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GS Paper: GS3-16.Achievements of Indians in Science & Technology

  • Indian Army inducts ‘Saksham’ Counter-Unmanned Aerial System (CUAS) Grid

    Why in the News?

    The Indian Army has initiated procurement of ‘Saksham’, an indigenously developed Counter-Unmanned Aerial System (CUAS) Grid, to enhance airspace security and counter emerging aerial threats.

    Indian Army inducts ‘Saksham’ Counter-Unmanned Aerial System (CUAS) Grid
    Visual Representation

    About Saksham Counter-Unmanned Aerial System (CUAS) Grid:

    • Overview: Indigenous counter-drone system developed by the Indian Army with BEL, Ghaziabad, to detect, track, identify, and neutralise unmanned aerial threats.
    • Purpose: Secures the Tactical Battlefield Space (TBS) or Air Littoral—airspace up to 3,000 m (10,000 ft) against low-altitude drones.
    • Origin: Conceived after Operation Sindoor, which revealed gaps in air defence.
    • Acronym: SAKSHAM – Situational Awareness for Kinetic Soft & Hard Kill Assets Management; a Command-and-Control (C2) platform integrating sensors, weapons, and AI analytics to create a Recognised UAS Picture (RUASP).
    • Procurement: Approved under Fast Track Procurement (FTP); aligns with Atmanirbhar Bharat and the Army’s Decade of Transformation (2023–2032).

    Key Features:

    • Detection & Tracking: Continuous surveillance via radar, radio-frequency, and electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) sensors.
    • AI-Enabled Prediction: Uses AI to forecast hostile activity and suggest counter-responses.
    • Sensor–Weapon Fusion: Integrates jammers, directed-energy systems, and kinetic interceptors for unified action.
    • Automated Command Support: Provides real-time decision aids for threat prioritisation.
    • 3-D Airspace Visualisation: Displays dynamic views of friendly and hostile assets.
    • Network Integration: Runs on the Army Data Network (ADN) and links with Akashteer Air Defence Control for unified airspace management.
    • Mobility & Modularity: Compact, scalable, and rapidly deployable across terrains.
    • Indigenous Focus: Fully designed and produced in India, demonstrating advanced self-reliant defence capability.
    [UPSC 2025] With reference to Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), consider the following statements:

    I. All types of UAVs can do vertical landing. II. All types of UAVs can do automated hovering. III. All types of UAVs can use battery only as a source of power supply.

    Which of the statements given above are correct?

    (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) All the three (d) None*

     

  • India’s Dhvani Hypersonic Missile

    Why in the News?

    The DRDO is preparing for the maiden test of the “Dhvani” hypersonic missile.

    About the Dhvani Missile and Its Features

    • Overview: The Dhvani hypersonic missile is being developed by India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) as part of its advanced hypersonic weapons programme.
    • Type: It is designed as a Hypersonic Glide Vehicle (HGV) — a next-generation missile system capable of travelling at hypersonic speeds (beyond Mach 5 or over 7,400 km/h) while performing sharp maneuvers at high altitudes.
    • Range and Speed:
      • Expected operational range: 6,000–10,000 km, potentially doubling the reach of India’s Agni-V ICBM.
      • Speed: Exceeds Mach 5, making interception nearly impossible with current missile defence systems.
    • Flight Mechanism:
      • Launched to extreme altitudes before entering a glide phase in the atmosphere at hypersonic speeds.
      • The glide vehicle can change direction mid-course, allowing unpredictable trajectories that evade radar and anti-missile systems.
    • Design and Engineering:
      • Length: ~9 metres; Width: ~2.5 metres.
      • Blended Wing-Body Configuration: Enhances lift and stability while reducing aerodynamic drag.
      • Thermal Protection System: Uses ultra-high-temperature ceramic composites capable of withstanding 2,000–3,000°C during re-entry.
      • Stealth Features: Angled surfaces and smooth contours minimise radar cross-section, making it virtually undetectable to enemy radars.
    • Development Heritage:
      • Builds upon DRDO’s success with the Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV), which validated India’s scramjet propulsion and heat-resistant materials.
      • Represents the transition from technology demonstrator to operational weapon system, signalling India’s arrival in the hypersonic era.

