Question 6 from UPSC CSE 2025 - S&T

Question

With reference to India's defence, consider the following pairs:
I. Dornier-228 : Maritime patrol aircraft
II. IL-76 : Supersonic combat aircraft
III. C-17 Globemaster : Military transport aircraft
How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: B. Only two

Strategy: Evaluate each aircraft-pair using recognition of aircraft roles. The Dornier-228 is well-associated with maritime patrol and utility missions — this is correct. IL-76, by type, is known as a heavy transport aircraft, not a supersonic combat aircraft—this is the mismatch. C-17 Globemaster is renowned worldwide as a military transport aircraft, which is also accurate. Thus, two out of three pairs are correctly matched.

Key Info: Dornier-228: The Dornier 228 is a twin-turboprop STOL utility aircraft originally developed by Dornier GmbH (Germany) and later manufactured under licence by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in India. The Indian Navy and Coast Guard operate the Dornier 228 for maritime patrol, coastal surveillance, search and rescue, and pollution monitoring.

IL-76: The Ilyushin Il-76 is a Soviet-origin, four-engine heavy transport aircraft built for strategic airlift missions. It is primarily used by the Indian Air Force and other nations for transportation of cargo, troops, vehicles, and humanitarian aid. The IL-76 is not a supersonic or combat aircraft; its maximum speed is subsonic, and its primary function is not aerial combat but transport.

C-17 Globemaster III: The Boeing C-17 Globemaster III is a large American military transport aircraft, operated by several countries including India. It is capable of rapid strategic airlift of troops and cargo to main operating bases and forward bases. The Indian Air Force employs the C-17 for transporting heavy equipment, disaster relief operations, and humanitarian missions. It is not a combat or patrol aircraft but a strategic and tactical airlifter.

Other Indian military aircraft: Supersonic combat aircraft in the Indian Air Force include the Sukhoi Su-30MKI and Dassault Rafale, among others, while transport roles are fulfilled by aircraft like the Antonov An-32, C-130J Super Hercules, and Avro HS-748.

Answer

Option A: Only one

Answer

Option C: All three

Answer

Option D: None

With reference to India's defence, consider the following pairs: I. Dornier-228 : Maritime patrol aircraft II. IL-76 : Supersonic combat aircraft III. C-17 Globemaster : Military transport aircraft How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

With reference to India's defence, consider the following pairs:
I. Dornier-228 : Maritime patrol aircraft
II. IL-76 : Supersonic combat aircraft
III. C-17 Globemaster : Military transport aircraft
How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?