Answer: C

Explanation:

India is not a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group. India has been pursuing member countries of NSG to become a member. India’s entry is being opposed by China, New Zealand, Ireland, Turkey and Austria stating India has not signed Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). It refuses to open its military nuclear sites to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and has not ruled out the possibility of another nuclear test device in the future. Hence, option (c) is correct.

Answer: C

Explanation:

A ballistic missile follows a ballistic trajectory to deliver one or more warheads on a predetermined target. A ballistic trajectory is the path of an object that is launched but has no active propulsion during its actual flight (these weapons are guided only during relatively brief periods of flight). Consequently, the trajectory is fully determined by a given initial velocity, effects of gravity, air resistance, and motion of the earth (Coriolis Force). Shorter range ballistic missiles stay within the Earth’s atmosphere. Longer-ranged intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), are launched on a sub-orbital flight trajectory and spend most of their flight out of the atmosphere. Hence, statements 1 and 2 both are correct.

Answer: C

Explanation:

A missile is a guided airborne ranged weapon capable of self-propelled flight usually by a jet engine or rocket motor. Missiles have five system components such as Guidance system, Targeting system, Flight system, Engine and Warhead. Hence, statements 1 and 2 both are correct.

Answer: C

Explanation:

Missiles are classified based on their speed with respect to that of sound. A subsonic missile refers to missiles that travel slower than sound, exemplified by the U.S. Harpoon anti-ship missile and the Indian Prithvi short-range ballistic missile. Hence, pair 1 is correctly matched.

Supersonic missiles, such as the Russian Iskander tactical ballistic missile and the Indian BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, travel faster than the speed of sound (Mach 1) but less than Mach 5. Hence, pair 2 is correctly matched.

A hypersonic missile travels at speeds exceeding five times the speed of sound (Mach 5+), exemplified by China's DF-ZF hypersonic glide vehicle, Russia’s Avangard and India's Shaurya/Sagarika missiles (with a maximum speed of 7.5 Mach). Hence, pair 3 is correctly matched.

Answer: A

Explanation:

Tactical missiles are employed in the battlefield and frontline combat situations to strike and neutralise enemy assets and capabilities. India boasts an array of tactical missiles. Prithvi series includes short-range surface-to-surface ballistic missiles. Prithvi-I (150km) and Prithvi-II (350 km) for battlefield roles and hitting strategic targets close to the border. Prithvi-III naval variant (350 km) to boost coastal and seaborne deterrence from warships.

Here, statements I and II both are correct and statement –II is the correct explanation of statement-I. Hence, option (a) is correct.