    Comparison with Global Hypersonic Systems:

    System Name Type Speed (Mach) Operational Status
    Russia Avangard HGV 20+ Deployed
    China DF-ZF HGV 10 Deployed
    United States Dark Eagle / HACM Hypersonic Glide / Cruise 8–10 In testing
    India Dhvani (HGV) Hypersonic Glide Vehicle 5–6+ Pre-test stage (2025)

    Strategic Significance for India:

    • Global Standing: Positions India alongside the U.S., Russia, and China in the exclusive club of hypersonic powers, showcasing its advanced defence R&D capacity.
    • Regional Deterrence: Creates a technological and strategic edge over Pakistan and provides a credible counterbalance to China’s hypersonic arsenal.
    • Survivability and Precision: The missile’s speed, stealth, and maneuverability make interception nearly impossible while enabling pinpoint strikes on both land and sea targets.
    • Indigenous Achievement: Developed entirely through Indian expertise, aligning with the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision in critical defence technologies.
    • Force Multiplier: Strengthens India’s nuclear deterrent and strategic triad, ensuring readiness for long-range precision and deterrence missions.
    [UPSC 2014] Which reference to Agni-IV Missile, which of the following statements is/are correct?

    1. It is a surface-to-surface missile.

    2. It is fuelled by liquid propellant only.

    3. It can deliver one-tonne nuclear warheads about 7500 km away.

    Select the correct answer using the code given below:

    (a) 1 only  (b) 2 and 3 only  (c) 1 and 3 only  (d) 1, 2 and 3

     

  • India’s first space observatory AstroSat completes 10 years

    Why in the News?

    AstroSat, India’s first multi-wavelength space observatory has completed 10 years on September 28, 2025, boosting India’s role in multi-messenger astronomy.

    What is Multi-Messenger Astronomy?

    • Overview:  A modern approach that uses different cosmic messengers to study the universe, not just light.
    • Messengers:
      • Light (photons): Radio, visible, UV, X-ray, gamma rays.
      • Gravitational waves: From black hole/neutron star mergers.
      • Neutrinos: From nuclear reactions in stars.
      • Cosmic rays: Charged particles from space.
    • Insights: Light shows stellar surfaces; Gravitational waves show collisions; Neutrinos probe stellar interiors.
    • Example: 2017 neutron star collision observed with both light and gravitational waves, proving origin of heavy elements like gold.
    • AstroSat’s Role: Enabled simultaneous UV, optical, and X-ray observations, tracking flares, black holes, and neutron stars.

    What is AstroSat?

    • Overview: India’s first dedicated multi-wavelength space observatory, launched on September 28, 2015 by PSLV-C30 from Sriharikota.
    • Objective: To study celestial sources simultaneously in X-ray, ultraviolet (UV), and optical bands, unlike most single-band missions.
    • Management: Controlled by the Mission Operations Complex (MOX), ISTRAC, Bengaluru.
    • Mission Life: Designed for 5 years but operational even after 10 years.
    • Payloads:
      • UVIT (Ultra Violet Imaging Telescope).
      • LAXPC (Large Area X-ray Proportional Counter).
      • CZTI (Cadmium-Zinc-Telluride Imager).
      • SXT (Soft X-ray Telescope).
      • SSM (Scanning Sky Monitor).

    Its Accomplishments:

    • Extended Life: Surpassed design life; still generating data.
    • Black Hole Studies: Captured 500+ black hole births, advancing high-energy astrophysics.
    • Galaxy Detection: Tracked extreme UV light from a galaxy 9.3 billion light-years away, aiding early universe studies.
    • Gamma-Ray Bursts: 500+ bursts studied by CZTI.
    • Discoveries: Identified rare UV-bright Milky Way stars, thousands of times brighter than the Sun.
    [UPSC 2016] With reference to ‘Astrosat’,’ the astronomical observatory launched by India, which of the following statements is/are correct?

    1. Other than USA and Russia, India is the only country to have launched a similar observatory into space.

    2. Astrosat is a 2000 kg satellite placed in an orbit at 1650 km above the surface of the Earth.

    Select the correct answer using the code given below.

    (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2*

     

  • Intermediate Range Agni-Prime Missile

    Why in the News?

    The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Strategic Forces Command (SFC) successfully test-fired the Agni-Prime missile from a rail-based mobile launcher, marking India’s first such operational test.

