Defence & Internal Security MCQs for UPSC Prelims — August 2026
Q1. The Indian Navy has revived the Sanskrit-derived name 'Nistar', meaning rescue or deliverance, for its new class of Diving Support Vessels. These vessels are being constructed at a shipyard that functions under the administrative control of which one of the following?
- A. The Department of Military Affairs in the Ministry of Defence, which exercises control over the three armed services
- B. The Department of Defence Production in the Ministry of Defence, which oversees the defence public sector undertakings
- C. The Directorate General of Shipping under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, which regulates Indian shipping
- D. The Department of Defence Research and Development in the Ministry of Defence, which functions through its laboratories
Q2. At Exercise Pacific Reach 2025 in September 2025, in which INS Nistar took part, India's Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle recorded which one of the following firsts?
- A. Its first mating with a distressed submarine at a depth exceeding 650 metres, a new record for the system
- B. The first ever induction of a Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle by a littoral navy of the Indian Ocean Region
- C. Its first-ever dive outside the Indian Ocean Region, along with successful matings with foreign submarines
- D. Its first deployment in support of the search for a missing submarine of a foreign navy in distress
Q3. The Arnala-class Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft, inducted alongside other indigenous platforms, were designed and constructed for the Indian Navy under which one of the following arrangements?
- A. Designed by the Navy's own design organisation and built entirely by Cochin Shipyard Limited under a transfer of technology from a foreign yard
- B. Designed in-house by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited, Mumbai and built jointly with Hindustan Shipyard Limited, Visakhapatnam
- C. Designed by Goa Shipyard Limited and built entirely at Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers, Kolkata under the strategic partnership model
- D. Designed in-house by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers, Kolkata and built under a public-private partnership with L&T Shipbuilders
Q4. Consider the following statements about recent indigenous inductions into the Indian Navy:
1. INS Arnala, the first Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft, and INS Nistar, the first indigenous Diving Support Vessel, were both commissioned during 2025 at Visakhapatnam.
2. Every ship of the Arnala class is being constructed by a single shipyard, namely Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers, Kolkata.
3. Both the Arnala-class craft and the Nistar-class Diving Support Vessels have been stated to incorporate more than 80% indigenous content.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- INS Arnala, the first Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft, and INS Nistar, the first indigenous Diving Support Vessel, were both commissioned during 2025 at Visakhapatnam.
- Every ship of the Arnala class is being constructed by a single shipyard, namely Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers, Kolkata.
- Both the Arnala-class craft and the Nistar-class Diving Support Vessels have been stated to incorporate more than 80% indigenous content.
- A. 1 and 3 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1 and 2 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q5. In India's submarine rescue arrangements, what precisely is the function of a 'mother ship' (MoSHIP) associated with the Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle?
- A. It is the shore-based command and coordination facility that directs the Submarine Rescue Units located on either seaboard of the country
- B. It is the surface vessel that carries, launches and recovers the rescue vehicle at sea, localises the distressed submarine and supports evacuation of its crew
- C. It is the deep-diving vehicle that mates with the escape hatch of the distressed submarine and lifts its crew to the surface in batches
- D. It is the submarine depot ship that replenishes torpedoes, fuel and provisions to submarines operating far from their home base
Q6. Consider the following statements regarding India's submarine rescue architecture:
1. India's two Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicles, inducted in 2018-19 with one for each seaboard, are capable of rescue operations down to depths of about 650 metres.
2. The Nistar-class Diving Support Vessel, which acts as the mother ship for the Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle, can itself undertake diving and salvage operations up to about 300 metres.
3. The deep sea submarine rescue system is operated and deployed by the Navy's Submarine Rescue Unit, the western unit being based at Mumbai.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- India's two Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicles, inducted in 2018-19 with one for each seaboard, are capable of rescue operations down to depths of about 650 metres.
- The Nistar-class Diving Support Vessel, which acts as the mother ship for the Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle, can itself undertake diving and salvage operations up to about 300 metres.
- The deep sea submarine rescue system is operated and deployed by the Navy's Submarine Rescue Unit, the western unit being based at Mumbai.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q7. With reference to the first-of-class Diving Support Vessel INS Nistar, consider the following:
1. It was launched at Hindustan Shipyard Limited, Visakhapatnam, in September 2022, on the same day as the second vessel of its class.
2. It was delivered to the Indian Navy by the shipyard in the same month in which it was commissioned.
3. Its commissioning preceded the commissioning of INS Androth into the Indian Navy.
4. It takes its name from the northernmost island of the Lakshadweep group.
Which of the above is/are NOT correct?
