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Q42 (IAS/2025) Science & Technology β€Ί Space & Defence Technology β€Ί Military aircraft systems Answer Verified

With reference to Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), consider the following statements: 1. All types of UAVs can do vertical landing. 2. All types of UAVs can do automated hovering. 3. All types of UAVs can use battery only as a source of power supply. How many of the statements given above are correct?

Result
Your answer: β€”  Β·  Correct: D
Explanation

None of the three statements are correct.

UAVs are robotic vehicles that can carry payloads and execute flying missions guided either by remote control or autonomously[1], but they come in various types with different capabilities.

**Statement 1 is incorrect** because not all UAV types can perform vertical landing. Fixed-wing UAVs, which operate like traditional airplanes, require forward motion and runways or horizontal landing strips. Only rotary-wing UAVs (like quadcopters) and VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing) variants can land vertically.

**Statement 2 is incorrect** because automated hovering is primarily a capability of multi-rotor and rotary-wing UAVs. Fixed-wing UAVs cannot hover as they must maintain forward airspeed to generate lift and stay airborne.

**Statement 3 is incorrect** because UAVs use electric battery[2] as one power source, but not exclusively. UAVs can be powered by various systems including internal combustion engines, fuel cells[3], and hybrid power systems[4]. Different applications require different power solutions based on endurance and payload requirements.

Sources
  1. [1] https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/computer-science/unmanned-aerial-vehicle
  2. [2] https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/unmanned-aerial-vehicle
  3. [3] https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/unmanned-aerial-vehicle
  4. [4] https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-32313-2_reference.pdf
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PROVENANCE & STUDY PATTERN
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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 Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), consider the following statements: 1. All types of UAVs can do vertical landing. 2. A…
At a glance
Origin: Mostly Current Affairs Fairness: Low / Borderline fairness Books / CA: 0/10 Β· 3.3/10

This is less a test of technical trivia and more a test of logical validity using the 'Extreme Statement' heuristic. The presence of 'All types' in every statement is a massive red flag. You don't need to know specific drone models; you just need to know that 'drones' include both mini-helicopters (quadcopters) and airplane-like vehicles (fixed-wing).

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
Are all types of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) capable of vertical landing?
Origin: Weak / unclear Fairness: Borderline / guessy
Indirect textbook clues
Certificate Physical and Human Geography , GC Leong (Oxford University press 3rd ed.) > Chapter 30: World Communications > AIR TRANSPORT > p. 308
Strength: 5/5
β€œThis new form of transport has great advantages, because it is little affected by ground conditions. An aeroplane can cross mountains, dense forests and large oceans with the greatest ease and speed. It can reach the remotest, the farthest and the most inhospitable places on earth provided a landing place is available. Modern commercial air services operated by large international airway corporations provide prompt and efficient services to practically anywhere on earth. There is a phenomenal growth in the world's aerial transport of passengers, mail and freight. Many parts of interior Africa, arid Australia and Arctic Canada are heavily dependent on scheduled and chartered air flights to link them with the outside world.”
Why relevant

Says an aeroplane can reach remote places provided a landing place is available β€” implying some aircraft require a prepared landing area (runway) rather than vertical touchdown.

How to extend

A student could combine this with basic knowledge that many UAVs are fixed-wing like aeroplanes to suspect fixed‑wing UAVs generally need runways and hence cannot land vertically without special design.

Certificate Physical and Human Geography , GC Leong (Oxford University press 3rd ed.) > Chapter 30: World Communications > AIR TRANSPORT > p. 309
Strength: 4/5
β€œAlien planes who make use of their air space will have to seek their permission to do so and also pay a fee for landing rights. Countries which are located at the strategic points of the earth for air communication like Honolulu, Rome, Singapore and Tokyo stand to make great gains from landing charges of international airlines Over heavily congested cities, especially over Europe and North America, highly sophisticated equipment has to be installed at all major air terminals to avoid possible aerial collisions.”
Why relevant

Discusses landing rights and major air terminals with sophisticated equipment, implying conventional aircraft operations rely on airports/landing infrastructure.

How to extend

Use this to reason that vehicles designed for conventional airport operations (including some UAVs) are unlikely to perform vertical landings without different infrastructure or design.

Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 5: Exploring Forces > Activity 5.8: Let us observe > p. 72
Strength: 3/5
β€œYou might have noticed that when an object is dropped from a height, it takes a straight vertical path downwards before touching the ground (Fig. 5.11a). When an object is thrown vertically upwards, the object moves up straight, slows down, stops momentarily at the top, and then takes a straight vertical path downwards (Fig. 5.11b). While going up, the speed of the object goes on decreasing till the object comes to a stop, its direction of motion changes and while coming down the Does the Earth pull every object with equal force? 72 speed goes on increasing. We say that the object undergoes a vertical motion when it moves in a vertical direction under the influence of the gravitational force.”
Why relevant

Explains vertical motion under gravity β€” establishes the concept of 'vertical' motion as distinct and requiring controlled up/down movement.

How to extend

A student can combine this physics idea with aircraft control requirements to infer vertical landing needs specific thrust/vectoring or rotors, unlike standard forward-flight fixed‑wing control.

Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 22: Renewable Energy > 22.3.3 T\vo types of wind turbines > p. 290
Strength: 3/5
β€œβ€’ Horizontal-axis design has two or three blades that spin upwind of the tower. A horizontal axis machine has its blades rotating on an axis parallel to the ground. a) Vertical-axis turbines have vertical blades that rotate in and out of the wind. The vertical axis turbine has its blades rotating on an axis perpendicular to the ground. This drag-type turbine turns relatively slowly but yields a high torque.”
Why relevant

Contrasts vertical-axis vs horizontal-axis designs, showing that axis/orientation of rotating components affects motion characteristics.

How to extend

Extend this to aircraft propulsion/rotor design: vertical-axis (rotorcraft/VTOL) enable vertical lift, whereas horizontal-axis (conventional propellers/engines) support forward flight and not necessarily vertical landing.

Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 12: Transport, Communications and Trade > Phase V: 2000–2010 > p. 55
Strength: 2/5
β€œIn 2001, the first development flight of the GSLV took place. India is developing a project to send unmanned probe to the moon in 2008, as the first attempt at exploration of solar system.This project is called Chndrayaan.”
Why relevant

Mentions development of an unmanned probe (Chandrayaan) β€” an example of an unmanned vehicle built for specific mission profiles, implying diversity in unmanned vehicle designs and functions.

How to extend

Combine this with the fact that different unmanned designs serve different roles to conclude not all UAVs share the same landing capability; some are not intended to land vertically or at all.

Statement 2
Are all types of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) capable of automated hovering?
Origin: Weak / unclear Fairness: Borderline / guessy
Indirect textbook clues
Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 12: Transport, Communications and Trade > Phase V: 2000–2010 > p. 55
Strength: 3/5
β€œIn 2001, the first development flight of the GSLV took place. India is developing a project to send unmanned probe to the moon in 2008, as the first attempt at exploration of solar system.This project is called Chndrayaan.”
Why relevant

Mentions an unmanned probe (Chandrayaan) being developed for automated space exploration, showing that some unmanned vehicles are designed for autonomous operations.

How to extend

A student could generalise that unmanned craft can be automated and then compare space-probe control requirements with those for atmospheric hovering to judge applicability to UAVs.

Exploring Society:India and Beyond ,Social Science-Class VII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 2: Understanding the Weather > An automated weather station > p. 39
Strength: 4/5
β€œAn Automated Weather Station (AWS) is a self-operating system that uses various sensors to measure and record weather data, such as temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction, precipitation, and atmospheric pressure. Such stations are widely used in fields like agriculture, aviation, navigation, environmental monitoring, and so on, providing accurate and timely weather information without the need for human intervention.”
Why relevant

Describes an Automated Weather Station as a self-operating system using sensors to record data without human intervention, illustrating that small platforms can be automated using sensors and control logic.

How to extend

A student could infer that similar sensor+control approaches enable hover-capable automation in some UAVs and then check which UAV types carry appropriate sensors/actuators.

Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 14: Service Sector > Note: > p. 434
Strength: 5/5
β€œ*Note: β€’ (1) GAGAN is a satellite-based augmentation system and stands for GPS-aided GEO augmented navigation which is a joint project between ISRO and the Airports Authority of India.β€’ (2) NavIC is an autonomous regional satellite navigation system that provides accurate real-time positioning and timing services.”
Why relevant

Notes GAGAN and NavIC satellite navigation systems that provide accurate real-time positioning and timing, implying availability of precise positioning data usable by airborne vehicles.

