Questions & explanations
1. Assertion (A): The Digital Sky Platform is an essential part of the Drone Rules, 2021 for ensuring safe and regulated drone operations in India.
Reason (R): The Digital Sky Platform is a private blockchain-based system that enables real-time drone tracking and automatic permission generation.
- (a) Both A and R are correct and R is the correct explanation of A
- (b) Both A and R are correct but R is NOT the correct explanation of A
- (c) A is correct but R is incorrect
- (d) A is incorrect but R is correct
Answer: (c) A is correct but R is incorrect
Assertion (A) is correct: The Digital Sky Platform, developed by DGCA, is a key component of the Drone Rules, 2021, facilitating drone registration, flight permission (via a dynamic 'no-permission, no-takeoff' system), and compliance monitoring. Reason (R) is incorrect: The Digital Sky Platform is not a private blockchain-based system; it is a public platform (though it uses some blockchain technology for security). More importantly, the description as 'private blockchain' is inaccurate; it is a permissioned blockchain, but the term 'private' is misleading. Also, automatic permission generation is not fully accurate; it enables real-time permission but not automatic for all cases. The main error is that R wrongly calls it a private platform. Hence, A is correct but R is incorrect.
2. During a severe flood in a densely populated riverine region, real-time aerial assessment is critical for rescue operations. The flood has damaged communication networks, making reliance on mobile networks unreliable. Which combination of drone types would be most effective for sustained surveillance and delivery of essential supplies to isolated pockets?
- (a) Fixed-wing drones for wide-area mapping and single-rotor drones for heavy lift supply drops
- (b) Quadcopters for both surveillance and supply drops due to their ability to hover
- (c) Tethered drones for uninterrupted surveillance and fixed-wing drones for supply drops
- (d) Hybrid VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing) drones for both roles because of their long endurance and payload capacity
Answer: (a) Fixed-wing drones for wide-area mapping and single-rotor drones for heavy lift supply drops
In a flooded scenario, fixed-wing drones offer long endurance and wide-area coverage (up to several hours), ideal for mapping flood extent and locating survivors. Single-rotor drones (like helicopter-type) can carry heavier payloads (e.g., food, medicine) over longer distances compared to multirotors, and they can hover for precise drops. Option (b) is not ideal because quadcopters have limited endurance and payload. Option (c) tethered drones provide continuous power but are limited to a small area near the tether point, not suitable for wide area. Option (d) hybrid VTOL drones offer flexibility but are less common and may have lower payload efficiency. Thus, the best combination is fixed-wing for surveillance and single-rotor for supply drops.
3. With reference to the Make in India initiative in defense, consider the following statements:
1. The Make in India initiative in defense is a policy framework whose primary objective is to reduce India's reliance on defense imports and promote indigenous manufacturing.
2. The government has approved the production of 83 Tejas Mk1A fighters under the 'Make in India' framework.
3. The 'Buy (Indian - Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured)' category is a key component of the Defense Acquisition Procedure (DAP) to promote indigenous production.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- (a) 1 and 2 only
- (b) 2 and 3 only
- (c) 1 and 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3
Statement 1 is correct: The Make in India initiative in defense is a policy framework with the fundamental objective of reducing India's dependence on foreign defense imports and boosting domestic manufacturing capabilities. Statement 2 is correct: The government indeed approved the production of 83 Tejas Mk1A fighters for the Indian Air Force, a significant indigenous defense contract under the Make in India framework. Statement 3 is correct: The 'Buy (Indian - Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured)' category is the highest priority in the Defense Acquisition Procedure (DAP, formerly DPP) and is crucial for promoting indigenous design, development, and manufacturing in India.
4. With reference to the Drone Rules 2021 in India, consider the following statements:
1. Drones are classified into five categories based on weight: Nano, Micro, Small, Medium, and Large.
2. All drones except those in the Nano category require type certification from the Quality Council of India.
3. The Digital Sky Platform is a traffic management system for drones that implements 'no permission, no takeoff' (NPNT).
