Defence & Internal Security MCQs for UPSC Prelims — September 2026

Q1. Which one of the following was the first indigenously developed third-generation anti-tank guided missile to be ordered by the Indian Army, in 2025, following field evaluation trials conducted at the Pokhran range?

  • A. Nag Mk 2, a fire-and-forget missile developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation
  • B. MPATGM, the man-portable missile developed by DRDO's Defence Research and Development Laboratory
  • C. Javelin All Up Round, the shoulder-launched round produced by the Javelin Joint Venture
  • D. Amogha-III, the fire-and-forget missile developed in-house by Bharat Dynamics Limited

Q2. Consider the following statements about India's defence indigenisation measures: 1. Foreign direct investment in defence is permitted up to 74 per cent through the automatic route for companies seeking a new industrial licence. 2. The two Defence Industrial Corridors announced in the Union Budget of 2018-19 are located in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. 3. The SRIJAN indigenisation portal, which provides an industry interface for import substitution, is maintained by the Defence Research and Development Organisation. 4. The Positive Indigenisation Lists that place an embargo on the import of specified items beyond stated timelines are notified by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. Foreign direct investment in defence is permitted up to 74 per cent through the automatic route for companies seeking a new industrial licence.
  2. The two Defence Industrial Corridors announced in the Union Budget of 2018-19 are located in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
  3. The SRIJAN indigenisation portal, which provides an industry interface for import substitution, is maintained by the Defence Research and Development Organisation.
  4. The Positive Indigenisation Lists that place an embargo on the import of specified items beyond stated timelines are notified by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 3 and 4
  • C. 2 and 3
  • D. 4 only

Q3. The central sector scheme that extends grants to defence start-ups, MSMEs and individual innovators through the Defence Innovation Organisation is administered by which one of the following?

  • A. The Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence
  • B. The Department of Defence Research and Development, Ministry of Defence
  • C. The Department of Military Affairs, Ministry of Defence
  • D. The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry

Q4. With reference to the 2026 arrangement between Tata Advanced Systems Limited and the Javelin Joint Venture, consider the following: 1. TASL has been designated the prime partner of the Javelin Joint Venture for future in-country co-production efforts. 2. The arrangement envisages a final assembly and integration facility for the Javelin All Up Round in India, together with component production capabilities. 3. It is a binding co-production contract that transfers the manufacture of the missile's guidance electronics to the Indian facility. 4. The Javelin Joint Venture through which the arrangement is routed is a partnership of Raytheon and Lockheed Martin. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. TASL has been designated the prime partner of the Javelin Joint Venture for future in-country co-production efforts.
  2. The arrangement envisages a final assembly and integration facility for the Javelin All Up Round in India, together with component production capabilities.
  3. It is a binding co-production contract that transfers the manufacture of the missile's guidance electronics to the Indian facility.
  4. The Javelin Joint Venture through which the arrangement is routed is a partnership of Raytheon and Lockheed Martin.
  • A. 1 and 3
  • B. 2 and 4
  • C. 3 and 4
  • D. 3 only

Q5. The Letter of Offer and Acceptance for the August 2026 Javelin anti-tank guided missile acquisition was signed on the Indian side by which one of the following?

  • A. The Indian Army, the service that will operate the weapon system
  • B. The Department of Defence Production under the Ministry of Defence
  • C. The Defence Research and Development Organisation, Ministry of Defence
  • D. Bharat Dynamics Limited, the missile-manufacturing defence public sector undertaking

