Most Expected Questions for CLAT & AILET 2025 GK Current Affairs - Science & Tech & Defence

Passage:1

The joint military exercise AL-NAJAH V between India and Oman is underway at the Rabkoot Training Area in Oman. The drill, which began on September 13 and runs until September 26, marks a significant milestone in defense cooperation between the two countries. With the participation of 60 Indian Army personnel from the Mechanised Infantry Regiment, alongside Omani forces, the exercise aims to bolster interoperability and combat readiness for modern battlefield challenges.

In its early stages, the exercise focused on critical skills such as combat first aid, casualty evacuation, and weapons handling. Training sessions emphasized the latest trends in warfare, including counter-drone tactics, which have become increasingly important in modern conflict scenarios. Both the Indian and Omani contingents engaged in weapon drills using assault rifles, sniper rifles, pistols, and light machine guns, simulating real-world applications in combat

situations. The emphasis on reflexive fire and close-quarter battle training underscores the need for swift and accurate responses in close-combat environments.

1. Which of the following dignitaries attended the exercise Al Najah?
   1. Prime Minister of India
   2. Sultan of Oman
   3. Amit Narang, Indian Ambassador to Oman
   4. President of India
2. Where was the 5th edition of Exercise Al Najah conducted?
   1. Mahajan, Rajasthan, India
   2. Muscat, Oman
   3. Rabkoot Training Area, Salalah, Oman
   4. New Delhi, India
3. How often is Exercise Al Najah conducted?
   1. Annually
   2. Biennially
   3. Triennially
   4. Quadrennially
4. Which Indian Army contingent participated in Exercise Al Najah?
   1. Infantry Regiment
   2. Mechanised Infantry Regiment
   3. Artillery Regiment
   4. Air Defence Regiment
5. What was the primary aim of Exercise Al Najah?
   1. To enhance naval cooperation
   2. To improve air force capabilities
   3. To enhance joint military capability for counter-terrorism operations
   4. To conduct humanitarian aid and disaster relief operations
6. What was the focus area of Exercise Al Najah?
   1. Urban warfare
   2. Jungle warfare
   3. Mountain warfare
   4. Desert warfare
7. Which of the following is NOT a bilateral defence exercise between India and Oman?
   1. Al Najah
   2. Eastern Bridge
   3. Al Bahr
   4. Malabar
8. In which year was the first edition of Exercise Al Najah conducted
   1. 2013
   2. 2014
   3. 2015
   4. 2016
9. Which country hosted the last edition of Exercise Al Najah?
   1. Oman
   2. India
   3. Both a and b
   4. Neither a nor b

Passage:2

ISRO chairman S Somanath revealed new dates for upcoming space missions on Saturday, while delivering the Sardar Patel Memorial Lecture at Akashvani (All India Radio), reported The Indian Express. Manned space mission Gaganyaanis likely to be launched in 2026; sample return mission Chandrayaan-4 in 2028, and the much-anticipated India-US joint NISAR venture in 2025.

Chairman Somanath also disclosed that Chandrayaan-5 would be a joint moon-landing mission

with Japan space agency JAXA. Originally named LUPEX, or Lunar Polar Exploration, the time frame of this new mission was not specified but is likely after 2028. He also stated that this would be a very heavy mission - the rover on Chandrayaan-3 was only 27 kg in weight while in Chandrayaan-5 it would be 350 kg.

The Indian space body has plans of having a manned mission to the moon by 2040.

During his address at Akashvani, the ISRO chief also emphasised the need to grow India's space sector, aiming to increase its contribution on a global scale to at least 10 per cent in this decade, up from the current 2 per cent.

1. What is the primary objective of Chandrayaan-4?
   1. To orbit the Moon
   2. To soft-land on the Moon
   3. To conduct rover exploration on the Moon
   4. To return lunar samples to Earth
2. Why is the Southern polar region of the Moon of particular interest to scientists?
   1. It is the only region with water ice
   2. It has unique geological features
   3. It is the oldest region on the Moon
   4. It is the only region with constant sunlight
3. Which country successfully returned lunar samples in 2020?
   1. India
   2. China
   3. USA
   4. Russia
4. What is the primary goal of the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS)?
   1. To conduct human spaceflight missions
   2. To study the Earth's atmosphere
   3. To explore Mars
   4. To build India's own space station
5. When is India planning to launch the first part of the BAS?
   1. 2025
   2. 2028
   3. 2030
   4. 2035
6. What is the primary objective of the Venus Orbiter Mission (VOM)?
   1. To land on Venus
   2. To orbit Venus and study its atmosphere and surface
   3. To send a rover to Venus
   4. To bring back samples from Venus
7. When is the VOM scheduled to be launched?
   1. March 29, 2025
   2. March 29, 2028
   3. March 29, 2031
   4. March 29, 2034
8. How many scientific instruments will the VOM carry?
   1. 10
   2. 15
   3. 19
   4. 25
9. Which country is collaborating with India on the VISWAS instrument?
   1. USA
   2. Russia
   3. Germany
   4. Sweden
10. What is the primary goal of the RAVI instrument?
    1. To study Venus's atmosphere
    2. To study Venus's surface
    3. To study Venus's ionosphere
    4. To study Venus's magnetic field