    About Agni-Prime Missile:

    • About: 6th missile in the Agni family, developed under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP).
    • Design: Two-stage, solid-propellant, canisterised surface-to-surface ballistic missile.
    • Range and Payload: 1,000–2,000 km; covering both China and Pakistan; Payload: Up to 1.5 tonnes (1,500–3,000 kg).
    • Navigation: Dual redundant guidance system; Maneuverable Re-entry Vehicle (MaRV) with delta fins to evade missile defence systems.
    • Deployment: Already inducted in road-mobile canisterised version; now tested with rail-based mobile launcher.

    Global Context: Rail-Based Missile Technology:

    With Agni-P rail launch, joins this select strategic group.

    • Soviet Union: Operated RT-23 Molodets Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) on rail; dismantled after START Treaty.
    • Russia: Planned Barguzin rail-mobile ICBM system, shelved to focus on hypersonics.
    • United States: Explored rail-mobile Minuteman and Peacekeeper ICBMs, cancelled post-Cold War.
    • China: Tested rail-mobile DF-41 ICBM in 2016.
    • North Korea: Tested rail-based Short-Range Ballistic Missile system in 2021.

    Significance of Rail-Based Launch:

    • Mobility & Concealment: Railcars move across the network, hide in tunnels, evade satellite detection.
    • Survivability: Unlike silos, less vulnerable to pre-emptive strikes.
    • Rapid Response: Enables quick deployment and shorter reaction time.
    • Strategic Deterrence: Boosts credible second-strike nuclear capability.
    • Technological Showcase: Demonstrates India’s maturity in missile systems.

    Back2Basics: Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP)

    • Launch: Conceived in 1983 by Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam to achieve self-reliance in missile technology.
    • Completion: 2012.
    • Missile Family (P-A-T-N-A):
      • Prithvi – Short-range ballistic missile.
      • Agni – Ballistic missiles of multiple ranges (Agni I–V, Agni-P).
      • Trishul – Short-range surface-to-air missile.
      • Nag – 3rd generation anti-tank guided missile.
      • Akash – Medium-range surface-to-air missile.

    Agni Series and its Development:

    • Origins: Began in 1983 under the IGMDP led by Dr. Kalam.
    • Evolution: Started as technology demonstrators for re-entry vehicles; later developed into full-fledged strategic missiles.
    • Variants:
      • Agni-I: 700–1,200 km range, inducted 2007.
      • Agni-II: 2,000–3,000 km range, inducted 2010.
      • Agni-III: 3,500 km range, highly accurate, tested 2007.
      • Agni-IV: 4,000 km range, advanced avionics, tested 2011.
      • Agni-V: 5,000+ km range, ICBM, MIRV capable.
      • Agni Prime (Agni-P): 1,000–2,000 km, lighter, tested 2021.
      • Agni-VI: Under development, 6,000–10,000 km, MIRV + submarine launch capable.
    • Significance: Backbone of India’s nuclear triad, enhancing deterrence against regional and global adversaries.

     

    [UPSC 2023] Consider the following statements:

    1. Ballistic missiles are jet-propelled at subsonic speeds throughout their fights, while cruise missiles are rocket-powered only in the initial phase of flight.

    2. Agni-V is a medium-range supersonic cruise missile, while BrahMos is a solid-fuelled intercontinental ballistic missile.

    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2*

     

  • Gaganyaan Analog Experiments (Gyanex)

    Why in the News?

    Gyanex (Gaganyaan Analog Experiments) ground-based astronaut simulations are being conducted by ISRO with ICMR and Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Bengaluru, to prepare Indian astronauts for the 2027 Gaganyaan mission.

    What are Gaganyaan Analog Experiments (Gyanex)?

    • Purpose: India’s first systematic programme in space medicine and astronaut psychology, preparing protocols for Gaganyaan and future missions like space stations and lunar expeditions.
    • Setup: Conducted at the Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Bengaluru, with ICMR support. Astronauts and defence personnel live in a mock spacecraft simulator under confinement, consuming DRDO-developed space food.
    • Activities: Strict space-like routines involving scientific experiments, resource management, schedules, and limited supplies. Tests also cover communication with time-delay simulation.
    • Gyanex-1: Group Captain Angad Pratap and two others confined for 10 days; completed 11 experiments on psychology, biomedicine, and communications.
    • Microgravity Simulation: Weightlessness cannot be reproduced on Earth; instead, 7-day bed-confinement at 6° head tilt studied microgravity effects.
    • Other Indian Analog Missions:
      • Ladakh Human Analog Mission (Nov 2024): Simulated interplanetary survival in cold, barren terrain.
      • HOPE Habitat at Tso Kar (Aug 2025): Tested 8 m habitat + 5 m utility module in Mars-like conditions of low pressure, saline permafrost, and high UV radiation.

