With reference to India's defence, consider the following pairs:
| Aircraft type | Description | |
|---|---|---|
| I. | Dornier-228 | Maritime patrol aircraft |
| II. | IL-76 | Supersonic combat aircraft |
| III. | C-17 Globemaster III | Military transport aircraft |
How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
Answer & explanation
Answer: (b) Only two
Two of the three pairs are correct. The Indian Coast Guard describes the Dornier-228 as a multi-mission maritime patrol aircraft, and the C-17 Globemaster III is a military transport, but the IL-76 is a strategic airlift aircraft, not a supersonic combat aircraft.
- ✓ I The Dornier-228 bought for the Indian Coast Guard is fitted with maritime patrol radar and an electro-optic infra-red device to strengthen aerial surveillance of maritime areas.
- ✗ II The IL-76 (Gajraj) is described by the Ministry of Defence as an Indian Air Force strategic airlift aircraft. It is a transporter, not a supersonic combat aircraft.
- ✓ III The C-17 Globemaster III was inducted into the Indian Air Force in 2013 to strengthen its strategic airlift.
Remember · Dornier-228: maritime patrol (Coast Guard). IL-76: strategic airlifter. C-17 Globemaster III: strategic military transport.
Sources
- Two upgraded Dornier aircraft for the Indian Coast Guard, Ministry of Defence, PIB (7 July 2023) ↗ “The aircraft will be fitted with a number of advanced equipment viz., Glass Cockpit, Maritime Patrol Radar, Electro Optic Infra-Red device, Mission Management System etc.”
- Indian Air Force airlifts sacred Buddhist relics to Mongolia, Ministry of Defence, PIB ↗ “An Indian Air Force IL-76 strategic airlift aircraft, Gajraj, transported the sacred relics of Arahant Sariputta and Arahant Mahamoggallana”
- C-17 Globemaster III inducted into the IAF, Ministry of Defence, PIB (2 September 2013) ↗ “Giving impetus to the long standing strategic airlift of the Indian Air Force, the Defence Minister Shri AK Antony today formally inducted the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III into the IAF”
- Air Craft: Fixed Wing (Dornier 228), Indian Coast Guard (Ministry of Defence) ↗ “Dornier 228 is a twin engine turboprop, highly versatile multi-mission maritime patrol aircraft manufactured by M/s HAL for the Indian Coast Guard.”
Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2025, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 1 Oct 2026 (how we verify). ·