Defence & Internal Security MCQs for UPSC Prelims
Q1. In July 2026, twenty-three Pakistan-based individuals were designated as terrorists partly for indoctrination of youth using social media and drone-based weapons delivery. Which authority made this designation?
- A. The Ministry of External Affairs, through its External Publicity and Public Diplomacy Division
- B. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, through its cyber-coordination wing
- C. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs, acting under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967
- D. The National Investigation Agency, functioning under the Ministry of Law and Justice
Q2. 'PAVA shells', cleared by an expert panel of the Union Home Ministry as an alternative to pellet guns, are shells filled with which one of the following?
- A. Nonivamide, an organic compound characteristically found in natural chilli pepper
- B. Ortho-chlorobenzylidene malononitrile, the irritant agent used in standard tear-smoke shells
- C. Rubber-coated metal spheres designed to break apart and disperse on impact
- D. A compressed acoustic charge that disorients a crowd by generating intense sound
Q3. In the context of Embraer's recent Indian partnerships, the C-390 Millennium is best described as which one of the following?
- A. A regional passenger jet whose Indian final assembly line Embraer proposes with Adani Defence and Aerospace
- B. A military transport aircraft that Embraer plans to introduce in India in partnership with the Mahindra Group
- C. A turboprop basic trainer being co-developed by Embraer with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
- D. A light utility helicopter to be built in India under an Adani Defence tie-up with an Italian manufacturer
Q4. According to a report on the use of pellet-firing shotguns for crowd control in the Kashmir valley, how many persons had been blinded by pellets since their introduction in 2010?
Q5. The Rapid Action Force, whose conduct during the July 2026 march to Parliament is under a post-event assessment, functions as a specialised wing of which one of the following?
- A. The Border Security Force, deployed on the international borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh
- B. The Central Industrial Security Force, which guards industrial undertakings and airports
- C. The Sashastra Seema Bal, deployed along the Indo-Nepal and Indo-Bhutan borders
- D. The Central Reserve Police Force, the country's largest central armed police force
Q6. Consider the following statements regarding efforts to replace pellet guns used for crowd control in the Kashmir valley:
1. The expert committee to explore alternatives to pellet guns was constituted in July 2016 by the Ministry of Defence.
2. PAVA shells, whose active compound also occurs naturally in chilli pepper, were tested for over a year at the Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Lucknow, a CSIR laboratory.
3. The bulk supply of PAVA shells as a replacement munition was to be undertaken by the Tear Smoke Unit of the Border Security Force at Gwalior.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- The expert committee to explore alternatives to pellet guns was constituted in July 2016 by the Ministry of Defence.
- PAVA shells, whose active compound also occurs naturally in chilli pepper, were tested for over a year at the Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Lucknow, a CSIR laboratory.
- The bulk supply of PAVA shells as a replacement munition was to be undertaken by the Tear Smoke Unit of the Border Security Force at Gwalior.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 1 and 3 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q7. The expert committee set up by the Union Government in 2016 to find substitutes for pellet-firing guns in crowd control identified which one of the following as its principal recommended alternative?
- A. A complete and permanent withdrawal of every firearm-based munition from all crowd-control duties
- B. Exclusive reliance on water cannons and baton charges in each and every protest situation
- C. PAVA (nonivamide) chilli-based less-lethal shells
- D. Plastic bullets, to be adopted as the sole means of dispersing every unlawful assembly
Q8. Among the exclusive Fast Track Special Courts made functional under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme launched in 2019, the single largest category is dedicated to the trial of offences under—
- A. the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act
- B. the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act
- C. the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA)
- D. the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA)
Q9. Under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, when an unlawful assembly is to be dispersed with the help of the armed forces, the operation is required to be commanded by—
- A. the Executive Magistrate of the highest rank who is present at the scene
- B. the senior-most military officer present, acting independently of any Executive Magistrate
- C. the District Superintendent of Police in every case, irrespective of magisterial presence
- D. the Commissioner of Police of the concerned city, who alone can authorise it
Q10. Under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, an unlawful assembly is said to have committed the offence of 'rioting' precisely at the point when—
- A. force or violence is used by the assembly, or by any member of it, in prosecution of its common object
- B. the assembly grows to ten or more persons at the site of gathering
- C. the assembly refuses to disperse after a lawful command issued by a magistrate
- D. any one member of the assembly is found to be carrying a deadly weapon
Q11. Under Section 148 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, in the absence of an Executive Magistrate or an officer in charge of a police station, what is the LOWEST rank of police officer competent to command an unlawful assembly to disperse?
