2018 GS Paper I, all questions
UPSC Prelims 2018 · GS Paper I
Question 43: Science and Technology
What is “Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD)”, sometimes seen in the news ?
aAn Israeli radar system
bIndia’s indigenous anti-missile programme
cAn American anti-missile system
dA defence collaboration between Japan and South Korea
AnswerUPSC’s answer is (c).
THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) is a US anti-ballistic missile system that intercepts short, medium and intermediate-range ballistic missiles in their terminal phase using hit-to-kill interceptors. It was in the news in 2017 when the USA deployed it in South Korea against North Korean missiles, a move that China and Russia opposed. It is neither Israeli, Indian nor a Japan-South Korea collaboration.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Israel's systems are Iron Dome and Arrow, not THAAD.
- (b) India's anti-missile effort is its own Ballistic Missile Defence programme, not THAAD.
- (c) Right: an American anti-missile system.
- (d) It is not a Japan-South Korea collaboration.
Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2018, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.