How to extend

A student could reason that access to precise positioning makes automated station-keeping (hovering) more feasible for UAVs equipped to use such systems, then examine which UAV classes can integrate them.

Certificate Physical and Human Geography , GC Leong (Oxford University press 3rd ed.) > Chapter 30: World Communications > AIR TRANSPORT > p. 309
Strength: 4/5
β€œAlien planes who make use of their air space will have to seek their permission to do so and also pay a fee for landing rights. Countries which are located at the strategic points of the earth for air communication like Honolulu, Rome, Singapore and Tokyo stand to make great gains from landing charges of international airlines Over heavily congested cities, especially over Europe and North America, highly sophisticated equipment has to be installed at all major air terminals to avoid possible aerial collisions.”
Why relevant

States that highly sophisticated equipment is required at major air terminals to avoid aerial collisions, indicating that maintaining stable positions and avoiding hazards demands complex avionics and automation.

How to extend

A student could extend this to conclude that automated hovering likely requires comparable sophistication and thus may not be present in all UAV types, prompting a check of equipment levels across UAV classes.

FUNDAMENTALS OF HUMAN GEOGRAPHY, CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 7: Transport and Communication > Fig. 7.15: An Aeroplane at Salsburg Airport > p. 66
Strength: 3/5
β€œThe manufacturing of aircrafts and their operations require elaborate infrastructure like hangars, landing, fuelling, and maintenance facilities for the aircrafts. The construction of airports is also very expensive and has developed more in highly industrialised countries where there is a large volume of traffic. At present no place in the world is more than 35 hours away. This startling fact has been made possible due to people who build and fly airplanes. Travel by air can now be measured by hours and minutes instead of years and months. Frequent air services are available to many parts of the world. Although, U.K. pioneered the use of commercial jet transport, U.S.A. developed largely post-War international civil aviation.”
Why relevant

Describes aircraft manufacturing and operations requiring elaborate infrastructure and facilities, highlighting that different aircraft types vary greatly in complexity and support needs.

How to extend

A student could use this pattern to suspect that capability (like automated hovering) depends on vehicle complexity/type and available systems, so not every UAV will have that feature.

Statement 3
Can all types of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) operate using only batteries as their sole power source?
Origin: Web / Current Affairs Fairness: CA heavy Web-answerable

Web source
Presence: 5/5
"introduces two types of propulsion systems that involve fuel cells, i.e., pure fuel cell system and hybrid system ... An Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) is a power-driven crew-less air vehicle. It follows the basic principle of aerodynamics and uses electric battery"
Why this source?
  • Explicitly refers to propulsion systems that involve fuel cells and hybrid systems, showing alternatives to batteries.
  • Also states UAVs "uses electric battery", indicating batteries are common but not the only option β€” implying not all rely solely on batteries.
Web source
Presence: 4/5
"Review article ## [Recent advances in fuel cells based propulsion systems for unmanned aerial vehicles]"
Why this source?
  • Contains a review article specifically on "Recent advances in fuel cells based propulsion systems for unmanned aerial vehicles", indicating fuel-cell-powered UAVs exist.
  • The existence of fuel-cell propulsion reviews demonstrates that alternative (non-battery) power sources are used in UAVs.
Web source
Presence: 4/5
"Performance Evaluation of a Hybrid Power System for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Applications. ... Review of energy management technologies for unmanned aerial vehicles powered by hydrogen fuel cell."
Why this source?
  • References studies on hybrid power systems and hydrogen fuel cell power for UAVs, providing concrete examples of non-battery propulsion research.
  • Hybrid and fuel-cell research indicates that some UAV types are designed to use other power sources besides batteries.

Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 22: Renewable Energy > Fuel cells for automobile transport > p. 296
Strength: 5/5
β€œ0 Compared to vehicles powered by the internal combustion engine, fuel-cell-powered vehicles have very high energy conversion efficiency, and near-zero pollution, CO extsubscript{2} and water vapor being the only emissions. Fuel-cell-powered EV's (electric vehicles) score over battery-operated EV's in terms of increased efficiency and easier and faster refueling. In India, diesel-run buses are a major means of transport and these emit significant quantities of SPM and SOz. Thus, fuel-cell-powered buses and electric vehicles could be introduced with relative ease to dramatically reduce urban air pollution and to make a positive impact on urban air quality.”
Why relevant

Compares fuel-cell-powered vehicles with battery-operated ones, noting fuel cells give higher energy-conversion efficiency and faster refuelling.