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- (a) 1 and 2 only
- (b) 2 and 3 only
- (c) 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3
All three statements are correct. Statement 1: The Drone Rules 2021 classify drones into five weight-based categories - Nano (up to 250 g), Micro (250 g to 2 kg), Small (2 kg to 25 kg), Medium (25 kg to 150 kg), and Large (above 150 kg). Statement 2: All drones except Nano (and model/research drones within limits) require a type certificate, issued based on certification by the Quality Council of India and its authorised testing entities. Statement 3: The Digital Sky Platform is the online single-window/unmanned traffic management system that operationalises the 'No Permission, No Takeoff' (NPNT) rule, under which a drone cannot fly without a digital permission. Hence the answer is (d).
5. Consider the following statements regarding the Drone Rules, 2021: 1. No security clearance is required for registration of drones with a payload of up to 500 kg. 2. The Drone Rules, 2021 removed the requirement of a remote pilot license for all categories of drones. 3. The Digital Sky platform is used for real-time tracking and compliance of drone operations. Which of the above statements is/are correct?
- (a) 1 and 2 only
- (b) 2 and 3 only
- (c) 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (c) 3 only
Statement 1 is incorrect: the Drone Rules, 2021 do not exempt drones with payload up to 500 kg from security clearance; in fact the rules abolished the requirement of prior security clearance before registration or licence issuance, and 500 kg refers to the upper limit of all-up weight (including payload) covered by the rules, not a security-clearance threshold. Statement 2 is incorrect: a remote pilot certificate is required to operate drones, except nano drones and micro drones flown for non-commercial purposes. Statement 3 is correct: the Digital Sky platform supports compliance and monitoring of drone operations. Hence only statement 3 is correct.
6. Consider the following statements regarding loitering munitions and swarm drones:
1. Loitering munitions are drones designed to hover over a target for an extended period and then strike on command.
2. Swarm drone technology involves multiple drones operating autonomously in a coordinated manner without any human intervention.
3. India’s first swarm drone system was inducted into the Indian Army in 2023.
Which of the above is/are correct?
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 2 and 3 only
- (c) 1 and 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (a) 1 only
Statement 1 is correct: Loitering munitions (also called kamikaze drones) can cruise or loiter over an area and attack a target when directed. Statement 2 is incorrect: While swarm drones operate in a coordinated manner, they typically involve some degree of human supervision at the tactical level; 'without any human intervention' is an overstatement. Statement 3 is incorrect: India has tested swarm drone systems and inducted some limited systems, but there is no official announcement of 'first swarm drone system inducted in the Indian Army in 2023' as a milestone. Multiple tests have occurred, but a single formal induction is not documented.
7. Consider the following statements regarding the Agni missile series:
1. Agni-I is a surface-to-surface ballistic missile with a range of 700–1,000 km.
2. Agni-V is a three-stage, solid-fueled intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).
3. Agni-Prime is a new variant developed to replace Agni-I and Agni-II.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- (a) 1 and 2 only
- (b) 2 and 3 only
- (c) 1 and 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3
Statement 1: Agni-I is a surface-to-surface ballistic missile with an operational range of 700–1,250 km. The stated range of 700–1,000 km is accurate and falls within its capabilities. Statement 2: Agni-V is a three-stage, solid-fueled Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) with a range exceeding 5,000 km. This statement is correct. Statement 3: Agni-Prime (Agni-P) is a new generation advanced variant designed to replace Agni-I and Agni-II, offering improved capabilities and a range of 1,000-2,000 km. This statement is correct. Since all three statements are factually accurate, the correct option is (d) 1, 2 and 3.
