With reference to Agni-IV Missile, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. It is a surface-to-surface missile. 2. It is fuelled by liquid propellant only. 3. It can deliver one-tonne nuclear warheads about 7500 km away. Select the correct answer using the code given below.
- (a) 1 only ✓ UPSC's answer
- (b) 2 and 3 only
- (c) 1 and 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Why the answer is (a)
• Agni-IV, developed by DRDO and first successfully tested in 2011, is a surface-to-surface intermediate-range ballistic missile (statement 1).
• Statement 2 is wrong: it is a two-stage solid-propellant missile, not liquid-fuelled.
• Statement 3 is wrong: its range is about 3,500–4,000 km with a one-tonne warhead; the 5,000+ km range belongs to Agni-V.
• Hence 1 only, option (a).
Why the other options are wrong
- (b) 2 and 3 only
- Statements 2 and 3 are wrong: solid fuel and ~4,000 km range.
- (c) 1 and 3 only
- Statement 3 is wrong: range is about 4,000 km.
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
- Statements 2 and 3 are wrong.
Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2014, held on 24 August 2014. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.