Consider the following statements : The Mangalyaan launched by ISRO 1. is also called the Mars Orbiter Mission 2. made India the second country to have a spacecraft orbit the Mars after USA 3. made India the only country to be successful in making its spacecraft orbit the Mars in its very first attempt Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 2 and 3 only
- (c) 1 and 3 only ✓ UPSC's answer
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Why the answer is (c)
• Mangalyaan is the popular name of ISRO's Mars Orbiter Mission, launched in November 2013 and inserted into Mars orbit on 24 September 2014 (statement 1).
• Statement 3 is correct: India became the first country to succeed in its maiden attempt, and did so at a cost of only about ₹450 crore.
• Statement 2 is wrong: the USA, the Soviet Union/Russia and the European Space Agency had orbited Mars earlier; India was the fourth space agency and first Asian nation.
• Hence 1 and 3 only, option (c).
Why the other options are wrong
- (a) 1 only
- Statement 3 on first-attempt success is also correct.
- (b) 2 and 3 only
- Statement 2 is wrong: India was fourth, not second.
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
- Statement 2 is wrong.
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.