UPSC(2026) Prelims Practice Questions on INS Vikrant & Defence Capabilities

 

UPSC(2026) Prelims Practice Questions on INS Vikrant & Defence Capabilities

1. Consider the following statements regarding INS Vikrant:

1. It is the first aircraft carrier to be entirely built and designed in India.

2. It operates on the CATOBAR (Catapult Assisted Take-Off But Arrested Recovery) system.

3. It has a higher indigenous content percentage than any other warship built in India.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Answer: (a)

• Statement 1 is correct: INS Vikrant is indeed the first Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC-1), designed by the Navy's Warship Design Bureau and built by Cochin Shipyard Ltd.

• Statement 2 is incorrect: It operates on the STOBAR (Short Take-Off But Arrested Recovery) system, not CATOBAR.

• Statement 3 is incorrect: While its 76% indigenous content is high, the question of it being the highest is not verified by the text and is likely inaccurate.

2. The construction of INS Vikrant involved significant contributions from Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). In this context, approximately how many MSMEs were involved in the project?

(a) Over 50

(b) Over 100

(c) Over 200

(d) Over 500

Answer: (b)

• Explanation: The text explicitly states that the project involved "100 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)." The figure "over 550" refers to Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs).

3. With reference to the operational history of INS Vikrant, which of the following was a significant humanitarian assistance operation it undertook?

(a) Providing disaster relief during Cyclone Biparjoy

(b) Evacuating Indian citizens from Yemen

(c) Medical evacuation of injured crew from MV Heilan Star

(d) Delivering supplies to a Maldives island after a tsunami

Answer: (c)

• Explanation: In March 2025, a Sea King helicopter from INS Vikrant successfully airlifted three injured crew members from the Panama-flagged bulk carrier MV Heilan Star, 230 nautical miles off Goa.

4. Consider the following pairs:

Exercise / Operation	Participating Nations / Entities
1. MILAN 24	Over 47 friendly foreign countries
2. Exercise Varuna	France
3. Operation Sindoor	Pakistan

How many pairs given above are correctly matched?

(a) Only one pair

(b) Only two pairs

(c) All three pairs

(d) None of the pairs

Answer: (b)

• Pair 1 is correct: MILAN 24 witnessed participation from senior leadership of 47 friendly foreign countries.

• Pair 2 is correct: Exercise Varuna is the bilateral exercise between the Indian Navy and the French Navy.

• Pair 3 is incorrect: Operation Sindoor was a military operation where the INS Vikrant battle group was used to compel the Pakistan Navy into a defensive posture, but it was an operation against Pakistan, not with Pakistan.

5. The design and construction of INS Vikrant is a landmark achievement for 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' in defence. Which of the following organizations was responsible for its design?

(a) Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)

(b) Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL)

(c) Warship Design Bureau (WDB) of the Indian Navy

(d) Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE)

Answer: (c)

• Explanation: The text clearly mentions that INS Vikrant was "Designed by the Indian Navy’s in house Warship Design Bureau (WDB)."

6. INS Vikrant is capable of generating a substantial amount of power. This power is roughly equivalent to the needs of:

(a) An entire metro city like Kochi

(b) 5,000 households

(c) All naval bases on the eastern coast

(d) 50,000 households

Answer: (b)

• Explanation: A key fact from the text is that the ship "can generate electricity sufficient for 5,000 households."

7. The air wing of INS Vikrant includes a variety of aircraft. Which of the following is/are part of its air wing?

1. MiG-29K fighter jets

2. Rafale-M fighter jets

3. Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH)

4. Kamov-31 helicopters

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1, 2 and 3 only

(b) 1, 3 and 4 only

(c) 2 and 4 only

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Answer: (b)

• 1, 3, and 4 are correct: The text lists MiG-29K, ALH, and Kamov-31 as part of its air wing.

• 2 is incorrect: The Rafale-M deal was signed in April 2025 and as of the information given, they are a future acquisition, not a current part of the air wing.

8. The name 'Vikrant' holds a significant legacy in the Indian Navy. The previous INS Vikrant (R11) was decommissioned in which year?

(a) 1971

(b) 1987

(c) 1997

(d) 2007

Answer: (c)

• Explanation: The text states that the erstwhile INS Vikrant (R11) "was decommissioned in 1997."

9. In the context of India's maritime strategy, the operational deployment of INS Vikrant most closely aligns with the vision of:

(a) Act East Policy

(b) Neighbourhood First Policy

(c) SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region)

(d) International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC)

Answer: (c)

• Explanation: The text repeatedly links INS Vikrant's role to India's SAGAR vision, reinforcing its position as a 'First Responder' and 'Preferred Security Partner' in the Indian Ocean Region.

10. The indigenous construction of INS Vikrant has had a significant economic impact by:

(a) Making India a net exporter of warship-grade steel

(b) Generating thousands of direct and indirect jobs

(c) Completely eliminating the need for foreign defence imports

(d) Establishing India as the leading global shipbuilder

Answer: (b)

• Explanation: The text directly mentions that the project generated "2,000 direct and 12,500 indirect jobs." The other options are either overstatements or not supported by the provided information.