- A. Head Constable in charge of a beat within the local police station limits
- B. Assistant Sub-Inspector deputed to the location of the assembly
- C. Sub-Inspector, being an officer not below that rank
- D. Deputy Superintendent of Police holding subdivisional charge
Q12. Consider the following statements based on SIPRI data for India's arms imports during 2021-25:
1. India was the world's second-largest arms importer during this period.
2. Russia's share of India's arms imports fell to about 40%, down from about 70% in 2011-15.
3. France and Israel increased their share of India's arms imports over this period.
4. India's S-400 air-defence system was procured from France.
Which of the above is/are NOT correct?
- India was the world's second-largest arms importer during this period.
- Russia's share of India's arms imports fell to about 40%, down from about 70% in 2011-15.
- France and Israel increased their share of India's arms imports over this period.
- India's S-400 air-defence system was procured from France.
- A. 1, 2 and 3
- B. 4 only
- C. 3 and 4
- D. 1 and 4
Q13. Consider the following statements about India's defence indigenisation:
1. India's defence exports reached a record ₹38,424 crore in FY 2025-26.
2. Two Defence Industrial Corridors have been set up, in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
3. The entire value of India's defence exports in FY 2025-26 came exclusively from Defence Public Sector Undertakings.
4. The government has set a defence production target of ₹3 lakh crore by 2029.
Which of the above is/are NOT correct?
- India's defence exports reached a record ₹38,424 crore in FY 2025-26.
- Two Defence Industrial Corridors have been set up, in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
- The entire value of India's defence exports in FY 2025-26 came exclusively from Defence Public Sector Undertakings.
- The government has set a defence production target of ₹3 lakh crore by 2029.
- A. 3 only
- B. 1 and 4
- C. 2 and 3
- D. 1, 2 and 4
Q14. The Positive Indigenisation Lists, which bar the import of notified defence items beyond specified timelines, are issued by which one of the following bodies?
- A. Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence
- B. Department of Military Affairs, Ministry of Defence
- C. Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
- D. Directorate General of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry
Q15. In the framework of tri-service jointness that Samudra Pradakshina symbolises, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), besides being Secretary of the Department of Military Affairs, also functions as which one of the following?
- A. Permanent Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee
- B. Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces
- C. Secretary of the Department of Defence
- D. Rotational Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee based on seniority
Q16. As articulated by the Raksha Mantri at its flag-off, which one of the following statements about the symbolism of Samudra Pradakshina is correct?
- A. It was declared the only military expedition ever to embody Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
- B. It was projected as making India entirely self-sufficient in all sailing-yacht construction.
- C. It was described as a symbol of Nari Shakti and the jointness of the three Services.
- D. It was hailed as the largest sailing expedition undertaken by any navy in the world.
Q17. Consider the following pairings relating to Indian all-women sailing expeditions and their vessels:
1. Navika Sagar Parikrama II — first Indian circumnavigation by women in double-handed mode.
2. Navika Sagar Parikrama (2017-18) — crew led by Lt Cdr Vartika Joshi.
3. INSV Tarini — a 56-foot indigenously built sailing vessel.
4. IASV Triveni — a 56-foot vessel inducted into the Indian Navy in 2018.
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?
- Navika Sagar Parikrama II — first Indian circumnavigation by women in double-handed mode.
- Navika Sagar Parikrama (2017-18) — crew led by Lt Cdr Vartika Joshi.
- INSV Tarini — a 56-foot indigenously built sailing vessel.
- IASV Triveni — a 56-foot vessel inducted into the Indian Navy in 2018.
- A. 1, 2 and 3
- B. 2 and 4
- C. 1 and 4
- D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Q18. Which one of the following was the first-ever Indian circumnavigation of the globe by an all-women crew?
- A. Navika Sagar Parikrama II (2024-25)
- B. Samudra Pradakshina (2025-26)
- C. The Sagar Parikrama solo voyage
- D. Navika Sagar Parikrama (2017-18)
Q19. The 'Samudra Pradakshina' Mumbai-to-Seychelles-and-back preparatory voyage of April 2025 covered approximately how many nautical miles?
