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Q95 (IAS/2018) Science & Technology › Space & Defence Technology › Indian launch vehicles Official Key

With reference to India's satellite launch vehicles, consider the following statements : 1. PSLVs launch the satellites useful for Earth resources monitoring whereas GSLVs are designed mainly to launch communication satellites. 2. Satellites launched by PSLV appear to remain permanently fixed in the same position in the sky, as viewed from a particular location on Earth. 3. GSLV Mk III is a four-staged launch vehicle with the first and third stages using solid rocket motors; and the second and fourth stages using liquid rocket engines. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

Result
Your answer: —  ·  Correct: A
Explanation

The correct answer is **option A (1 only)**.

**Statement 1 is correct**: The PSLV has become the workhorse launch vehicle, placing both remote sensing and communications satellites into orbit[1], while GSLV Mk III is a three-stage heavy lift launch vehicle developed by ISRO[2] primarily designed for heavier communication satellites in geostationary orbits. PSLVs are indeed used for Earth resources monitoring satellites.

**Statement 2 is incorrect**: Satellites launched by PSLV do not remain permanently fixed in the sky. Most orbit about 800 km above Earth's surface and take roughly 100 minutes to complete one orbit[3]. Only geostationary satellites (typically launched by GSLV) appear fixed from Earth, not those in the lower orbits where PSLV places most satellites.

**Statement 3 is incorrect**: GSLV Mk III is a three-stage heavy lift launch vehicle developed by ISRO. The vehicle has two solid strap-ons, a core liquid booster and a cryogenic upper stage[2]. It is a three-stage vehicle, not four-stage as stated.

Sources
  1. [1] Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 12: Transport, Communications and Trade > Phase IV: 1990–2000 > p. 55
  2. [3] Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 11: Keeping Time with the Skies > 11.4 Why Do We Launch Artificial Satellites in Space? > p. 185
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Don’t just practise – reverse-engineer the question. This panel shows where this PYQ came from (books / web), how the examiner broke it into hidden statements, and which nearby micro-concepts you were supposed to learn from it. Treat it like an autopsy of the question: what might have triggered it, which exact lines in the book matter, and what linked ideas you should carry forward to future questions.
Q. With reference to India's satellite launch vehicles, consider the following statements : 1. PSLVs launch the satellites useful for Earth …
At a glance
Origin: Books + Current Affairs Fairness: Moderate fairness Books / CA: 7.5/10 · 2.5/10
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This is a classic 'Comparative Technology' question. It blends static textbook definitions (Statement 1 & 2) with technical specifications of a flagship vehicle (Statement 3). If you mastered the basic definitions of 'Polar' vs 'Geostationary' orbits in NCERT Geography, you could crack this without knowing the complex engineering of GSLV Mk III.

How this question is built

This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.

Statement 1
Is India's PSLV used to launch satellites for Earth resources monitoring (Earth observation satellites)?
Origin: Direct from books Fairness: Straightforward Book-answerable
From standard books
Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 12: Transport, Communications and Trade > Phase IV: 1990–2000 > p. 55
Presence: 5/5
“It was not until 1992 that the first successful launch of the ASLV took place. The first successful launch took place in 1994, and since then, the PSLV has become the workhorse launch vehicle, placing both remote sensing and communications satellites into orbit, creating the largest cluster in the world, and providing unique data to Indian industry and agriculture.”
Why this source?
  • Explicitly states PSLV became the 'workhorse' launch vehicle placing remote sensing (Earth observation) and communications satellites into orbit.
  • Links PSLV launches to providing data useful to industry and agriculture, implying Earth-resources monitoring missions.
Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 12: Transport, Communications and Trade > Major Events > p. 58
Presence: 5/5
“Sriharikota (July 12, 2010). • GSLV-D3 launched from Sriharikota (Apr 15, 2010). GSAT-4 satellite could not be placed in orbit as flight testing of the Indigenous Cryogenic Stage in GSLV-D3 Mission was not successful. 2011: • PSLV-C18 successfully launches Megha-Tropiques, Jugnu, SRMSat andVesselSat-1 from Sriharikota (October 12, 2011). • PSLV-C17 successfully launches GSAT-12 from Sriharikota (July 15, 2011). • Successful launch of GSAT-8 by Ariane-5 VA-202 from Kourou French Guiana, (May 21, 2011). • PSLV-C16 successfully launches Three Satellites - RESOURCESAT-2,YOUTHSAT, X-SAT from Sriharikota (April 20, 2011). 2012: • Successful launch of GSAT-10 by Ariane-5 VA-209 from Kourou French Guiana (September 29, 2012). • ISRO's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, PSLV-C21 successfully launchesSPOT 6 and PROITERES from Sriharikota (September 09, 2012). • PSLV-C19 successfully launches RISAT-1 from Sriharikota (April 26, 2012).”
Why this source?
  • Lists specific PSLV missions (e.g., PSLV-C16, PSLV-C18) that launched RESOURCESAT/RESOURCESAT-2 — named Earth-resources/remote sensing satellites.
  • Shows recurring use of PSLV for multiple resource/remote sensing satellite launches across years.
Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 12: Transport, Communications and Trade > Major Events > p. 57
Presence: 5/5
“23, 2009). • PSLV-C12 successfully launches RISAT-2 and ANUSAT from Sriharikota (April 20, 2009). 2010: • GSLV-F06 launched from Shriharikota (Dec 25, 2010). GSAT-5P could not be placed into orbit as the GSLV-F06 mission was not successful. • Successful launch of advanced communication satellite HYLAS (Highly Adaptable Satellite), built by ISRO on a commercial basis in partnership with EADS-Astrium of Europe, by Ariane-5 V198 from Kourou French Guiana (November 27, 2010). • PSLV-C15 successfully launches Five Satellites-CARTOSAT-2B, ALSAT-2A, two nanosatellites-NLS-6.1 & 6.2 and a pico-satellite- STUDSAT from”
Why this source?
  • Records PSLV-C15 successfully launching CARTOSAT-2B (an Earth-imaging/mapping satellite), indicating PSLV usage for Earth observation payloads.
  • Provides additional mission-level evidence of PSLV deploying satellites used for mapping and resource monitoring.
Statement analysis

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Statement analysis

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Statement analysis

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SIMILAR QUESTIONS

IAS · 2002 · Q139 Relevance score: 5.17

With reference to Indian satellites and their launchers, consider the following statements: 1. All the INSAT-series of satellites were launched abroad 2. PSLVs were used to launch IRS-series of satellites 3. India used the indigenously built cryogenic engines for the first time for powering the third stage of GSLV 4. GSAT, launched in the year 2001, has payloads to demonstrate digital broadcasts and internet services Which of these statements are correct?

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Consider the following statements : 1. India launched its first full-fledged meteorological satellite (METSAT) in September 2002. 2. For the first time, the space vehicle PSLV- C4 carried a payload of more than 1000 kg into a geosynchronous orbit. Which of these statements is/are correct?

IAS · 2010 · Q7 Relevance score: 4.06

Consider the following statements : The Satellite Oceansat-2 launched by India helps in 1. estimating the water vapour content in the atmosphere. 2. predicting the onset of monsoons. 3. monitoring the pollution of coastal waters. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

NDA-II · 2014 · Q80 Relevance score: 3.82

Consider the following statements about Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) : 1. IRNSS is a constellation of five satellites, which were launched by PSLV. 2. It is an independent regional navigation satellite system designed to provide position information in the Indian region. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?