UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — INDIAN NAVY TO INDUCT INDIGENOUS STEALTH FRIGATE MAHENDRAGIRI INTO THE EASTERN FLEET

Q1. How many frigates in total constitute the Project 17A (Nilgiri-class) indigenous stealth frigate programme of the Indian Navy?

  • A. Five
  • B. Six
  • C. Seven
  • D. Eight

Q2. The Project 17A frigates use a 'CODOG' propulsion arrangement. What does this configuration mean?

  • A. Combined Diesel or Gas — a diesel engine and a gas turbine that can each independently drive the propeller shaft
  • B. Combined Diesel and Gas — the diesel engine and gas turbine always operate together simultaneously to drive the shaft
  • C. A nuclear reactor coupled to a diesel-electric generator for backup propulsion
  • D. A combined oil-and-gas fuel-cell system feeding electric propulsion motors

Q3. Mahendragiri, like the other Project 17A frigates, was designed in-house by which organisation?

  • A. Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
  • B. Warship Design Bureau (WDB) of the Indian Navy
  • C. Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL)
  • D. Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL)

Q4. With reference to the commissioning of the Project 17A frigate Mahendragiri and its class-mates, consider the following statements: 1. Mahendragiri was commissioned into the Eastern Fleet at Visakhapatnam. 2. Like Mahendragiri, the lead ship Nilgiri was also commissioned at Visakhapatnam. 3. Mahendragiri was built at Mazagon Dock, Mumbai, whereas Himgiri was built at Garden Reach Shipbuilders, Kolkata. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Mahendragiri was commissioned into the Eastern Fleet at Visakhapatnam.
  2. Like Mahendragiri, the lead ship Nilgiri was also commissioned at Visakhapatnam.
  3. Mahendragiri was built at Mazagon Dock, Mumbai, whereas Himgiri was built at Garden Reach Shipbuilders, Kolkata.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q5. Consider the following statements about the shipyard that built each Project 17A frigate: 1. Nilgiri was built at Mazagon Dock, Mumbai. 2. Udaygiri was built at Mazagon Dock, Mumbai. 3. Himgiri was built at Mazagon Dock, Mumbai. 4. Taragiri was built at Mazagon Dock, Mumbai. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. Nilgiri was built at Mazagon Dock, Mumbai.
  2. Udaygiri was built at Mazagon Dock, Mumbai.
  3. Himgiri was built at Mazagon Dock, Mumbai.
  4. Taragiri was built at Mazagon Dock, Mumbai.
  • A. 1 and 3
  • B. 3 only
  • C. 3 and 4
  • D. 2 and 4

Q6. Of the seven Project 17A frigates, how many are being built at Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata?

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

Q7. The Project 17A frigate programme, under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat push, involved the participation of approximately how many MSMEs?

  • A. Over 100
  • B. Over 150
  • C. Over 200
  • D. Over 300

Q8. With reference to the indigenisation profile of the Project 17A frigates, consider the following statements: 1. The programme generated approximately 4,000 direct jobs. 2. Udaygiri and Himgiri were the 100th and 101st warships designed in-house by the Warship Design Bureau. 3. Every Project 17A frigate achieves 100% indigenous content. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The programme generated approximately 4,000 direct jobs.
  2. Udaygiri and Himgiri were the 100th and 101st warships designed in-house by the Warship Design Bureau.
  3. Every Project 17A frigate achieves 100% indigenous content.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q9. Mahendragiri has been inducted into the Eastern Fleet, which functions under which operational command of the Indian Navy?

  • A. Southern Naval Command, Kochi
  • B. Western Naval Command, Mumbai
  • C. Eastern Naval Command, Visakhapatnam
  • D. Andaman and Nicobar Command, Port Blair

Q10. The Indian Navy, as a whole, is administered from its Naval Headquarters located in which city?

  • A. Mumbai
  • B. New Delhi
  • C. Visakhapatnam
  • D. Kochi

Q11. Taragiri, the Project 17A stealth frigate delivered to the Navy in November 2025, was constructed by which shipyard?

  • A. Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata
  • B. Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Mumbai
  • C. Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), Kochi
  • D. Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL), Visakhapatnam

Q12. The Project 17A stealth frigate programme falls exclusively under which Union Ministry?

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