- It was launched at Hindustan Shipyard Limited, Visakhapatnam, in September 2022, on the same day as the second vessel of its class.
- It was delivered to the Indian Navy by the shipyard in the same month in which it was commissioned.
- Its commissioning preceded the commissioning of INS Androth into the Indian Navy.
- It takes its name from the northernmost island of the Lakshadweep group.
- A. 2 only
- B. 4 only
- C. 1 and 3
- D. 3 and 4
Q8. Consider the following statements about the two vessels of the Nistar-class Diving Support Vessel project:
1. The two vessels were launched on separate dates, the second vessel following the first by about three months.
2. The first-of-class was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 18 July 2025 at Visakhapatnam.
3. The second vessel of the class, Nipun, carries the builder's yard number 11191.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- The two vessels were launched on separate dates, the second vessel following the first by about three months.
- The first-of-class was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 18 July 2025 at Visakhapatnam.
- The second vessel of the class, Nipun, carries the builder's yard number 11191.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 1 and 3 only
- C. 2 only
- D. 2 and 3 only
Q9. In Indian naval shipbuilding practice, as reflected in the recorded milestones of the two Diving Support Vessels at Hindustan Shipyard Limited, Visakhapatnam, the 'launch' of a warship denotes which one of the following?
- A. The formal handing over of the vessel by the shipyard to the Navy after the completion of successful sea trials and acceptance checks
- B. The ceremonial induction of the vessel into the Navy, when the naval ensign is hoisted and the ship acquires the prefix 'INS'
- C. The transfer of the built-up hull from the building berth into the water, after which fitting out and sea trials are carried out
- D. The first cutting of steel plates for the hull of the ship in the fabrication shop of the shipyard, marking the start of construction
Q10. Consider the following statements comparing two recent indigenous Indian Navy shipbuilding projects:
1. The Nistar-class Diving Support Vessels are built by Hindustan Shipyard Limited, Visakhapatnam, while the Arnala-class Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft are built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers, Kolkata.
2. The Arnala-class craft are meant for anti-submarine operations in coastal waters and low intensity maritime operations, whereas the Nistar-class is meant for deep sea saturation diving and submarine rescue.
3. The Arnala-class craft were constructed under a public-private partnership between the designing shipyard and Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited, Mumbai.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- The Nistar-class Diving Support Vessels are built by Hindustan Shipyard Limited, Visakhapatnam, while the Arnala-class Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft are built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers, Kolkata.
- The Arnala-class craft are meant for anti-submarine operations in coastal waters and low intensity maritime operations, whereas the Nistar-class is meant for deep sea saturation diving and submarine rescue.
- The Arnala-class craft were constructed under a public-private partnership between the designing shipyard and Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited, Mumbai.
- A. 1 only
- B. 1 and 2 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q11. Consider the following statements regarding the Indian Navy's present Nistar-class Diving Support Vessels and the earlier vessel of the same name:
1. The earlier Nistar was a submarine rescue vessel acquired from the erstwhile USSR in 1969 and commissioned in 1971, serving the Navy for about two decades in diving and submarine rescue roles.
2. The present Nistar-class vessels were acquired from a foreign shipyard and subsequently modified in India for the diving support role.
3. The present class is markedly smaller than its predecessor, displacing about 1,500 tonnes.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- The earlier Nistar was a submarine rescue vessel acquired from the erstwhile USSR in 1969 and commissioned in 1971, serving the Navy for about two decades in diving and submarine rescue roles.
- The present Nistar-class vessels were acquired from a foreign shipyard and subsequently modified in India for the diving support role.
- The present class is markedly smaller than its predecessor, displacing about 1,500 tonnes.
- A. 1 only
- B. 1 and 2 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1 and 3 only
Q12. With reference to end-use assurance requirements in India's defence export control regime, which one of the following statements is correct?
- A. A Government-signed end-use certificate is required for every export of Munitions List items, without any exception whatsoever.
- B. For civil-end-use export of systems or platforms to Wassenaar Arrangement member countries, an end-use certificate or equivalent import certificate issued by the importing country's government is required.
- C. End-use certificates for all Indian defence exports are issued by the Ministry of External Affairs on behalf of the exporting Indian company.
- D. The requirement of any end-use assurance has been entirely done away with for all exports made under an Open General Export Licence.
Q13. In the context of India's defence industrial policy, a 'positive indigenisation list' notified by the Ministry of Defence is a list of items:
- A. reserved exclusively for manufacture by Defence Public Sector Undertakings
- B. permitted for export under an Open General Export Licence without prior authorisation
- C. on which an embargo on import operates beyond the timeline indicated against each item
- D. in which foreign direct investment is allowed through the automatic route
Q14. In the financial year 2025-26, one segment of India's defence industry registered a year-on-year export surge of about 151 per cent. That surge was recorded by which one of the following?
