Defence & Internal Security MCQs for UPSC Prelims — May 2026

Q1. Appointments to the posts of the three Service Chiefs, including the Chief of the Naval Staff, are approved by which of the following?

  • A. Appointments Committee of the Cabinet
  • B. Union Public Service Commission
  • C. Departmental Promotion Committee of the Ministry of Defence
  • D. Chiefs of Staff Committee

Q2. INS Vikramaditya, which Admiral Krishna Swaminathan commanded as a Captain, is best described as which of the following?

  • A. A STOBAR carrier — a modified Kiev-class ship acquired from Russia
  • B. A CATOBAR carrier employing steam catapults for aircraft launch
  • C. An indigenously designed carrier built at Cochin Shipyard Limited
  • D. A nuclear-powered supercarrier operating fixed-wing AEW aircraft

Q3. Under the present tri-service arrangement, the three Service Chiefs — including the Chief of the Naval Staff — render integrated military advice to the government principally through which single-point authority?

  • A. Chief of Defence Staff
  • B. National Security Adviser
  • C. Defence Secretary
  • D. Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee

Q4. In the Indian Navy, the designation 'Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief' (FOC-in-C) most precisely denotes:

  • A. the officer, in the rank of Vice Admiral, heading one of the Navy's operational/functional Commands
  • B. the professional head of the entire Indian Navy
  • C. the officer who deputises for the Chief of the Naval Staff at naval headquarters
  • D. the senior-most officer embarked aboard an aircraft carrier

Q5. The Chief of the Naval Staff and the Vice Chief of the Naval Staff discharge their staff and policy functions from which of the following?

  • A. Integrated Headquarters of the Ministry of Defence (Navy)
  • B. Ministry of Home Affairs
  • C. Cabinet Secretariat
  • D. Ministry of External Affairs

Q6. Admiral Krishna Swaminathan served as the how-manyeth Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Naval Command, the post he held immediately before becoming CNS?

  • A. 32nd
  • B. 33rd
  • C. 34th
  • D. 35th

Q7. Consider the following statements regarding General Anil Chauhan's tenure as Chief of Defence Staff and the transition to his successor: 1. General Anil Chauhan was appointed CDS with effect from 28 September 2022. 2. His service as CDS was extended by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet up to 30 May 2026. 3. He was succeeded by General NS Raja Subramani, who assumed charge on 31 May 2026. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. General Anil Chauhan was appointed CDS with effect from 28 September 2022.
  2. His service as CDS was extended by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet up to 30 May 2026.
  3. He was succeeded by General NS Raja Subramani, who assumed charge on 31 May 2026.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q8. Consider the following statements comparing the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee (COSC) with the Chief of Defence Staff: 1. Before the creation of the CDS, the Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee was held on rotation by the senior-most of the three Service Chiefs. 2. The post of a permanent CDS as Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee followed the Cabinet Committee on Security decision of December 2019. 3. The CDS was made the Permanent Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee with effect from 2016. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Before the creation of the CDS, the Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee was held on rotation by the senior-most of the three Service Chiefs.
  2. The post of a permanent CDS as Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee followed the Cabinet Committee on Security decision of December 2019.
  3. The CDS was made the Permanent Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee with effect from 2016.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q9. In the context of the Chief of Defence Staff, the description 'Principal Military Adviser' precisely means that the CDS provides advice on all tri-Services matters to whom?

  • A. The Raksha Mantri (Defence Minister)
  • B. The President as Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces
  • C. The Prime Minister directly
  • D. The National Security Adviser

Q10. The Chief of Defence Staff acts as the Principal Military Adviser but exercises no military command over the Service Chiefs. Over the chiefs of how many Services does the CDS exercise no military command?

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

Q11. In the order of officers who have held the office since its creation, General NS Raja Subramani is which Chief of Defence Staff of India?

  • A. First
  • B. Second
  • C. Third
  • D. Fourth

Q12. General NS Raja Subramani assumed charge as the third Chief of Defence Staff and Secretary, Department of Military Affairs with effect from which date?

  • A. 30 May 2026
  • B. 31 May 2026
  • C. 1 September 2025
  • D. 28 September 2022

Q13. Consider the following statements regarding the officers who have held the office of Chief of Defence Staff: 1. General Bipin Rawat was the first CDS and assumed charge on 1 January 2020. 2. General Anil Chauhan, the second CDS, was appointed with effect from 28 September 2022. 3. General NS Raja Subramani assumed the office of CDS immediately succeeding General Bipin Rawat. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. General Bipin Rawat was the first CDS and assumed charge on 1 January 2020.
  2. General Anil Chauhan, the second CDS, was appointed with effect from 28 September 2022.
  3. General NS Raja Subramani assumed the office of CDS immediately succeeding General Bipin Rawat.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q14. With reference to the subjects allocated to the Department of Military Affairs, consider the following: 1. The Armed Forces of the Union — the Army, the Navy and the Air Force. 2. The Territorial Army. 3. Capital acquisitions for the defence Services. 4. The Integrated Headquarters of the Ministry of Defence. Which of the above is/are correctly identified as allocated to the Department of Military Affairs?

  1. The Armed Forces of the Union — the Army, the Navy and the Air Force.
  2. The Territorial Army.
  3. Capital acquisitions for the defence Services.
  4. The Integrated Headquarters of the Ministry of Defence.
  • A. 1, 2 and 4 only
  • B. 2, 3 and 4 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q15. The Department of Military Affairs is headed, in the capacity of its Secretary to the Government of India, by which office-holder?

