UPSC Prelims 2009 · General Studies
Question 136: Science and Technology
In the context of Indian defence, consider the following statements :
- 1.The Shourya missile flies with a speed of more than 8 Mach.
- 2.The range of Shourya missile is more than 1600 km.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
AnswerThe answer is (d).
Both statements are wrong. Shourya, a nuclear-capable surface-to-surface missile tested in 2008, was reported to fly at about Mach 7.5, below Mach 8, and to have a range of roughly 700 to 750 km, well short of 1,600 km. Remember Shourya as a hypersonic-speed tactical missile, not a long-range one.
- 1. Shourya was reported at about Mach 7.5, not above Mach 8.
- 2. Its reported range was about 700-750 km, not over 1,600 km.
How you could have got this
- If you were sure statement 1 is not correct, (a) and (c) go: each of them includes 1.
What you needed to know: Shourya was reported at about Mach 7.5, not above Mach 8.
- Then, if you were sure statement 2 is not correct, (b) goes: it includes 2.
What you needed to know: Its reported range was about 700-750 km, not over 1,600 km.
Only (d) is left. This one needs every statement.
This follows an unofficial answer: UPSC has not published its key for this year, and if that answer is wrong, so is this path.
Which options go is worked out from UPSC’s key and the options, not by a model.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Wrong: its speed was reported at about Mach 7.5, not above 8.
- (b) Wrong: its range was reported at about 700-750 km.
- (c) Wrong: both claims are inflated.
- (d) Right: neither the speed nor the range claim holds.
Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2009, General Studies. UPSC's own paper isn't online; the words are from a published compilation. The paper on upsc.gov.in.