होम गार्ड के संदर्भ में, निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार कीजिए : 1. होम गार्ड को होम गार्ड अधिनियम और केन्द्र सरकार के नियमों के अधीन समुत्थापित किया जाता है। 2. होम गार्ड की भूमिका आंतरिक सुरक्षा बनाए रखने में पुलिस को सहायक बल के रूप में सेवा देने की है। 3. अंतर्राष्ट्रीय सीमा/तटीय क्षेत्रों में घुसपैठ रोकने के लिए कुछ राज्यों में सीमा विंग होम गार्ड बटालियनें समुत्थापित की गई हैं। उपर्युक्त में से कितने कथन सही हैं?

(d) कोई भी नहीं

भारत के संदर्भ में, निम्नलिखित युग्मों पर विचार कीजिए : 1. अनधिकृत रूप से पुलिस या सेना की वर्दी को पहनना — शासकीय गुप्त बात अधिनियम, 1923 2. किसी पुलिस अधिकारी या सैनिक अधिकारी के ड्यूटी में तैनात होने के दौरान जान-बूझ कर उन्हें गुमराह करना या अन्यथा उनके साथ हस्तक्षेप करना — भारतीय साक्ष्य अधिनियम, 1872 3. बंदूक/तोप से अनुष्ठानपरक गोली/गोला दागना जिससे अन्य लोगों की वैयक्तिक सुरक्षा के लिए जोखिम हो सकता हो — आयुध (संशोधन) अधिनियम, 2019 उपर्युक्त में से कितने युग्म सही सुमेलित हैं?

(d) कोई भी नहीं

प्रश्न यूपीएससी के हिंदी प्रश्नपत्र से · व्याख्या अभी अंग्रेज़ी में

International relations & current affairs

Prelims · International relations & current affairs · 22 questions

Security, defence & exercises

Every UPSC Prelims question on this topic, 2016–2026, newest first. Tap an option to check yourself; the answer and explanation open below it.

Asked in 7 of 11 years · most in 2024 (6)

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UPSC syllabus: “Current events of national and international importance.” Sub-topics in the detailed syllabus →

Prelims 2023 · Q58

X-Ray · Core #45 Easy

निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार कीजिए :

1.बैलिस्टिक मिसाइल अपनी पूरी उड़ान में अवध्वनिक चाल पर प्रधार-नोदित होती हैं, जबकि क्रूज़ मिसाइल केवल उड़ान के आरंभिक चरण में रॉकेट-संचालित होती हैं।
2.अग्नि-V मध्यम दूरी की पराध्वनिक क्रूज़ मिसाइल है, जबकि ब्रह्मोस ठोस ईंधन-चालित अंतरमहाद्वीपीय बैलिस्टिक मिसाइल है।

उपर्युक्त कथनों में से कौन-सा/से सही है/हैं?

Read this question in English

Consider the following statements:

1. Ballistic missiles are jet-propelled at subsonic speeds throughout their flights, while cruise missiles are rocket-powered only in the initial phase of flight.

2. Agni-V is a medium-range supersonic cruise missile, while BrahMos is a solid-fuelled intercontinental ballistic missile.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only · (b) 2 only · (c) Both 1 and 2 · (d) Neither 1 nor 2

उत्तर और व्याख्या · explanation in English

Answer: (d) न तो 1 और न ही 2

Neither statement is correct, because both swap the facts. Ballistic missiles are rocket-boosted and then coast on an arc, while cruise missiles fly under jet power. Agni-V is India's solid-fuelled intercontinental ballistic missile, and BrahMos is a supersonic cruise missile.

✗ 1. It is reversed. A ballistic missile has a short powered boost phase and then flies a mostly unpowered ballistic path, so it is not jet-propelled throughout. A cruise missile is normally powered by jet engines for most or all of its flight.
✗ 2. Again reversed. Agni-V is a three-stage solid-propellant Inter Continental Ballistic Missile with a range of over 5,000 km. BrahMos is a long-range supersonic cruise missile, launched from land, sea or air.

Remember · Ballistic: rocket boost, then unpowered arc. Cruise: jet-powered flight in the atmosphere. Agni-V is a solid-fuelled ICBM; BrahMos is a supersonic cruise missile.

