UPSC Prelims Defence & Security previous year questions from 2026, with answers and explanations.
2026Current AffairsMulti-statement (Traditional Style)Strategic Operations & Missions
Consider the following statements about Mission Sudarshan Chakra of India:
1. It aims to enhance India's air defence, ballistic missile defence and aerial offensive capabilities.
2. This Mission is being designed to enhance rapid, precise, and powerful defence responses, reinforcing India's strategic autonomy.
3. One of the aims of this Mission is to cover all public places of India by an expanded nationwide security shield by 2035.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A.1, 2 and 3
B.1 and 2 only
C.2 and 3 only
D.1 only
Explanation: * All statements are correct: Mission Sudarshan Chakra is a long-term strategic defense shield initiative introduced by the Indian Air Force (IAF). * Statements 1 & 2 are correct as the mission focuses on integrating and upgrading India's air defense grid, ballistic missile intercept defenses, and tactical aerial strike networks to protect strategic autonomy. * Statement 3 is correct because it lays out a long-term defense framework that includes creating an expanded nationwide defensive security shield covering critical assets and public zones by 2035.
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2026Multi-statement (Traditional Style)Indigenization & Hardwares
Which of the following items of defence hardware is/are manufactured in India?
1. Su-30 MKI Fighter Jets
2. T-90 MK-III Tanks
3. Akula Class Submarine
Select the answer using the code given below :
A.1 and 2
B.1 and 3
C.1 only
D.2 only
Explanation: * Statement 1 is correct: Su-30 MKI multirole air superiority fighters are actively manufactured in India under a licensed production agreement by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). * Statement 2 is correct: T-90 main battle tanks (Bhishma tanks) are produced in India at the Heavy Vehicles Factory in Avadi under a technology transfer agreement with Russia. * Statement 3 is incorrect: Akula-class nuclear-powered attack submarines are not manufactured in India. They are leased from Russia and operated by the Indian Navy under the name INS Chakra. * Therefore, only 1 and 2 are manufactured domestically.
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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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