Q6. With reference to Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL), consider the following: 1. Tata Boeing Aerospace Limited, its joint venture with Boeing at Hyderabad, is the exclusive global source of fuselages for the AH-64 Apache attack helicopter. 2. Under the C-295 programme, 40 of the 56 aircraft are to be assembled in India while 16 are delivered in fly-away condition from Spain. 3. TASL is an equity joint venture between the Tata group and Airbus, in which the foreign partner holds a 49 per cent stake. 4. Over 90 per cent of the parts used in its Apache aerostructure assemblies are manufactured in India, involving more than 100 micro, small and medium enterprises. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. Tata Boeing Aerospace Limited, its joint venture with Boeing at Hyderabad, is the exclusive global source of fuselages for the AH-64 Apache attack helicopter.
  2. Under the C-295 programme, 40 of the 56 aircraft are to be assembled in India while 16 are delivered in fly-away condition from Spain.
  3. TASL is an equity joint venture between the Tata group and Airbus, in which the foreign partner holds a 49 per cent stake.
  4. Over 90 per cent of the parts used in its Apache aerostructure assemblies are manufactured in India, involving more than 100 micro, small and medium enterprises.
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 4
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q7. Which one of the following is India's first final assembly line for a complete military aircraft to be set up in the private sector?

  • A. The Tata Boeing Aerospace plant at Hyderabad that builds AH-64 Apache attack helicopter fuselages
  • B. The Tata Advanced Systems Main Component Assembly plant at Hyderabad that makes C-295 aerostructures
  • C. The Tata Aircraft Complex at Vadodara that assembles the C-295 medium transport aircraft
  • D. The proposed Tata Advanced Systems plant for final assembly and integration of the Javelin All Up Round

Q8. Consider the following statements comparing the two Javelin-related arrangements concluded by India in August 2026: 1. The Rs 292 crore acquisition was a government-to-government transaction, whereas the co-production arrangement is a memorandum of understanding between a private Indian company and a US industrial joint venture. 2. Unlike the Letter of Offer and Acceptance, which was signed by the Indian Army, the co-production memorandum was signed on India's behalf by the Department of Defence Production. 3. Under the co-production plan, guidance electronics and sub-assembly kits would continue to be produced in the United States and shipped to India for final assembly and integration. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Rs 292 crore acquisition was a government-to-government transaction, whereas the co-production arrangement is a memorandum of understanding between a private Indian company and a US industrial joint venture.
  2. Unlike the Letter of Offer and Acceptance, which was signed by the Indian Army, the co-production memorandum was signed on India's behalf by the Department of Defence Production.
  3. Under the co-production plan, guidance electronics and sub-assembly kits would continue to be produced in the United States and shipped to India for final assembly and integration.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q9. With reference to the United States' Foreign Military Sales route through which India contracted for the Javelin system, consider the following: 1. It is a government-to-government mechanism under which the US Government transfers defence materiel and services to foreign governments and international organisations. 2. The transaction is concluded through a Letter of Offer and Acceptance signed by the purchasing government. 3. On the US side, the sale is processed by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, whose notification for India covered 100 FGM-148 rounds and 25 Lightweight Command Launch Units. 4. Under this route the Indian buyer places its order directly on Raytheon and Lockheed Martin instead of on the US Government. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. It is a government-to-government mechanism under which the US Government transfers defence materiel and services to foreign governments and international organisations.
  2. The transaction is concluded through a Letter of Offer and Acceptance signed by the purchasing government.
  3. On the US side, the sale is processed by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, whose notification for India covered 100 FGM-148 rounds and 25 Lightweight Command Launch Units.
  4. Under this route the Indian buyer places its order directly on Raytheon and Lockheed Martin instead of on the US Government.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 3
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1 and 4

Q10. In the context of the agreement to manufacture the Javelin 'All Up Round (AUR)' in India, the expression 'All Up Round' denotes which one of the following?

  • A. The reusable sighting and fire-control unit together with all of its batteries, coolant and thermal optics
  • B. The entire complement of missiles authorised to an infantry battalion, held permanently at its unit magazine
  • C. The complete missile, integrated with its disposable launch tube, in the sealed condition in which it is issued to troops
  • D. An entire production batch of missiles released for despatch only after every round in it clears acceptance trials

Q11. As reported at the time of the 2026 India co-production announcement, approximately how many reusable Command Launch Units had the Javelin Joint Venture produced worldwide up to that point?

  • A. More than 5,000 units
  • B. More than 12,000 units
  • C. More than 25,000 units
  • D. More than 55,000 units