  • A. The Defence Secretary
  • B. The Chief of Defence Staff
  • C. The senior-most Chief of Staff of the three Services
  • D. The National Security Adviser

Q16. The post of Chief of Defence Staff is operationalised through a new department created within the Ministry of Defence, which the CDS heads as its Secretary. Which department is this?

  • A. Department of Defence
  • B. Department of Military Affairs
  • C. Department of Defence Production
  • D. Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare

Q17. The creation of the post of Chief of Defence Staff was formally recommended by a Group of Ministers and later approved by the Cabinet Committee on Security. How many years separated the Group of Ministers' recommendation from the Cabinet Committee on Security's approval of the post?

  • A. 14 years
  • B. 16 years
  • C. 18 years
  • D. 20 years

Q18. With reference to export constraints and the strategic context of the BrahMos missile, consider the following statements. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. BrahMos's range was originally capped at 290 km to stay within the MTCR Category-I threshold.
  2. India became a full member of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) in 2016.
  3. Owing to joint intellectual property, BrahMos can be sold only to nations friendly to both India and Russia.
  4. The BrahMos-ER variant has an extended range of 290 km.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 2 and 4
  • C. 1 and 4
  • D. 3 and 4 only

Q19. With reference to India's defence acquisition and export framework, consider the following statements. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. The Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020 superseded the Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) 2016.
  2. The first Positive Indigenisation List was issued in 2020.
  3. India's defence exports crossed a record of about ₹24,000 crore in FY 2024-25.
  4. India targets ₹3 lakh crore in defence exports by 2029.
  • A. 4 only
  • B. 1 and 2
  • C. 3 only
  • D. 2 and 3

Q20. Under the Atmanirbhar Bharat targets for the defence sector, India aims to achieve annual defence exports of ₹50,000 crore by which year?

  • A. 2029
  • B. 2025
  • C. 2027
  • D. 2032

Q21. With reference to what was stated about BrahMos deals at the 2026 Shangri-La Dialogue, consider the following statements. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The 2026 dialogue was held in Singapore.
  2. India confirmed that the Vietnam BrahMos deal had already been signed.
  3. The Indonesia deal was described as being in its final stages.
  4. The announcement was made by the Chief of Defence Staff.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 2 and 4
  • C. 1 and 4
  • D. 3 and 4 only

Q22. With reference to the announcement on BrahMos deals at the 2026 Shangri-La Dialogue, consider the following statements. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. The Shangri-La Dialogue is organised by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS).
  2. The 2026 edition of the dialogue was held in Singapore.
  3. The BrahMos deals were disclosed by India's Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh.
  4. At the dialogue, the Indonesia deal was confirmed as already signed.
  • A. 4 only
  • B. 1 and 2
  • C. 3 only
  • D. 2 and 4

Q23. The training of Philippine personnel for the operation of the BrahMos coastal missile system was led primarily by which of the following?

  • A. Indian Navy and BrahMos Aerospace experts
  • B. Indian Army Corps of Engineers
  • C. Indian Air Force training command
  • D. Border Roads Organisation

Q24. With reference to BrahMos export deals, consider the following statements. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Philippines was the first foreign buyer of the BrahMos missile.
  2. The Vietnam deal is valued at approximately US$629 million.
  3. The Indonesia deal is for submarine-launched BrahMos variants.
  4. The Philippines contract was for a shore-based anti-ship variant.
  • A. 1, 2 and 4
  • B. 1 and 3
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1 and 2 only

Q25. On the Indian side, which organisation develops the BrahMos missile in partnership with Russia's NPO Mashinostroyeniya?

  • A. Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
  • B. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
  • C. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)
  • D. Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL)

Q26. India's first vertical launch of a supersonic cruise missile from a submerged platform — the maiden test of the submarine-launched BrahMos off Visakhapatnam — was conducted in which year?

  • A. 2013
  • B. 2008
  • C. 2016
  • D. 2020

Q27. The name 'BrahMos' is a portmanteau derived from the names of which two rivers?

  • A. Brahmaputra of India and Moskva of Russia
  • B. Brahmaputra of India and Volga of Russia
  • C. Beas of India and Moskva of Russia
  • D. Brahmani of India and Neva of Russia

Q28. With reference to the origins of the BrahMos missile programme, consider the following statements. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. It is a joint venture between India's DRDO and Russia's NPO Mashinostroyeniya.
  2. The joint venture was established in 1998.
  3. Its name is a portmanteau of the Brahmaputra and Moskva rivers.
  4. The missile is derived from the Russian S-400 air-defence system.
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 4 only
  • C. 3 and 4
  • D. 2 only

Q29. The scheme for setting up and strengthening Anti-Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs) across States and Union Territories is operationalised at the Union level primarily by which one of the following ministries?

  • A. Ministry of Home Affairs
  • B. Ministry of Women and Child Development
  • C. Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
  • D. Ministry of Labour and Employment

Q30. As per the institutional design reiterated in the judgment, an Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU) must be headed by a police officer of at least which one of the following ranks?

  • A. Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP)
  • B. Inspector of Police
  • C. Superintendent of Police (SP)
  • D. Sub-Inspector of Police