How to extend

A student can combine this with basic facts about endurance and refuelling needs of different UAV classes to suspect that batteries alone may be limiting for long-endurance or rapidly-refuelled UAVs.

Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 4: Electricity: Magnetic and Heating Effects > A step further > p. 58
Strength: 4/5
β€œToday, the lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery is the most common type of rechargeable battery, found in almost all devices that use batteries. These batteries rely on special metals like lithium and cobalt, which are mined and processed in limited parts of the world. Because of this, countries are now racing to secure supplies, recycle old batteries, and develop new technologies. 58 Scientists are also working on the next big leap: solid-state batteries, which replace the liquid or paste-like electrolytes with solid materials. These future batteries would be much safer, charge faster and last longer. Improved rechargeable batteries are very important as the world moves to developing environmentally friendly sources of electrical power.”
Why relevant

States lithium-ion is the common rechargeable battery and that battery technology is evolving (solid-state promises better safety, faster charge, longer life).

How to extend

One could compare current Li-ion energy-density limits to the power/weight demands of larger or longer-range UAVs to judge if batteries alone suffice.

Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 4: Electricity: Magnetic and Heating Effects > 4.3.3 Rechargeable batteries > p. 57
Strength: 4/5
β€œRechargeable batteries can be recharged and reused multiple times. This prevents wastage and saves money over time as well. There are many different kinds of rechargeable batteries that are used for different applicationsβ€”from small batteries used in watches and phones to batteries used in laptops and tablet to bigger batteries that run inverters or drive electric vehicles (Fig. 4.10). However, rechargeable batteries also do not last forever. After being charged and used many times, they slowly wear out. Oh, so this is the reason why after a year or two, the phone battery requires charging more often!”
Why relevant

Explains rechargeable batteries wear out and have limited lifetimes and sizes used across applications from small devices to electric vehicles.

How to extend

A student could extrapolate that battery degradation and sizing constraints may limit UAV types that require long service life or high energy throughput.

Science-Class VII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 3: Electricity: Circuits and their Components > SCIENCE AND SOCIETY > p. 40
Strength: 3/5
β€œElectric cells or batteries are compact portable sources of electrical energy that make the use of some electrical devices more convenient. These cells and batteries come in various shapes and sizes for diff erent purposes, such as cylindrical batteries for torchlights, clocks, remotes, toys; button cells for watches, hearing aids; rechargeable batteries for mobile phones, laptops, and electric vehicles.”
Why relevant

Notes batteries come in various shapes and sizes for different purposes, from tiny cells to larger batteries for vehicles.

How to extend

Use this pattern to reason that while small UAVs can use small batteries, larger UAVs may need much larger (or alternative) energy sources beyond practical battery sizes.

Science , class X (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 11: Electricity > 11.7 HEA 11.7 HEA11.7 HEATING EFFECT OF ELECTRIC CURRENT > p. 188
Strength: 3/5
β€œWe know that a battery or a cell is a source of electrical energy. The chemical reaction within the cell generates the potential difference between its two terminals that sets the electrons in motion to flow the current through a resistor or a system of resistors connected to the battery. We have also seen, in Section 11.2, that to maintain the current, the source has to keep expending its energy. Where does this energy go? A part of the source energy in maintaining the current may be consumed into useful work (like in rotating the blades of an electric fan).”
Why relevant

Reminds that a battery supplies finite chemical energy that is expended to do work (e.g., run motors) and so energy is consumed to maintain current/work.

How to extend

Combine this with basic external data on energy consumption rates of UAV propulsion to estimate whether battery capacity would meet mission duration requirements.

