UPSC Prelims 2016 GS Paper I · Q46 of 100 General Science easy

Which one of the following is the best description of 'INS Astradharini', that was in the news recently?

  1. (a) Amphibious warfare ship
  2. (b) Nuclear-powered submarine
  3. (c) Torpedo launch and recovery vessel ✓ UPSC's answer
  4. (d) Nuclear-powered aircraft carrier

Why the answer is (c)

• INS Astradharini, commissioned in October 2015 at Visakhapatnam, is an indigenously designed torpedo launch and recovery vessel used by the Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (DRDO) to test underwater weapons — option (c).

• Its catamaran hull was designed with IIT Kharagpur and built by Shoft Shipyard.

• It is not an amphibious ship (a), a submarine (b) or an aircraft carrier (d).

• Hence option (c).

Why the other options are wrong

(a) Amphibious warfare ship
It is not an amphibious warfare ship.
(b) Nuclear-powered submarine
It is a surface vessel, not a submarine.
(d) Nuclear-powered aircraft carrier
It is not an aircraft carrier.

Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2016, held on 7 August 2016. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.

Reading the answer is not the same as getting it right under a clock. Practise this question with UPSC's negative marking, and anything you miss goes into an error notebook until you get it right twice.

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