Security, defence & exercises

Answer: (d) None

A fifth-generation fighter is built around stealth (low-observable shaping, weapons carried inside the body), fused sensor data and network-centric operations; Lockheed Martin describes the F-35 this way, and ADA lists the same features for India's own fifth-generation project, the AMCA. UPSC's key counts none of the three listed aircraft as fifth generation, and ADA's Tejas Mk-1 page lists fly-by-wire controls, a glass cockpit and a multi-mode radar, with external stores and drop tanks, and no stealth features.

• ✗ 1. The Rafale (printed 'Rafael') is a French twin-engine multirole fighter. UPSC's official key treats it as not fifth generation; we could not confirm its generation label from an official source, so we do not explain it here.
• ✗ 2. The MiG-29 is a Soviet-designed fighter. UPSC's official key treats it as not fifth generation; we could not confirm its generation label from an official source, so we do not explain it here.
• ✗ 3. ADA's page for Tejas Mk-1 lists relaxed static stability, fly-by-wire control, a glass cockpit and a multi-mode radar, with external stores and drop tanks; the low-observability shaping and internal weapons that ADA lists belong to the AMCA, India's own fifth-generation project.

Remember · Fifth-gen = stealth shaping + internal weapons + sensor fusion + networking (F-35, and India's AMCA). Tejas Mk-1 has none of the stealth features.

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2024, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 1 Oct 2026 (how we verify). Permalink · Report an error

Answer: (d) 3 only

Only row 3 is a true equivalence: an Army Major ranks with a Squadron Leader in the Air Force and a Lieutenant Commander in the Navy. In the other rows the Navy rank is misplaced: Commander is not a Brigadier's counterpart, Vice Admiral is not a Major General's, and Captain is not a Lieutenant Colonel's.

• ✗ 1. Brigadier and Air Commodore are equivalent, but the Navy counterpart is Commodore. Commander sits two steps lower in the Navy ladder and corresponds to Lieutenant Colonel and Wing Commander.
• ✗ 2. Major General and Air Vice Marshal are equivalent to Rear Admiral. Vice Admiral is the next rank up, equal to Lieutenant General and Air Marshal.
• ✓ 3. Major, Squadron Leader and Lieutenant Commander are the equivalent mid-level officer ranks in the three services.
• ✗ 4. Lieutenant Colonel corresponds to Wing Commander and Commander. Group Captain and Captain (Navy) are equivalent to a Colonel, one rank higher.

Remember · Ladder of equivalents: Major = Squadron Leader = Lieutenant Commander; Lt Colonel = Wing Commander = Commander; Colonel = Group Captain = Captain; Brigadier = Air Commodore = Commodore.

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2024, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 1 Oct 2026 (how we verify). Permalink · Report an error

Answer: (d) 1 and 3 only

As the Government of India has defined the post, the CDS is the Permanent Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee and the Principal Military Adviser to the Raksha Mantri on all tri-services matters, and he is also Secretary of the Department of Military Affairs. The Cabinet decision says he will not exercise any military command, including over the three Service Chiefs; the Chiefs go on advising the Raksha Mantri on matters exclusively concerning their own Services.

• ✓ 1. The CDS is the Permanent Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee, alongside being Secretary of the Department of Military Affairs.
• ✗ 2. The Cabinet decision of 24 December 2019 says the CDS will not exercise any military command, including over the three Service Chiefs, so that he can give impartial advice. The three Chiefs continue to advise the Raksha Mantri on matters exclusively concerning their respective Services.
• ✓ 3. The CDS acts as the Principal Military Adviser to the Raksha Mantri on all tri-services matters.

Remember · CDS: Permanent Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee, Principal Military Adviser to the Raksha Mantri on tri-services matters, and Secretary of the Department of Military Affairs. He does not command the Service Chiefs.

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2024, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 1 Oct 2026 (how we verify). Permalink · Report an error

Answer: (c) Operation Sadbhavana

Operation Sadbhavana is the Indian Army's Military Civic Action programme for 'winning hearts and minds' in remote border areas. It runs projects in healthcare, education, women empowerment and similar fields, so it fits the description of uplifting local people and meeting their basic needs.

• ✓ (c) The Ministry of Defence names Operation Sadbhavana, along with Operation Samaritan, as the Army's vehicle for Military Civic Action among people in remote border areas. Its projects cover healthcare, human resource development, women empowerment, environment protection, education, sports and national integration.
• ✗ (a) Operation Sankalp is the Indian Navy's maritime security operation, not an Army programme. PIB describes it as ongoing maritime security operations, for example the response to the hijacking of MV Ruen in December 2023.
• ✗ (b) Operation Maitri was India's response to the April 2015 Nepal earthquake, using IAF aircraft, an Army engineer task force, NDRF teams and MEA diplomacy. It is relief work, not a long-term civic-action programme.
• ✗ (d) Operation Madad was the Southern Naval Command's 2018 Kerala flood rescue and relief effort, ended on 24 August 2018. It was a Navy disaster-relief operation, not the Army's civic-action programme.

Remember · Operation Sadbhavana is the Army's civic-action programme to win hearts and minds in remote border areas, alongside Operation Samaritan.

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2024, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). Permalink · Report an error

Answer: (d) 2, 3 and 4

Mitra Shakti-2023 was the ninth edition of the joint military exercise between India and Sri Lanka, held at Aundh (Pune) in November 2023. Its scope covered joint responses in counter-terrorist operations, and Indian Air Force personnel took part. Only statement 1, which names Bangladesh, is wrong.

• ✗ 1. The partner was Sri Lanka, not Bangladesh. The Indian contingent came mainly from the Maratha Light Infantry Regiment and the Sri Lankan side from its 53 Infantry Division.
• ✓ 2. The ninth edition commenced on 16 November 2023 at Aundh, Pune, and ran till 29 November 2023.
• ✓ 3. The scope of the exercise included synergising joint responses during counter-terrorist operations, under sub-conventional operations as envisaged in Chapter VII of the UN Charter.
• ✓ 4. 15 Indian Air Force personnel, along with five from the Sri Lankan Air Force, also took part.

Remember · Mitra Shakti is the India–Sri Lanka joint military exercise. Its ninth edition (2023) was held at Aundh, Pune, with counter-terrorism drills and Indian Air Force participation.

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2024, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). Permalink · Report an error

Answer: (a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I

Both statements are correct. UN briefings to the Security Council describe armed groups and violent extremists gaining influence across West Africa and the Sahel, with security deteriorating in large parts of the region. Repeated military coups, in Mali and Burkina Faso among others, are themselves destabilizing governments, so Statement-II helps explain Statement-I.

• ✓ Statement-I UN officials told the Security Council that security had again deteriorated in large parts of the region, and voiced concern at terrorist threats spreading from the Sahel towards coastal West African countries.
• ✓ Statement-II The President of the ECOWAS Commission cited a recent spate of military coups in the region, including in Mali and Burkina Faso. The UN briefing noted that such repeated coups are destabilizing governments, which adds to the instability in Statement-I.

Remember · Sahel: rising armed-group violence and repeated military coups (Mali, Burkina Faso and others) feed each other's instability.

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2024, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). Permalink · Report an error