    About Gaganyaan Mission:

    • Overview: India’s first human spaceflight mission, initiated in 2007, to send 3 astronauts into Low Earth Orbit (400 km) for 3 days, followed by Arabian Sea splashdown.
    • Rocket: Human-Rated LVM3 (HLVM3), adapted from GSLV Mk3, certified in 2025 for safe human use.
    • Significance: India to become the 4th nation (after US, Russia, China) with crewed spaceflight capability.
    • Latest Timeline (as of Sept 2025):
      • Dec 2025: First uncrewed mission (G1) with humanoid Vyommitra.
      • 2026: Two more uncrewed flights for life-support, avionics, and escape tests.
      • Early 2027: First crewed mission – 3 astronauts in orbit for 3 days.
    • Progress so far:
      • 80–85% development complete: avionics, parachutes, crew safety systems validated.
      • Integrated Air Drop Test (Aug 2025): Confirmed crew module deceleration.
      • Crew Escape System: Multiple ground and flight tests successful.
      • Recovery: Indian Navy and Australian Space Agency conducting splashdown drills.
      • Four IAF test pilots shortlisted: Shubhanshu Shukla, Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair, Angad Pratap, Ajit Krishnan.
      • All trained in Russia, now in advanced Indian training. Final crew of three will be chosen for maiden flight.
    [UPSC 2016] Consider the following statements: The Mangalyaan launched by ISRO

    1. is also called the Mars Orbiter Mission

    2. made India the second country to have a spacecraft orbit the Mars after USA

    3. made India the only country to be successful in making its spacecraft orbit the Mars in its first attempt.

    Select the correct answer using the code given below:

    Options: (a) 1 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only * (d) 1, 2 and 3

     

  • Samudrayaan Mission

    Why in the News?

    Two Indian aquanauts dived over 5,000 m in the Atlantic aboard French vessel Nautile, as part of India’s Samudrayaan Mission.

    What is Deep Ocean Mission (DOM)?

    • Approved: 2021 by the Union Cabinet, with a budget of ₹4,077 crore for 5 years.
    • Aim: Explore, conserve, and sustainably use deep-ocean resources to support India’s Blue Economy.
    • Six Components:
      • Develop technologies for deep-sea mining, submersibles, and robotics.
      • Ocean climate change advisory service with observations + predictive models.
      • Deep-sea biodiversity exploration and conservation.
      • Surveys for polymetallic nodules and minerals.
      • Energy & freshwater extraction technologies from oceans.
      • Advanced Marine Station for ocean biology & engineering → to bridge research & industry.

    About Samudrayaan Mission:

    • Nature: India’s first crewed deep-sea exploration mission.
    • Objective: To send 3 humans up to 6,000 m depth into the central Indian Ocean by 2027.
    • Vehicle: Crewed submersible Matsya-6000 (fish-shaped, 2.1 m personal sphere).
      • Capacity: 3 aquanauts.
      • Endurance: 12 hours normal + 96 hours emergency life support.
      • Material: Titanium alloy sphere (80 mm thickness) to withstand ~600x atmospheric pressure.
    • Coordinating Agency: National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), Ministry of Earth Sciences.
    • Strategic Significance: Will place India among a select group of countries (US, Russia, China, Japan, France) with human deep-sea exploration capability.

    Progress made so far:

    • Aquanaut Training: Discussed above.
    • Matsya-6000 Development:
      • Successfully wet tested in Feb 2025.
      • Titanium alloy sphere fabrication ongoing at ISRO using electron beam welding.
      • Initial steel test sphere used for 500 m trials.
    • Technology Development:
      • Indigenous acoustic telephone built for underwater communication (works in open ocean after initial failures).
      • Life-support systems designed to maintain 20% oxygen and scrub CO₂.
    • Next Steps:
      • Human test dive at 500 m depth planned before full 6,000 m mission.
      • Full Samudrayaan launch targeted by 2027.
    [UPSC 2021] Consider the following statements:

    1.The Global Ocean Commission grants licenses for seabed exploration and mining in international waters.

