UPSC Prelims previous year questions on Defense Institutional Structure (Defence & Security) — real questions with answers and explanations.
2026Pairs/Matching (Traditional Style)Defense Institutional Structure
Which one of the following pairs is not correctly matched ?
(Indian Army Corps) : (Headquarters)
A.3 Corps : Dimapur
B.4 Corps : Tezpur
C.14 Corps : Leh
D.33 Corps : Srinagar
Explanation: * Option (a) is correctly matched: 3 Corps is headquartered in Dimapur, Nagaland. * Option (b) is correctly matched: 4 Corps is headquartered in Tezpur, Assam. * Option (c) is correctly matched: 14 Corps (Fire and Fury Corps) is headquartered in Leh, Ladakh. * Option (d) is NOT correctly matched: 33 Corps (Trishul Corps) is headquartered at Sukna near Siliguri in West Bengal, not in Srinagar. The unit headquartered in Srinagar is the 15 Corps (Chinar Corps).
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2024Pairs/Matching (How Many Style)Defense Institutional Structure
How many correctly matched in terms of equivalent rank in the three services of Indian Defence forces?
1. Army: Brigadier | Airforce: Air Commodore | Navy: Commander
2. Army: Major General | Airforce: Air Vice Marshal | Navy: Vice Admiral
3. Army: Major | Airforce: Squadron Leader | Navy: Lieutenant Commander
4. Army: Lieutenant Colonel | Airforce: Group Captain | Navy: Captain
A.One
B.Two
C.Three
D.Four
Explanation: * Row 1 is incorrect: The equivalent rank for Brigadier (Army) and Air Commodore (Air Force) is Commodore in the Navy (not Commander). * Row 2 is incorrect: The equivalent rank for Major General (Army) and Air Vice Marshal (Air Force) is Rear Admiral in the Navy (Vice Admiral is higher). * Row 3 is correctly matched: The rank of Major in the Army corresponds perfectly to Squadron Leader in the Air Force and Lieutenant Commander in the Navy. * Row 4 is incorrect: The rank of Lieutenant Colonel matches with Wing Commander (Air Force) and Commander (Navy). Captain in the Navy corresponds to Colonel in the Army. * Therefore, only Row 3 is correctly matched.
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2024Multi-statement (Traditional Style)Defense Institutional Structure
What are the duties of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) as Head of the Department of Military Affairs?
1. Permanent Chairman of Chiefs of Staff Committee
2. Exercise military command over the three Service Chiefs
3. Principal Military Advisor to Defence Minister on all tri-service matters
A.1, 2 and 3
B.1 and 2 only
C.2 and 3 only
D.1 and 3 only
Explanation: * Duty 1 is correct: The CDS acts as the Permanent Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee. * Duty 2 is incorrect: The Chief of Defence Staff acts as a coordinator and administrator for tri-service operations but does not exercise operational military command over the three individual Service Chiefs. * Duty 3 is correct: The CDS serves as the Principal Military Advisor to the Raksha Mantri (Defence Minister) on all tri-service matters.
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