UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — DELIVERY OF SAMARTHAK – THE FIRST INDIGENOUS MULTI-PURPOSE VESSEL OF INDIAN NAVY
Q1. The construction contract for the Indian Navy's two Multi Purpose Vessels was concluded between the Ministry of Defence and the builder in which month and year?
- A. March 2023, at the time the keels of both vessels were laid
- B. March 2022, about a year before the keels of both were laid
- C. October 2024, shortly before the lead ship entered the water
- D. January 2025, alongside the entry into water of the second ship
Q2. Consider the following statements regarding the timeline of the Indian Navy's Multi Purpose Vessel (MPV) project:
1. The construction contract for the two vessels preceded the keel laying of the ships by about one year.
2. The keels of both vessels of the project were laid on the same day at the same shipyard.
3. The lead vessel of the project was floated out in the same calendar year in which its keel was laid.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- The construction contract for the two vessels preceded the keel laying of the ships by about one year.
- The keels of both vessels of the project were laid on the same day at the same shipyard.
- The lead vessel of the project was floated out in the same calendar year in which its keel was laid.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q3. The March 2022 shipbuilding contract concluded by the Ministry of Defence with L&T Shipyard, Kattupalli, for Multi Purpose Vessels covered how many vessels?
- A. Four vessels, of which two were to be built at Kattupalli
- B. Six vessels, to be delivered in two successive batches
- C. Two vessels, both to be built at the Kattupalli yard
- D. Three vessels, with an option clause for a fourth
Q4. According to the Ministry of Defence, ships of which project were the first Indian Navy warships to be constructed by L&T Shipyard, Kattupalli?
- A. The Survey Vessel (Large) project for hydrographic survey ships
- B. The Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft project
- C. The Cadet Training Ship project for the Indian Naval Academy
- D. The Multi Purpose Vessel project ordered in March 2022
Q5. What is the designed maximum speed of the Indian Navy's Multi Purpose Vessels?
- A. 15 knots
- B. 18 knots
- C. 21 knots
- D. 25 knots
Q6. Consider the following statements about the two ships of the Indian Navy's Multi Purpose Vessel class:
1. Both share identical principal dimensions, being 106 metres in length and 16.8 metres in beam.
2. Both are intended, among other roles, to tow ships and to launch and recover various targets.
3. Unlike the lead ship, the second ship of the class is not designed to operate uncrewed autonomous vehicles.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- Both share identical principal dimensions, being 106 metres in length and 16.8 metres in beam.
- Both are intended, among other roles, to tow ships and to launch and recover various targets.
- Unlike the lead ship, the second ship of the class is not designed to operate uncrewed autonomous vehicles.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 1 and 3 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q7. With reference to the second ship of the Indian Navy's Multi Purpose Vessel project, which one of the following statements is correct?
- A. It was launched in January 2025 at Kattupalli under the same contract as the lead ship
- B. It was launched in January 2025 at GRSE, Kolkata under a separate follow-on contract
- C. Its keel was laid a full year after that of the lead ship at the Kattupalli yard
- D. It was launched ahead of the lead ship, in October 2024, at the Kattupalli yard
Q8. In Ministry of Defence announcements on Indian naval shipbuilding, the designation 'Yard 18002' identifies which one of the following?
- A. The second Cadet Training Ship under construction at L&T Shipyard, Kattupalli
- B. The second Multi Purpose Vessel, subsequently named Utkarsh at its launch
- C. The lead Multi Purpose Vessel, subsequently named Samarthak at its launch
- D. The fourth Survey Vessel (Large), subsequently named Sanshodhak, built at GRSE
Q9. In-house design of the Indian Navy's warships, including the Project 17A frigates commissioned in 2025, is the responsibility of which body?
- A. The Warship Design Bureau of the Indian Navy
- B. The Directorate General of Naval Armament Inspection
- C. The Naval Science and Technological Laboratory of the DRDO
- D. The Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence
Q10. Consider the following pairs of recent Indian Navy vessels and their building shipyards:
1. Samarthak (Multi Purpose Vessel) — L&T Shipyard, Kattupalli
2. Sanshodhak (Survey Vessel, Large) — Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers, Kolkata
3. Mahe (Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft) — Cochin Shipyard Limited, Kochi
4. Utkarsh (Multi Purpose Vessel) — Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited, Mumbai
Which of the above pairs is/are NOT correctly matched?
- Samarthak (Multi Purpose Vessel) — L&T Shipyard, Kattupalli
- Sanshodhak (Survey Vessel, Large) — Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers, Kolkata
- Mahe (Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft) — Cochin Shipyard Limited, Kochi
- Utkarsh (Multi Purpose Vessel) — Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited, Mumbai
- A. 1 and 3
- B. 2 and 4
- C. 1, 2 and 4
- D. 4 only
Q11. The lead ship of the two-vessel Multi Purpose Vessel project built at Kattupalli was given a name officially explained by the Ministry of Defence as meaning:
- A. 'Guide'
- B. 'Superior in Conduct'
- C. 'Supporter'
- D. 'Researcher'
Q12. Of the ship names Samarthak, Utkarsh, Sanshodhak and Mahe, how many belong to vessels of the Indian Navy's Multi Purpose Vessel project?
- A. Only one
- B. Only two
- C. Only three
- D. All four