    2.India has received licenses for seabed mineral exploration in international waters.

    3. ‘Rare earth minerals’ are present on the seafloor in international waters.

    Which of the statements given above are correct?

    Options:(a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only* (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2, and 3

     

  • What is the Air Drop Test (ADT-1) conducted by ISRO?

    Why in the News?

    ISRO has successfully conducted IADT-1, a key milestone for India’s maiden human spaceflight mission, Gaganyaan.

    What is the Air Drop Test (ADT-1) conducted by ISRO?

    About Air Drop Test (ADT-1):

    • Test Setup: A dummy crew module weighing nearly 5 tonnes was dropped from an Indian Air Force Chinook helicopter at an altitude of about 3 km.
    • Purpose: To test the parachute-based deceleration system that will slow the crew module during re-entry and ensure a safe splashdown.
    • Parachute Sequence: Parachutes deployed in order — first drogue chutes, followed by three main parachutes — slowing the capsule to about 8 metres per second before landing.
    • Outcome: The touchdown matched expectations, successfully validating the design for human re-entry and landing.

    Roadmap for Gaganyaan:

    • Objective: The ultimate goal is to send Indian astronauts to low-earth orbit on a human-rated LVM3 rocket.
    • Validation Tests: A series of safety validation tests are planned before the crewed mission.
    • Crew Escape System (CES): Already tested with TV-D1 in October 2023; TV-D2 will demonstrate a more complex abort scenario.
    • First Uncrewed Mission (G1): Will carry the humanoid robot Vyommitra to simulate astronaut operations.
    • Parallel Trials: Multiple air drop tests and subsystem validations, including parachute trials and life-support system checks, will continue.
    • Key Technologies: Critical systems under development include the Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS), the Integrated Vehicle Health Management System (IVHMS), and a strengthened human-rated LVM3 rocket.
    • Timeline: The first human spaceflight (H1) is currently targeted for 2027, though delays are possible due to complexity in human-rating systems.

    Long-term Goals:

    • Foundation: Gaganyaan marks the beginning of India’s long-term human spaceflight programme.
    • Space Station: The GoI has announced the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS) to be established by 2035.
    • Lunar Mission: India aims to achieve a crewed lunar landing by 2040.
    • Critical Technologies: Capabilities such as in-orbit docking, demonstrated by the SpaDeX mission in 2025, will be essential for future missions.
    [UPSC 2025] Consider the following space missions:

    I. Axiom-4 II. SpaDeX III. Gaganyaan

    How many of the space missions given above encourage and support microgravity research?

    Options:

    (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) All the three* (d) None

     

  • Reforming the steel framework

    Introduction

    Independence Day speeches are often symbolic, but in 2025 the Prime Minister shifted focus to frontier technologies, semiconductors, clean energy, AI, quantum computing, and defence indigenisation. Unlike earlier years, this vision was paired with the acknowledgment that bureaucratic inertia and regulatory red tape remain India’s toughest hurdles. The central challenge is whether India’s governance structures can keep pace with its technological ambitions.

    Significance of the 2025 Speech by the Prime Minister 

    • Future focus: Strong emphasis on frontier areas like semiconductors, EVs, and jet engines.
    • Symbolic push: The PM asked if fighter jet engines should not be Indian-made.
    • Bold promise: India will shed dependency in two decades.
    • Data milestone: India is the largest per capita data consumer (32 GB), ahead of China and the US.

    India’s current position in technology and self-reliance

    • Strength in mid-tech: Success in fintech, data access, and digitisation
    • Emerging hubs: Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, Gurugram drive high-tech growth.
    • Import dependency: India depends heavily on imports in semiconductors, defence hardware, AI hardware, and clean energy technologies.
    • Global presence: Firms like Nvidia and IBM rely on India’s talent pool, but domestic ecosystems remain thin.