Pattern takeaway: UPSC consistently uses 'Universal Quantifiers' (All, Every, Only) to trap students in Science & Tech. The pattern is to conflate a specific subset (e.g., quadcopters) with the entire set (all UAVs). If a technology has diverse form factors, 'All' statements are almost invariably false.
How you should have studied
  1. [THE VERDICT]: Sitter (Logic-based). No specific book source required; solvable purely by challenging the word 'All' with basic counter-examples.
  2. [THE CONCEPTUAL TRIGGER]: Science & Technology > Defence & Aerospace > Classification of Unmanned Systems (Fixed-wing vs. Rotary-wing).
  3. [THE HORIZONTAL EXPANSION]: 1. **Fixed-Wing UAVs** (e.g., Heron, Predator): Need runways, cannot hover, use fuel/engines for long endurance. 2. **Rotary-Wing UAVs** (e.g., Quadcopters): VTOL capable, can hover, usually battery-powered. 3. **Hybrid VTOL**: Combines both. 4. **Power Sources**: Li-ion (short range), Hydrogen Fuel Cells (emerging), Internal Combustion/Jet Engines (military grade). 5. **Regulations**: Digital Sky Platform, Green/Yellow/Red zones.
  4. [THE STRATEGIC METACOGNITION]: When studying a technology class (like UAVs, Missiles, or Bio-fuels), never assume homogeneity. Always classify them by **Mechanism** (how they fly), **Propulsion** (energy source), and **Utility**. If a statement claims a universal feature, ask: 'Does the most primitive or the most advanced version of this tech violate this?'
Concept hooks from this question
πŸ“Œ Adjacent topic to master
S1
πŸ‘‰ Landing infrastructure and legal landing rights
πŸ’‘ The insight

Vertical landing capability requires suitable landing places and compliance with landing permissions and charges.

High-yield for civil aviation and transport questions: explains why aircraft operations depend on infrastructure and international/regional regulations. Connects to topics on air routes, international airports, and geopolitical advantages of strategic locations. Helps answer questions on operational constraints and policy implications.

πŸ“š Reading List :
  • Certificate Physical and Human Geography , GC Leong (Oxford University press 3rd ed.) > Chapter 30: World Communications > AIR TRANSPORT > p. 309
  • Certificate Physical and Human Geography , GC Leong (Oxford University press 3rd ed.) > Chapter 30: World Communications > AIR TRANSPORT > p. 308
πŸ”— Anchor: "Are all types of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) capable of vertical landing?"
πŸ“Œ Adjacent topic to master
S1
πŸ‘‰ Vertical motion fundamentals (gravity and straight-line descent)
πŸ’‘ The insight

Understanding vertical motion and gravitational acceleration is essential to analyzing vertical landing dynamics.

Useful for technical sections and conceptual questions linking basic physics to aviation technology. Connects physics concepts to engineering limits of landing systems and descent control for aerial vehicles.

πŸ“š Reading List :
  • Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 5: Exploring Forces > Activity 5.8: Let us observe > p. 72
πŸ”— Anchor: "Are all types of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) capable of vertical landing?"
πŸ“Œ Adjacent topic to master
S1
πŸ‘‰ Unmanned vehicles and mission types
πŸ’‘ The insight

Unmanned craft include diverse platforms (e.g., probes) whose design and landing capabilities vary by mission profile.

Helps distinguish between categories of unmanned systems in technology, space, and defence topics. Useful for questions comparing capabilities, design trade-offs, and mission constraints of unmanned versus manned vehicles.

πŸ“š Reading List :
  • Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 12: Transport, Communications and Trade > Phase V: 2000–2010 > p. 55
πŸ”— Anchor: "Are all types of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) capable of vertical landing?"
πŸ“Œ Adjacent topic to master
S2
πŸ‘‰ Unmanned versus automated systems
πŸ’‘ The insight

Being 'unmanned' (no onboard human) is different from being 'automated' or capable of autonomous functions like hovering.

High-yield for UPSC because questions often test distinctions between types of platforms (unmanned, autonomous, remotely piloted) and their capabilities; links to topics in defence technology, space missions, and instrumentation. Mastering this helps answer comparative and definition-based questions and separates platform type from operational capability.

πŸ“š Reading List :
  • Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 12: Transport, Communications and Trade > Phase V: 2000–2010 > p. 55
  • Exploring Society:India and Beyond ,Social Science-Class VII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 2: Understanding the Weather > An automated weather station > p. 39
πŸ”— Anchor: "Are all types of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) capable of automated hovering?"
πŸ“Œ Adjacent topic to master
S2
πŸ‘‰ Role of satellite-based navigation and augmentation (GAGAN, NavIC) in precision positioning
πŸ’‘ The insight

Precision positioning and timing provided by systems like GAGAN and NavIC enable accurate station-keeping and hover-capable operations for aerial platforms.