8. Consider the following statements regarding DRDO’s role in missile development:
1. DRDO has developed the entire Agni series of missiles independently without foreign collaboration.
2. The BrahMos missile is a joint venture between DRDO and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyeniya.
3. DRDO’s Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) was launched in 1983 to develop a range of missiles.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- (a) 1 and 2 only
- (b) 2 and 3 only
- (c) 1 and 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (b) 2 and 3 only
Statement 2 is correct: BrahMos is a joint project between DRDO and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyeniya. Statement 3 is correct: IGMDP was launched in 1983 to develop missiles like Prithvi, Agni, Akash, Trishul, and Nag. Statement 1 is incorrect: While DRDO developed the Agni series, some technologies and components were influenced by foreign inputs, especially in early stages, and the program evolved through international partnerships. However, the Agni series is largely indigenous, but not entirely independent of foreign collaboration in design or materials. Thus, statement 1 is too absolute and incorrect.
9. Which of the following is the most appropriate application of drones in disaster management?
- (a) Real-time aerial surveillance and damage assessment using multispectral cameras.
- (b) Rapid delivery of heavy construction equipment to affected areas.
- (c) Decentralized communication using swarm drones to replace ground infrastructure permanently.
- (d) 3D printing of shelter structures on-site using drone-mounted printers.
Answer: (a) Real-time aerial surveillance and damage assessment using multispectral cameras.
Drones equipped with multispectral and thermal cameras can provide real-time situational awareness, assess damage, and locate survivors in disaster zones. This is a proven application used in floods, earthquakes, and wildfires. Option (b) is impractical because drones have limited payload capacity; heavy equipment delivery requires larger aircraft. Option (c) is partially true but 'permanently replace ground infrastructure' is unrealistic and not a primary use. Option (d) is experimental and not yet standard practice. Thus, real-time surveillance is the most appropriate and widely adopted application.
10. Consider the following statements regarding the applications of drones in India: 1. The Kisan Drone Yojana under the Ministry of Agriculture promotes the use of drones for crop assessment, spraying, and land mapping. 2. Drones are used in disaster response by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) for search and rescue and damage assessment. 3. The DGCA has allowed Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations for all drone categories without any restrictions.
- (a) 1 and 2 only
- (b) 2 and 3 only
- (c) 1 and 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only
Statement 1 is correct: The Ministry of Agriculture launched the Kisan Drone Yojana (under the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund) to subsidize drone purchase for farmers, and drones are used for crop health monitoring, spraying, etc. Statement 2 is correct: NDRF uses drones for search and rescue, real-time surveillance, and mapping in disasters. Statement 3 is incorrect: BVLOS operations are not permitted for all categories; they require special permission from DGCA and are currently allowed only under experimental or trial basis, with strict conditions (e.g., within a defined corridor).
11. An airport authority is considering deploying a counter-drone system. Which of the following technologies is used by DRDO's D4/CUAS system for drone detection?
- (a) Acoustic sensors only
- (b) Radio frequency spectrum analysis combined with radar
- (c) Thermal imaging cameras alone
- (d) Laser-based range finders only
Answer: (b) Radio frequency spectrum analysis combined with radar
DRDO's Project Cheetah is a counter-drone system that uses a combination of radar and RF (radio frequency) detection to detect and track drones. Radar detects the drone's physical presence, while RF analysis identifies the communication signals between the drone and its controller. This multi-sensor approach reduces false alarms and provides comprehensive detection. Acoustic sensors (a) are less reliable in noisy airport environments. Thermal imaging (c) is useful for visual confirmation but not for initial detection. Laser range finders (d) are for ranging, not wide-area detection.
12. Consider the following pairs:
1. Humsa NG - Sonar system for submarines
2. Abhay - Sonar system for surface ships
3. Mihir - Sonar system for helicopters
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
- (a) 1 and 2 only
- (b) 2 and 3 only
- (c) 1 and 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only
Pair 1: Humsa NG — sonar for submarines: correctly matched (Humsa NG is a hull-mounted sonar developed by NPOL/DRDO for submarines). Pair 2: Abhay — sonar for surface ships: correctly matched (Abhay is an active-passive hull-mounted sonar designed for surface warships). Pair 3: Mihir — sonar for helicopters: INCORRECTLY matched (Mihir is a weather/cloud-physics research aircraft operated by IITM; it is not a sonar system; dipping sonars for helicopters use different designations). Only Pairs 1 and 2 are correctly matched, making the answer (a) '1 and 2 only'.