    Bureaucratic Challenges that obstruct deep-tech ambition

    • Colonial bureaucratic legacy: The Westminster model prioritised control over innovation and accountability.
    • Rigid steel frame: The “steel frame” of the civil services designed to ensure subservience to colonial administrators remains rigid even a century after the Public Service Commission’s creation in 1926.
    • Unrealised reforms: The Veerappa Moily Committee (2005) suggested domain experts and ethics codes-still pending.
    • Lateral entry limits: Attempts at inducting experts face systemic resistance.

    Why are regulatory and judicial reforms critical?

    • Persistent red tape: The Deregulation Commission (2025) was set up to identify redundant compliance norms, but structural bottlenecks persist.
    • Judicial backlog: Slow dispute resolution and investment climate, affectshigh-tech sectors.
    • Comparative lessons:
      • US & China: Despite different models, both empower political leadership over bureaucracy to push national interests.
      • UK: Even Britain debates its bureaucratic model, Dominic Cummings under Boris Johnson pushed for external competition and greater ministerial control.

    How does this link to Viksit Bharat@2047?

    • Ambition vs. architecture: India’s goal of becoming a deep-tech powerhouse is contingent not just on financial investment but on restructuring governance.
    • Symbolic timing: The UPSC centenary in 2026 is a historic chance for overhaul.
    • Future-readiness: Without structural reform, Atmanirbhar Bharat may remain aspirational.

    Conclusion

    India’s ambition to lead in deep-tech must be matched with institutional reform. The PM’s 2025 speech acknowledged that Atmanirbharta is as much about fixing bureaucratic bottlenecks as building jet engines or quantum labs. The centenary of UPSC offers an opportune moment to align India’s governance with its 2047 goals.

    Value Addition
    Committees on Civil Service Reforms

    1. Santhanam Committee (1964)

    • Focus: Preventive corruption measures.
    • Key suggestion: Creation of the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC).

    2. Kothari Committee (1976)

    • Focus: Recruitment and exam structure of Civil Services.
    • Key suggestion: Recommended 3-stage exam (Prelims, Mains, Interview), which is still followed today.

    3. Satish Chandra Committee (1989)

    • Focus: Review of recruitment and selection.
    • Key suggestion: Increased emphasis on aptitude and ethics in recruitment.

    4. Hota Committee (2004)

    • Focus: Ethics, transparency, and performance.
    • Key suggestion: Right to Information, performance-linked incentives, citizen charters.

    5. Second Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC) – Veerappa Moily (2005–2009)

    Most comprehensive civil service reform report (15 volumes). Key suggestions:

    • Lateral entry of domain experts.
    • Code of Ethics & Code of Conduct.
    • Citizen-centric administration
    • Performance-based appraisal system.
    • Training in e-governance and modern management practices

    6. Punchhi Commission (2010) – on Centre-State relations

    • Relevant link: Stressed need for civil service neutrality in federal governance.

    7. Baswan Committee (2016)

    1. Focus: UPSC exam age and attempts.
    2. Key suggestion: Reduce maximum age for UPSC CSE (though not implemented).

    8. Current initiatives 

    • Lateral entry into Joint Secretary and Director-level posts.
    • Mission Karmayogi (2020): National Programme for Civil Services Capacity Building (NPCSCB) to train officers with competency-based framework.
    • Deregulation Commission (2025): Identifying and scrapping redundant compliances.

    Mapping Microthemes

    • GS Paper-II: Civil Service Reform, Regulation, Judiciary
    • GS Paper -III: Tech missions, Defence Indigenisation, Atmanirbhar Bharat
    • GS Paper -IV: Accountability, Ethics in governance

    PYQ Relevance

    [UPSC 2016] Civil Services “Traditional bureaucratic structure and culture have hampered the process of socio-economic development in India.” Comment.

    Linkage: PM Modi’s Independence Day 2025 address highlighted that despite India’s technological advances, the colonial-era bureaucratic “steel frame” continues to obstruct innovation, investment, and governance reforms. The traditional bureaucratic structure—designed for control rather than development—remains a bottleneck in achieving Atmanirbhar Bharat. Thus, the speech directly echoes the UPSC 2016 theme that outdated bureaucratic culture hampers socio-economic transformation.

  • Lunar Module Launch Vehicle (LMLV)

    Why in the News?

    The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is developing its heaviest-ever rocket, the Lunar Module Launch Vehicle (LMLV).

