Consider the following statements about Mission Sudarshan Chakra of India : 1. It aims to enhance India's air defence, ballistic missile defence and aerial offensive capabilities. 2. This Mission is being designed to enhance rapid, precise, and powerful defence responses, reinforcing India's strategic autonomy. 3. One of the aims of this Mission is to cover all public places of India by an expanded nationwide security shield by 2035. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
- (a) 1, 2 and 3 ✓ UPSC's answer
- (b) 1 and 2 only
- (c) 2 and 3 only
- (d) 1 only
Why the answer is (a)
• Mission Sudarshan Chakra was announced by the Prime Minister on 15 August 2025 as an indigenous, multi-layered national security shield, named after Lord Krishna's discus.
• Statement 1 is correct: it integrates air defence, ballistic-missile defence and offensive aerial capabilities into one system, in the manner of Israel's Iron Dome but on a larger scale.
• Statement 2 is correct: the Mission is designed for rapid, precise and powerful responses to threats and is framed as reinforcing India's strategic autonomy through self-reliant defence technology.
• Statement 3 is correct: its stated goal is an expanded nationwide shield by 2035 that protects strategic, civilian and religious sites and public places from aerial and missile threats.
• Hence 1, 2 and 3, option (a).
Why the other options are wrong
- (b) 1 and 2 only
- Statement 3 on the 2035 nationwide shield is also part of the Mission's stated aims.
- (c) 2 and 3 only
- Statement 1 on integrated air, missile and offensive capability is also correct.
- (d) 1 only
- Statements 2 and 3 are also correct.
Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2026, held on 24 May 2026. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.