. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Pinaka LRGR (60 km) and the LRGR-120 (120 km) were fired from two different, variant-specific launchers.
  2. The Pinaka Area Denial Munition carries a specialised warhead that delivers sub-munitions over an area.
  3. The Pinaka Mk-I (Enhanced) rocket system was flight-tested by DRDO and the Indian Army in 2020.
  4. The Guided Pinaka Weapon System flight tests of 2024 validated PSQR parameters including accuracy and rate of fire.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • B. 2, 3 and 4 only
  • C. 1 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q10. With reference to the Integrated Test Range (ITR) from where the Pinaka LRGR was flight-tested, consider the following statements: 1. It is located at Chandipur, in the Balasore district of Odisha. 2. It is situated along the coast of the Bay of Bengal. 3. It provides facilities for the test and evaluation of guided missiles, flight vehicles and projectiles. 4. It is administered by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. It is located at Chandipur, in the Balasore district of Odisha.
  2. It is situated along the coast of the Bay of Bengal.
  3. It provides facilities for the test and evaluation of guided missiles, flight vehicles and projectiles.
  4. It is administered by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
  • A. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • B. 2, 3 and 4 only
  • C. 1 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q11. In the February 2025 Aatmanirbhar Bharat contracts for the Pinaka MLRS, the 'Area Denial Munition (ADM) Type-1' rocket is best described as which one of the following?

  • A. A rocket with a specialised warhead that delivers a quantum of sub-munitions over a larger area to target mechanised forces, vehicles and personnel
  • B. A single-warhead bunker-busting rocket for destroying hardened underground shelters
  • C. A guidance kit retrofitted onto unguided rockets to improve accuracy
  • D. A fire-control software suite for managing salvo and multiple-target engagement