    About Lunar Module Launch Vehicle (LMLV):

    • Overview: India’s heaviest rocket under development by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
    • Purpose: Designed mainly for lunar exploration, including India’s first human mission to the Moon by 2040.
    • Strategic Role: Replaces the Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV) plan and will support India’s space station programme.
    • Scale: As tall as a 40-storey building, far larger than the current LVM-3.

    Key Features:

    • Payload Capacity: Can carry 80 tonnes to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and 27 tonnes to the Moon, suitable for human-rated spacecraft.
    • Three-stage: Partially reusable super heavy-lift vehicle with:
      • First two stages using liquid propellants.
      • Third stage using cryogenic propellant.
      • Strap-on boosters taller than the entire LVM-3 rocket.
      • 27 engines in the first stage (core + boosters).
    • Timeline: Expected completion by 2035.
    • Indigenous Development: Conceived by ISRO within months; aligned with India’s long-term space exploration goals.

    Future Missions based on LMLV:

    • Human Lunar Mission (2040 target): Capable of carrying 18–20 tonne crew modules for India’s first astronaut landing on the Moon.
    • Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS): Will deploy heavy modules for India’s planned five-module space station by 2035.
    • Lunar Cargo Missions: Can transport ~27 tonnes to the Moon, supporting logistics and lunar infrastructure.
    • Deep Space Exploration: Its heavy-lift capacity could enable interplanetary missions in the 2040s, extending beyond lunar exploration.
    [UPSC 2018] With reference to India’s satellite launch vehicles, consider the following statements:

    1.PSLVs launch the satellites useful for Earth resources monitoring whereas GSLVs are designed mainly to launch communication satellites.

    2.Satellites launched by PSLV appear to remain permanently fixed in the same position in the sky, as viewed from a particular location on Earth.

    3.GSLV Mk III is a four-stage launch vehicle with the first and third stages using solid rocket motors, and the second and fourth stages using liquid rocket engines.

    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

     

    Options: (a) 1 only* (b) 2 and 3 (c) 1 and 2 (d) 3 only

     

  • Agni-5 Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missile

    Why in the News?

    India has successfully test-fired the Agni-5 Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM) from the Integrated Test Range, Chandipur (Odisha).

    Agni-5 Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missile

    What are Ballistic Missiles?

    • Powered by: Solid propellant rocket motors; thrust generated by exhaust gases forces missile upward.
    • Three phases:
      • Boost Phase – missile consumes propellant; trajectory fixed.
      • Midcourse Phase – missile coasts in space on momentum.
      • Terminal Phase – warheads re-enter atmosphere and strike target.

    About Agni-5:

    • Type: Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) developed by DRDO.
    • Range: 5,000–5,500 km (upgrade under development up to 7,500 km).
    • Propulsion: Three-stage, solid-fuel rocket motors.
    • Payload: ~1.5 tonnes, nuclear-capable.
    • Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) Technology: Can carry multiple nuclear warheads that target different locations.
    • Features: Fire-and-forget system, advanced navigation, guidance and propulsion technologies.
    • First Test: 2012 from Wheeler Island (Odisha).
    • Strategic Role: Strengthens India’s nuclear deterrence posture, especially vis-à-vis China.

    Back2Basics: Agni Series and its Development

    • Origins: Began in 1983 under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) led by A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.
    • Evolution: Started as technology demonstrators for re-entry vehicles; later developed into full-fledged strategic missiles.
    • Variants:
      • Agni-I: 700–1,200 km range, inducted 2007.
      • Agni-II: 2,000–3,000 km range, inducted 2010.
      • Agni-III: 3,500 km range, highly accurate, tested 2007.
      • Agni-IV: 4,000 km range, advanced avionics, tested 2011.
      • Agni-V: 5,000+ km range, ICBM, MIRV capable.
      • Agni Prime (Agni-P): 1,000–2,000 km, lighter, tested 2021.
      • Agni-VI: Under development, 6,000–10,000 km, MIRV + submarine launch capable.
    • Significance: Backbone of India’s nuclear triad, enhancing deterrence against regional and global adversaries.
    [UPSC 2023] Consider the following statements:

    1. Ballistic missiles are jet-propelled at subsonic speeds throughout their fights, while cruise missiles are rocket-powered only in the initial phase of flight.

    2. Agni-V is a medium-range supersonic cruise missile, while BrahMos is a solid-fuelled intercontinental ballistic missile.

    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    Options: (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2*