Important for UPSC as it ties civil aviation technology to national infrastructure and defence applications; useful for questions on navigation systems, aviation safety, and indigenous space/avionics programs. Knowing this concept enables analysis of which technologies are required for advanced UAV functions.

πŸ“š Reading List :
  • Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 14: Service Sector > Note: > p. 434
πŸ”— Anchor: "Are all types of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) capable of automated hovering?"
πŸ“Œ Adjacent topic to master
S3
πŸ‘‰ Battery types and application suitability
πŸ’‘ The insight

Batteries exist in many shapes, sizes and chemistries and are assigned to applications ranging from watches to electric vehicles, so matching battery type to platform energy needs is essential.

High-yield for UPSC questions on technology and transport: explains why a single energy solution cannot fit all platforms. Connects to topics on electric mobility, energy storage, and industrial policy; enables comparative questions on suitability and scalability of power sources.

πŸ“š Reading List :
  • Science-Class VII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 3: Electricity: Circuits and their Components > SCIENCE AND SOCIETY > p. 40
  • Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 4: Electricity: Magnetic and Heating Effects > 4.3.3 Rechargeable batteries > p. 57
  • Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 4: Electricity: Magnetic and Heating Effects > A step further > p. 58
πŸ”— Anchor: "Can all types of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) operate using only batteries as..."
πŸ“Œ Adjacent topic to master
S3
πŸ‘‰ Rechargeable battery lifecycle and environmental limits
πŸ’‘ The insight

Rechargeable batteries degrade with repeated charge cycles and contain materials that require recycling or special disposal, affecting long-term operational feasibility.

Important for questions on sustainability, e-waste policy and supply chains: links technical limits (degradation) to environmental and policy responses (recycling, resource security). Useful for framing policy prescriptions and supply-chain arguments.

πŸ“š Reading List :
  • Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 4: Electricity: Magnetic and Heating Effects > 4.3.3 Rechargeable batteries > p. 57
  • Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 4: Electricity: Magnetic and Heating Effects > A step further > p. 61
  • Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 17: Contemporary Issues > Energy > p. 91
πŸ”— Anchor: "Can all types of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) operate using only batteries as..."
πŸŒ‘ The Hidden Trap

High Altitude Pseudo Satellites (HAPS). These are solar-powered UAVs designed to float in the stratosphere for months. Unlike standard drones, they act like satellites. Expect a question comparing HAPS vs. LEO Satellites.

⚑ Elimination Cheat Code

The 'Predator vs. Phantom' Test. Visualize two extremes: a toy Quadcopter (DJI Phantom) and a massive Military Drone (Predator/Reaper).
1. Can a Predator land vertically? No, it has wheels and needs a runway. (Eliminate 1)
2. Can a Predator hover? No, it's a plane; if it stops, it falls. (Eliminate 2)
3. Does a Predator run on batteries? No, it carries heavy missiles and flies for 24h+; it needs jet fuel. (Eliminate 3)
Answer: None.

πŸ”— Mains Connection

Link UAVs to **GS-3 Internal Security & Agriculture**: (1) **Border Management**: Anti-drone systems (Soft kill vs Hard kill) for stopping drug/arms drops in Punjab. (2) **Agriculture**: 'Kisan Drones' for spraying Nano-Urea (improving efficiency vs manual spraying).

βœ“ Thank you! We'll review this.

SIMILAR QUESTIONS

NDA-I Β· 2011 Β· Q89 Relevance score: 2.21

Consider the following pairs : 1. Pinaka : Multi Barrel Rocket Launcher System 2. Nag : Anti Tank Missile System 3. Lakshya: Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched ?

CDS-I Β· 2005 Β· Q120 Relevance score: 1.24

Consider the following statements 1. The PSLV which launched Cartosat-I and Hamsat satellites was a three stage vehicle. 2. The Cartosat-I and Hamsat were separated from the PSLV exactly at same time. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

CAPF Β· 2022 Β· Q71 Relevance score: 0.75

Consider the following statements: 1. Mirage 2000 is a twin-engine fighter jet. 2. HAL Tejas is a delta-winged fighter jet. 3. Rafale is a hypersonic fighter jet. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

CDS-II Β· 2022 Β· Q35 Relevance score: 0.43

Consider the following statements : The Government is promoting the 'Kisan Drone' for 1. Spraying weedicides. 2. Digitisation of land records. 3. Crop assessment. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?