Space and Defence Technology — UPSC Prelims PYQs (Set 2)

Q1. Which of the following is/are correctly matched in terms of equivalent rank in the three services of Indian Defence forces ?
1.
2.
3.
4.
Select the correct answer using the code given below : UPSC Prelims 2024

Q2. Consider the following actions :
1. Detection of car crash/collision which results in the deployment of airbags almost instantaneously
2. Detection of accidental free fall of a laptop towards the ground which results in the immediate turning off of the hard drive
3. Detection of the tilt of the smart-phone which results in the rotation of display between portrait and landscape mode In how many of the above actions is the function of accelerometer required? UPSC Prelims 2023

Q3. Consider the following pairs :
Objects in space : Description
1. Cepheids : Giant clouds of dust and gas in space
2. Nebulae : Stars which brighten and dim periodically
3. Pulsars : Neutron stars that are formed when massive stars run out of fuel and collapse
How many of the above pairs are correctly matched? UPSC Prelims 2023

Q4. Which one of the following countries has its own Satellite Navigation System? UPSC Prelims 2023

Q5. Consider the following statements :
1. Ballistic missiles are jet-propelled at subsonic speeds throughout their flights, while cruise missiles are rocket-powered only in the initial phase of flight.
2. Agni-V is a medium-range supersonic cruise missile, while BrahMos is a solid-fuelled intercontinental ballistic missile.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct? UPSC Prelims 2023

Q6. Which one of the following statements best reflects the idea behind the "Fractional Orbital Bombardment System" often talked about in media ? UPSC Prelims 2022

Q7. If a major solar storm (solar flare) reaches the Earth, which of the following are the possible effects on the Earth ?
1. GPS and navigation systems could fail.
2. Tsunamis could occur at equatorial regions.
3. Power grids could be damaged.
4. Intense auroras could occur over much of the Earth.
5. Forest fires could take place over much of the planet.
6. Orbits of the satellites could be disturbed.
7. Shortwave radio communication of the aircraft flying over polar regions could be interrupted.
Select the correct answer using the code given below : UPSC Prelims 2022

Q8. Which one of the following is a reason why astronomical distances are measured in light-years? UPSC Prelims 2021

Q9. Consider the following activities :
1. Spraying pesticides on a crop field
2. Inspecting the craters of active volcanoes
3. Collecting breath samples from spouting whales for DNA analysis At the present level of technology, which of the above activities can be successfully carried out by using drones ? UPSC Prelims 2020

Q10. “The experiment will employ a trio of spacecraft flying in formation in the shape of an equilateral triangle that has sides one million kilometres long, with lasers shining between the craft.” The experiment in question refers to UPSC Prelims 2020

Q11. For the measurement/estimation of which of the following are satellite images/remote sensing data used?
1. Chlorophyll content in the vegetation of a specific location
2. Greenhouse gas emissions from rice paddies of a specific location
3. Land surface temperatures of a specific location
Select the correct answer using the code given below. UPSC Prelims 2019

Q12. Recently, scientists observed the merger of giant ‘blackholes’ billions of light-years away from the Earth. What is the significance of this observation? UPSC Prelims 2019