Defence Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
Yard 1280 (Shachi), the first of eleven Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessels (NGOPVs), was launched at Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL), Goa on 31 March 2026. Construction of NGOPVs is happening concurrently at GSL, Goa and Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata. These indigenously built ships will augment the existing fleet of ten Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs)/Next-generation OPVs (NOPVs) for multi-domain operations including defence, surveillance, search and rescue, protection of offshore assets, Humanitarian Assistance & Disaster Relief (HADR), and anti-piracy missions.

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Rajnath Singh laid the foundation of the Large Cavitation Tunnel (LCT) at Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL) in Visakhapatnam. NSTL is a premier lab under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The Large Cavitation Tunnel (LCT) is a strategic facility for advanced hydrodynamic research and testing of naval systems. It will enable indigenous design, development, and testing of ships, submarines, and propulsion systems. It supports stealth, noise reduction, and next-generation underwater technologies. The facility allows both closed-loop (submarine) and free-surface (surface ship) simulations.

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Indian Navy’s offshore patrol vessel INS Sunayna arrived at Malé, Maldives, under the Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) SAGAR initiative, strengthening India–Maldives maritime ties. The ship was welcomed by Maldives National Defence Force, with two MNDF personnel onboard as part of the multinational crew. This initiative aligns with “Neighbourhood First” policy and Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions (MAHASAGAR) vision. It highlights India’s commitment to regional security, interoperability, and maritime cooperation.

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Recently, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited handed over four ALH Mk III Maritime Role helicopters to the Indian Coast Guard, boosting maritime capabilities. ALH Mk III is the maritime variant of the indigenous Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter. It is indigenously designed and manufactured in India, supporting self-reliance in defence. It is a multi-role, twin-engine helicopter suited for complex maritime operations. It enhances operational readiness, rapid response, and surveillance efficiency of the Indian Coast Guard.

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Exercise DUSTLIK 2026 has commenced in Namangan at the Gurumsaray Field Training Area from 12–25 April 2026. It is the 7th edition of the India–Uzbekistan joint military exercise, conducted annually on an alternating basis between the two countries. The previous edition (2025) was held at Aundh, Pune in India. It aims to enhance military cooperation and joint operational capabilities in semi-mountainous terrain.

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INS Dhruv is India’s first dedicated nuclear missile tracking and ocean surveillance ship, enhancing strategic maritime capability. It was commissioned on 10 September 2021 and built by Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) in collaboration with Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO). The ship tracks ballistic missiles, gathers Electronic Intelligence (ELINT), and supports India’s missile defence programme. It provides early warning of missile threats and helps calibrate Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) systems using trajectory data.

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INS Mahendragiri is the sixth Nilgiri-class (Project 17A) stealth frigate delivered to the Indian Navy on 30 April 2026. It was constructed at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited in Mumbai, marking progress in indigenous warship building. Project 17A frigates are advanced multi-mission warships with improved stealth, survivability, and combat capabilities. The ship was designed by the Warship Design Bureau using an integrated construction approach. It uses Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) propulsion along with Controllable Pitch Propellers (CPP).

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Tactical Advanced Range Augmentation (TARA) was developed by DRDO’s Research Centre Imarat along with other laboratories of the Defence Research and Development Organisation and Indian industry partners. DRDO and the Indian Air Force successfully carried out the maiden flight-trial of TARA off the coast of Odisha on 7 May 2026. TARA is India’s first indigenous glide weapon system designed to convert unguided warheads into precision-guided weapons. It is a modular range extension kit developed to improve the accuracy, range, and lethality of low-cost weapons against ground-based targets.

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Russia announced the deployment of the Sarmat strategic nuclear Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM), also known by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) designation “Satan II.” It is developed by Russia. The missile is considered one of the world’s most powerful nuclear-capable missiles and is designed to strike targets across long distances in the United States and Europe. Sarmat is the first post-Soviet Russian ICBM classified as “super heavy.” The missile reportedly has a range exceeding 35,000 km and carries a warhead yield significantly greater than Western counterparts.

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Saanya became the first woman officer in the Indian Air Force (IAF) to receive the prestigious Category-A Qualified Flying Instructor Certification (Cat-A QFI). Cat-A QFI is the highest instructional grading in the IAF and is awarded to highly skilled and experienced pilots authorised to train junior instructors and evaluate advanced combat flying skills.
Squadron Leader Saanya was commissioned into the IAF Flying Branch on June 20, 2015.