- A. 1,800 nautical miles
- B. 26,000 nautical miles
- C. 4,000 nautical miles
- D. 23,400 nautical miles
Q20. With reference to the 'Samudra Pradakshina' preparatory voyage from Mumbai to Seychelles and back, consider the following statements:
1. It was flagged off in April 2025 as a preparatory training run for the round-the-world expedition.
2. Its crew of twelve women officers was drawn exclusively from the Indian Navy.
3. The round trip covered about 4,000 nautical miles.
4. The voyage lasted about 55 days.
Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?
- It was flagged off in April 2025 as a preparatory training run for the round-the-world expedition.
- Its crew of twelve women officers was drawn exclusively from the Indian Navy.
- The round trip covered about 4,000 nautical miles.
- The voyage lasted about 55 days.
- A. 1 and 2
- B. 2 only
- C. 2 and 4
- D. 3 and 4
Q21. Consider the following statements comparing the crew of Samudra Pradakshina at its flag-off with that at its flag-in:
1. The crew flagged off in September 2025 numbered ten officers, with the Army contributing the largest contingent of five.
2. The crew that completed the return voyage and was flagged in during July 2026 numbered nine officers.
3. In the flag-off crew, the Air Force officers outnumbered the Army officers.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- The crew flagged off in September 2025 numbered ten officers, with the Army contributing the largest contingent of five.
- The crew that completed the return voyage and was flagged in during July 2026 numbered nine officers.
- In the flag-off crew, the Air Force officers outnumbered the Army officers.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q22. How many women officers were aboard IASV Triveni when Samudra Pradakshina was flagged off from the Gateway of India in September 2025?
- A. Nine
- B. Ten
- C. Twelve
- D. Six
Q23. Of the three Great Capes rounded during Samudra Pradakshina, which one is the southernmost and was rounded by passing through the notoriously stormy Drake Passage?
- A. Cape Horn
- B. Cape Leeuwin
- C. Cape of Good Hope
- D. Cape Agulhas
Q24. Under which Union Ministry was the Samudra Pradakshina circumnavigation organised and flagged in on its completion in July 2026?
- A. Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
- B. Ministry of Defence
- C. Ministry of Earth Sciences
- D. Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
Q25. The prefix 'IASV' in 'IASV Triveni', the vessel used for Samudra Pradakshina, denotes that the yacht is which one of the following?
- A. An Indian Armed Services Vessel operated jointly by all three Services
- B. An Integrated Armed Services Vessel of the tri-service command
- C. An Indian Auxiliary Sailing Vessel of the Coast Guard
- D. An Indian Army Sailing Vessel owned by the Indian Army
Q26. 'Samudra Pradakshina', flagged off in September 2025 aboard IASV Triveni, holds which one of the following distinctions?
- A. India's first all-women naval circumnavigation of the globe
- B. India's first double-handed all-women circumnavigation of the globe
- C. The world's first tri-service all-women circumnavigation sailing expedition
- D. India's first solo all-women circumnavigation of the globe
Q27. Consider the following statements regarding the commissioning venues of the Mahe-class ships:
1. INS Mahe was commissioned at Naval Dockyard, Mumbai, whereas INS Malvan was commissioned at Karwar.
2. The Karwar naval base is located in Karnataka and is being developed under Project Seabird.
3. Both the Mumbai and Karwar naval bases fall under the Eastern Naval Command.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- INS Mahe was commissioned at Naval Dockyard, Mumbai, whereas INS Malvan was commissioned at Karwar.
- The Karwar naval base is located in Karnataka and is being developed under Project Seabird.
- Both the Mumbai and Karwar naval bases fall under the Eastern Naval Command.
- A. 1 and 3 only
- B. 1 and 2 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q28. The eight ships of the Mahe-class ASW-SWC project are being designed and constructed by which one of the following shipyards?
- A. Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited
- B. Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Limited
- C. Cochin Shipyard Limited
- D. Goa Shipyard Limited
Q29. In the order of induction of the Mahe-class into the Indian Navy, INS Malvan occupies which position within the class?
- A. First
- B. Second
- C. Third
- D. Fifth
Q30. Which one of the following ships of the ASW-SWC (CSL) project was the first to be commissioned into the Indian Navy?
- A. Mahe
- B. Malvan
- C. Mangrol
- D. Malpe