UPSC Prelims 2009 · General Studies
Question 8: Science and Technology
Consider the following statements:
- 1.INS Sindhughosh is an aircraft carrier.
- 2.INS Viraat is a submarine.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
AnswerThe answer is (d).
Both statements get the ship types the wrong way round. INS Sindhughosh is a Russian-built Kilo-class diesel-electric submarine, the first of its class in the Indian Navy. INS Viraat was an aircraft carrier, a former British ship (HMS Hermes), which India retired in 2017. Remember that the Sindhu- names mark the Kilo-class submarines, while Viraat, Vikrant and Vikramaditya are carriers.
- 1. INS Sindhughosh is a Kilo-class submarine, not an aircraft carrier.
- 2. INS Viraat was an aircraft carrier, not a submarine.
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: INS Sindhughosh is a Kilo-class submarine, not an aircraft carrier.
- Then, if you were sure statement 2 is not correct, (b) goes: it includes 2.
What you needed to know: INS Viraat was an aircraft carrier, not a submarine.
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: Sindhughosh is a submarine, not an aircraft carrier.
- (b) Wrong: Viraat is an aircraft carrier, not a submarine.
- (c) Wrong: neither statement is correct.
- (d) Right: Sindhughosh is a submarine and Viraat an aircraft carrier, so both statements are wrong.
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.