Sources

National Cruise Missile Defense: Issues and Alternatives (Congressional Budget Office, US) ↗ “almost every type fielded to date has been powered by jet engines during most or all of its flight. This has distinguished cruise missiles from ballistic missiles, which fly a mostly unpowered ballistic trajectory after an initial, relatively short, powered boost phase.”
Successful Test launch of AGNI V (Press Information Bureau, Government of India) ↗ “India successfully conducted the fourth and final experimental test of its indigenously developed Inter Continental Ballistic Missile, ICBM, Agni-V from Wheeler Island off Odisha coast”
BrahMos (Defence Research and Development Organisation, Government of India) ↗ “BRAHMOS is a universal long range supersonic cruise missile system that can be launched from land, sea and air.”

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2023, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). Permalink ·

Prelims 2023 · Q91

Medium

होम गार्ड के संदर्भ में, निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार कीजिए :

1.होम गार्ड को होम गार्ड अधिनियम और केन्द्र सरकार के नियमों के अधीन समुत्थापित किया जाता है।
2.होम गार्ड की भूमिका आंतरिक सुरक्षा बनाए रखने में पुलिस को सहायक बल के रूप में सेवा देने की है।
3.अंतर्राष्ट्रीय सीमा/तटीय क्षेत्रों में घुसपैठ रोकने के लिए कुछ राज्यों में सीमा विंग होम गार्ड बटालियनें समुत्थापित की गई हैं।

उपर्युक्त में से कितने कथन सही हैं?

Read this question in English

With reference to Home Guards, consider the following statements:

1. Home Guards are raised under the Home Guards Act and Rules of the Central Government.

2. The role of the Home Guards is to serve as an auxiliary force to the police in maintenance of internal security.

3. To prevent infiltration on the international border/coastal areas, the Border Wing Home Guards Battalions have been raised in some States.

How many of the above statements are correct?

(a) Only one · (b) Only two · (c) All three · (d) None

उत्तर और व्याख्या · explanation in English

Answer: (b) केवल दो

Statements 2 and 3 are correct; statement 1 is wrong because Home Guards are a State subject raised under the Home Guards Acts and Rules of the States and Union Territories. There is no Central Home Guards Act.

✗ 1. The Ministry of Home Affairs has told Parliament that Home Guards are a State subject governed by the Home Guards Acts and Rules of the respective States/UTs, and that there is no Central Act on them.
✓ 2. The role of Home Guards is to serve as an auxiliary force to the police in maintaining internal security, and also to help the community in emergencies such as fire, cyclone or earthquake.
✓ 3. In border States, Border Wing Home Guards battalions (Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Meghalaya, Tripura and West Bengal) serve as an auxiliary to the Border Security Force for preventing infiltration on the international border and coastal areas.

Remember · Home Guards: a State subject, raised under State/UT Home Guards Acts (no Central Act); auxiliary to the police; Border Wing battalions assist the BSF in border States.

Sources

Ministry of Home Affairs, Rajya Sabha reply (28 March 2018) on Home Guards ↗ “Home Guards are State subject. Pay and allowance of home guards are governed by the Home Guards Acts and Rules of respective States/UTs. There is no Central Act governing the Home Guards in the country.”
Directorate General Fire Services, Civil Defence & Home Guards (MHA): About Home Guards ↗ “The role of Home Guards is to serve as an auxiliary Force to the Police in maintenance of internal security situations, help the community in any kind of emergency … to serve as an auxiliary to Border Security Force for preventing infiltration on the international border/coastal areas, guarding of VA/VPs and lines of communication in vulnerable area at the time of external aggression”

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2023, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). Permalink ·

Prelims 2023 · Q92

Hard

भारत के संदर्भ में, निम्नलिखित युग्मों पर विचार कीजिए :

	कृत्य	यह कृत्य जिस अधिनियम के अधीन आता है
1.	अनधिकृत रूप से पुलिस या सेना की वर्दी को पहनना	शासकीय गुप्त बात अधिनियम, 1923
2.	किसी पुलिस अधिकारी या सैनिक अधिकारी के ड्यूटी में तैनात होने के दौरान जान-बूझ कर उन्हें गुमराह करना या अन्यथा उनके साथ हस्तक्षेप करना	भारतीय साक्ष्य अधिनियम, 1872
3.	बंदूक/तोप से अनुष्ठानपरक गोली/गोला दागना जिससे अन्य लोगों की वैयक्तिक सुरक्षा के लिए जोखिम हो सकता हो	आयुध (संशोधन) अधिनियम, 2019

उपर्युक्त में से कितने युग्म सही सुमेलित हैं?

