In which of the following activities are Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) satellites used? 1. Assessment of crop productivity 2. Locating groundwater resources 3. Mineral exploration 4. Telecommunications 5. Traffic studies Select the correct answer using the code given below.
- (a) 1, 2 and 3 only ✓ UPSC's answer
- (b) 4 and 5 only
- (c) 1 and 2 only
- (d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
Why the answer is (a)
• IRS satellites (Resourcesat, Cartosat, RISAT) image the Earth's surface for natural-resource management: crop acreage and yield estimation (1), groundwater prospect mapping under the Rajiv Gandhi Drinking Water Mission (2), and mineral and geological mapping (3).
• Telecommunications (4) is the job of INSAT/GSAT communication satellites, and traffic studies (5) need real-time ground or aerial data, not remote-sensing satellites.
• Hence 1, 2 and 3 only, option (a).
Why the other options are wrong
- (b) 4 and 5 only
- Telecom and traffic are not IRS applications.
- (c) 1 and 2 only
- Mineral exploration is also an IRS application.
- (d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
- Telecom and traffic studies are not IRS uses.
Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2015, held on 23 August 2015. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.