- A. Private sector defence manufacturing companies
- B. Micro, small and medium enterprises in the defence sector
- C. Technology-transfer licensees of the DRDO
- D. Defence Public Sector Undertakings
Q15. India's defence exports touched their highest-ever annual level in the financial year 2025-26. Which one of the following correctly states that figure together with its growth over the preceding financial year?
- A. Rs 23,622 crore, a growth of about 12 per cent
- B. Rs 38,424 crore, a growth of about 63 per cent
- C. Rs 38,424 crore, a growth of about 12 per cent
- D. Rs 50,000 crore, a growth of about 63 per cent
Q16. The Department of Defence Production functions as the licensing authority for export of Category 6 (Munitions List) items by virtue of which one of the following?
- A. A delegation of authority by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade through a Public Notice issued in 2017
- B. A licensing power conferred directly upon it by the Arms Act, 1959, as subsequently amended
- C. A delegation of authority by the Ministry of External Affairs under India's Wassenaar Arrangement commitments
- D. A provision of the Defence Acquisition Procedure, 2020, notified by the Ministry of Defence
Q17. The Standard Operating Procedure governing the export of items falling in Category 6 (Munitions List) of the SCOMET list is issued by which one of the following?
- A. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry
- B. The Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence
- C. The Disarmament and International Security Affairs Division, Ministry of External Affairs
- D. The Department of Defence Research and Development, Ministry of Defence
Q18. With reference to the 2026 revision of India's Defence Export Standard Operating Procedure, consider the following categories of export:
1. Non-lethal defence items destined for countries other than sensitive/negative destinations
2. Items sent abroad for participation in international tenders
3. Items sent abroad for display at international exhibitions
4. Lethal major platforms exported to Wassenaar Arrangement member countries
Which of the above is/are correctly identified as categories for which mandatory inter-ministerial stakeholder consultation has been dispensed with?
- Non-lethal defence items destined for countries other than sensitive/negative destinations
- Items sent abroad for participation in international tenders
- Items sent abroad for display at international exhibitions
- Lethal major platforms exported to Wassenaar Arrangement member countries
- A. 1 and 3
- B. 2 and 4
- C. 1, 2 and 3
- D. 3 only
Q19. Consider the following statements regarding the change made in 2026 to the requirement of inter-ministerial stakeholder consultation for Indian defence exports:
1. Before the revision, exports of non-lethal defence items attracted mandatory stakeholder consultation; this requirement has now been dispensed with for most destinations.
2. The consultation requirement has also been removed for exports of items meant for international tenders and exhibitions.
3. The revision extends the dispensation to every destination, including countries under United Nations Security Council sanctions or arms embargoes.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- Before the revision, exports of non-lethal defence items attracted mandatory stakeholder consultation; this requirement has now been dispensed with for most destinations.
- The consultation requirement has also been removed for exports of items meant for international tenders and exhibitions.
- The revision extends the dispensation to every destination, including countries under United Nations Security Council sanctions or arms embargoes.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 1 and 3 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q20. Under the revised Open General Export Licence framework, the special provision made for Indian firms holding long-term contracts with Foreign Original Equipment Manufacturers permits such a firm to obtain an OGEL whose validity is:
- A. co-terminus with the validity period of the long-term contract itself
- B. fixed at three years, irrespective of the duration of that contract
- C. linked to the export licence held by that manufacturer in its home country
- D. renewable every year upon submission of an internal compliance plan
Q21. The widening of Open General Export Licence country coverage from 41 specified countries to all countries other than negative/sensitive destinations and those under United Nations Security Council sanctions or arms embargoes was effected in which year and by which authority?
- A. 2017, by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry
- B. 2020, by the Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence
- C. 2026, by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry
- D. 2026, by the Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence
Q22. When the Open General Export Licence mechanism was first rolled out as a 'major push for defence exports', how many OGELs were approved by the Raksha Mantri?
- A. One
- B. Two
- C. Three
- D. Five
Q23. For the export of parts and components of small arms and ammunition, which one of the following has been designated as the single point of contact for Indian exporters?
- A. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry
- B. The Directorate General of Quality Assurance under the Ministry of Defence
- C. The Department of Defence Production under the Ministry of Defence
- D. The Department of Military Affairs under the Ministry of Defence
Q24. 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
Q25. 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'
Q26. 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
Q27. 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
Q28. 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
Q29. 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
Q30. 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