UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Opening Up India’s Space Economy

Q1. With reference to the institutional architecture of India's space sector after the 2020 reforms, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. IN-SPACe, an autonomous body under the Department of Space, both promotes non-government entities and authorises their space activities.
  2. NSIL, as the commercial arm of the Department of Space, is the body that authorises private firms to launch from Indian territory.
  3. The Indian Space Association is a government body set up under the Department of Space to represent private space firms.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 3
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1 and 2 only

Q2. Consider the following facts about India's space governance. IN-SPACe is an autonomous body functioning under the Department of Space. The Department of Space also administers ISRO, which builds and operates launch vehicles. The authorisation regime for private space activity rests on a Cabinet decision, Indian Space Policy 2023 and IN-SPACe's Norms, Guidelines and Procedures, and there is no dedicated space-activities statute. Which of the following inferences can be drawn from the above?

  1. The arrangement creates a potential conflict of interest, because the authoriser of private operators and a competing state operator share a parent department.
  2. The powers of the authorising body could be reshaped by executive action, without Parliament having to amend any law.
  3. Because IN-SPACe is autonomous, its authorisation decisions are legally insulated from the control of the Department of Space.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 1 only
  • D. 2 and 3 only

Q3. An Indian private start-up launches its satellite from Sriharikota, and debris from the mission later damages a satellite belonging to another State Party to the Outer Space Treaty. With reference to this situation, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Outer Space Treaty requires that the duty to authorise and continuously supervise such private activity be discharged only through a law enacted by the national legislature.
  2. India bears international responsibility for the activity even though it was carried on by a non-governmental entity.
  3. India, as the State from whose territory the object was launched, can be held internationally liable for the damage.
  • A. 2 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 2 and 3 only

Q4. Consider the following statements: Which of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

  1. In India, a space activity carried out by a private company from Indian territory requires authorisation from IN-SPACe.
  2. Under the Outer Space Treaty, a State bears international responsibility for national activities in outer space, whether carried on by governmental agencies or by non-governmental entities.
  • A. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
  • B. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
  • C. Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
  • D. Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct

Q5. With reference to the evolution of India's space institutions, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Organised space research in India began within the atomic energy establishment, before a separate space department existed.
  2. ISRO was in existence before the Department of Space was created.
  3. The Department of Space and the Space Commission were set up in the same year.
  • A. 2 and 3 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 3
  • D. 1 and 2 only

Q6. With reference to the public funding instruments for space start-ups in India, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Technology Adoption Fund meets the entire cost of a selected project for start-ups, so as to remove private risk altogether.
  2. Under the Technology Adoption Fund, a larger share of project cost can be supported for start-ups and MSMEs than for large industry.
  3. The IN-SPACe Venture Capital Fund is designed mainly to give grants to start-ups at the idea stage.
  • A. 3 only
  • B. 2 only
  • C. 1 and 2 only
  • D. 2 and 3 only