Read this question in English

With reference to India, consider the following pairs:

1. Unauthorized wearing of police or military uniforms — The Official Secrets Act, 1923

2. Knowingly misleading or otherwise interfering with a police officer or military officer when engaged in their duties — The Indian Evidence Act, 1872

3. Celebratory gunfire which can endanger the personal safety of others — The Arms (Amendment) Act, 2019

How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

(a) Only one · (b) Only two · (c) All three · (d) None

उत्तर और व्याख्या · explanation in English

Answer: (b) केवल दो

Pairs 1 and 3 are correct; pair 2 is wrong. Misleading or interfering with police or armed-forces personnel on guard near a prohibited place is an offence under the Official Secrets Act, 1923, not the Indian Evidence Act, 1872, which only lays down rules of evidence in court.

✓ 1. Section 6 of the Official Secrets Act, 1923 punishes wearing, without lawful authority, any naval, military, air force, police or other official uniform for the purposes the section lists.
✗ 2. Section 7 of the Official Secrets Act, 1923 (interfering with officers of the police or members of the Armed Forces) bars anyone near a prohibited place from obstructing, knowingly misleading or otherwise interfering with them. The Indian Evidence Act, 1872 has no such offence.
✓ 3. The Arms (Amendment) Act, 2019 added sub-section (9) to section 25 of the Arms Act, 1959: using a firearm in celebratory gunfire so as to endanger human life or the personal safety of others is punishable with up to two years' imprisonment, a fine up to rupees one lakh, or both.

Remember · Uniform misuse and interference with police or armed forces near a prohibited place: Official Secrets Act, 1923 (sections 6 and 7). Celebratory gunfire: Arms Act, 1959 section 25(9), inserted in 2019.

Sources

Ministry of Home Affairs: The Official Secrets Act, 1923, section 6 ↗ “uses or wears, without lawful authority, any naval, military, air force, police or other official uniform, or any uniform so nearly resembling the same as to be calculated to deceive … 7. Interfering with officers of the police or members of the Armed forces of the Union. (1) No person in the vicinity of any prohibited place shall obstruct, knowingly mislead or otherwise interfere with or impede,”
The Arms (Amendment) Act, 2019 (MHA), inserting section 25(9) ↗ “Whoever uses firearm in a rash or negligent manner or in celebratory gunfire so as to endanger human life or personal safety of others shall be punishable with an imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years”

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2023, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). Permalink ·

Prelims 2023 · Q98

X-Ray · Core #4 Easy

हाल के वर्षों में, चाड, गिनी, माली और सूडान ने निम्नलिखित में से किस एक कारण से अंतर्राष्ट्रीय ध्यान आकर्षित किया, जो इन सभी देशों से संबंधित है?

Read this question in English

In the recent years Chad, Guinea, Mali and Sudan caught the international attention for which one of the following reasons common to all of them?

(a) Discovery of rich deposits of rare earth elements · (b) Establishment of Chinese military bases · (c) Southward expansion of Sahara Desert · (d) Successful coups

उत्तर और व्याख्या · explanation in English

Answer: (d) सफल तख्ता-पलट

All four countries saw armed forces seize power in 2020-21: Mali in 2020 and again in May 2021, Chad in April 2021, Guinea in September 2021 and Sudan in October 2021. The UN itself described these as a wave of takeovers across the Sahel and West Africa.

✓ (d) Military takeovers happened in Mali, Chad, Guinea and Sudan between 2020 and 2021. This is the one feature common to all four; the UN linked them together while reacting to another coup in Burkina Faso in January 2022.
✗ (a) None of these events was about a rare-earth discovery. The four countries are in the news for political instability, not for a shared mineral find.
✗ (b) No shared story of Chinese military bases links the four countries.
✗ (c) Desertification of the Sahel is a regional concern, but it does not apply to all four: Guinea is a humid Atlantic-coast country, far from the Sahara, and the option does not describe why they were in the news.

Remember · Mali (2020, 2021), Chad (2021), Guinea (2021), Sudan (2021) and later Burkina Faso (2022) all saw military seizures of power; the common thread is coups.

Sources

UN News, Guterres calls on Burkina Faso coup leaders to 'lay down their arms' (Internet Archive copy) ↗ “a military coup was staged in Mali, and a wave of other coup attempts, and takeovers have occurred across West Africa and the Sahel, including the seizure of power in Chad, Sudan and Guinea.”

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2023, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). Permalink ·

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