11. What is the significance of returning lunar samples from the Southern polar region?
    1. It can provide insights into the early Solar System
    2. It can help us understand the origin of water on the Moon
    3. It can help us identify potential resources for future lunar missions
    4. All of the above
12. What is the expected duration of astronaut stays on the BAS?
    1. 5 days
    2. 10 days
    3. 15 days
    4. 20 days
13. Which rocket will be used to launch the BAS modules?
    1. PSLV
    2. GSLV Mk III
    3. SSLV
    4. None of the above
14. What is the significance of the VOM for India's space program?
    1. It will help India gain experience in interplanetary missions
    2. It will help India study a planet closer to Earth
    3. It will help India develop new technologies for space exploration
    4. All of the above
15. What is the expected launch vehicle for the VOM?
    1. PSLV
    2. GSLV Mk III
    3. SSLV
    4. None of the above
16. What was the primary objective of the Chang'e-6 mission?
    1. To orbit the Moon
    2. To soft-land on the Moon's near side
    3. To collect lunar samples from the far side of the Moon
    4. To conduct rover exploration on the Moon's near side

17. Why is the far side of the Moon often referred to as the "dark side"?
    1. It never receives sunlight
    2. It is always covered in darkness
    3. It cannot be seen from Earth
    4. It has a lower albedo than the near side
18. Which country successfully completed the Chang'e-6 mission?
    1. USA
    2. Russia
    3. India
    4. China
19. What is the significance of the Chang'e-6 mission?
    1. It was the first mission to land on the far side of the Moon
    2. It was the first mission to return lunar samples to Earth
    3. It was the first mission to collect lunar samples from the far side of the Moon
    4. It was the first mission to deploy a rover on the far side of the Moon

Passage:3

After months of uncertainty, SpaceX Dragon capsule, with NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, successfully docked at International Space Station (ISS) as part of efforts to bring back Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore. SpaceX launched the capsule on Saturday with two empty seats to accommodate Williams and Wilmore on their return journey to Earth in February 2025. Two Crew 9 astronauts-Stephanie Wilson and Zena Cardman- were removed from the mission, and the capsule was sent with supplies to replenish the ISS. “Wilmore and Williams will continue their work formally as part of the Expedition 71/72 crew

through February 2025. They will fly home aboard a Dragon spacecraft with two other crew members assigned to the agency's SpaceX Crew-9 mission,” NASA had said in a statement.

1. What was the primary goal of the Starliner mission?
   1. To resupply the ISS
   2. To conduct scientific experiments on the ISS
   3. To test the spacecraft's ability to transport astronauts to and from the ISS
   4. To repair the ISS
2. What was the main reason for the delay in the launch and subsequent mission issues?
   1. Adverse weather conditions
   2. Technical issues with the rocket
   3. Issues with a spacecraft valve
   4. Crew health concerns
3. What is the role of oxidizers in a spacecraft?
   1. To provide energy for the spacecraft
   2. To regulate temperature
   3. To aid in combustion and propulsion
   4. To protect the spacecraft from radiation
4. How long was the Starliner spacecraft originally planned to be docked to the ISS?
   1. 5 days
   2. 8 days
   3. 20 days
   4. 45 days
5. What is the significance of the Starliner mission for NASA?
   1. It provides a backup option for astronaut transportation to the ISS
   2. It helps NASA reduce its reliance on a single company for space transportation
   3. It allows NASA to focus on deep space exploration
   4. All of the above

6. What is Low Earth Orbit (LEO)?
   1. Earth-centered orbits with an altitude of 2,000 km or less
   2. Earth-centered orbits with an altitude of 10,000 km or less
   3. Earth-centered orbits with an altitude of 20,000 km or less
   4. Earth-centered orbits with an altitude of 30,000 km or less
7. Which company developed the Starliner spacecraft?
   1. SpaceX
   2. Blue Origin
   3. Boeing
   4. Northrop Grumman
8. What is the maximum number of passengers the Starliner can accommodate?
   1. 5
   2. 7
   3. 9
   4. 11
9. Which company was the first to deliver cargo to and from the ISS?
   1. SpaceX
   2. Boeing
   3. Northrop Grumman
   4. Blue Origin
10. Which company was the first to transport humans to and from the ISS?
    1. SpaceX
    2. Boeing
    3. Northrop Grumman
    4. Blue Origin
11. What was the reason for extending the stay of Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore on the ISS?
    1. To conduct additional scientific experiments
    2. To assist with the repair of the ISS
    3. To accommodate the delay in the Starliner mission
    4. To celebrate a special occasion
12. What is the maximum number of times the Starliner spacecraft can be reused?
    1. 5
    2. 7
    3. 10
    4. 15
13. Why was NASA's Commercial Crew Program initiated?
    1. To reduce the cost of spaceflight
    2. To promote commercial space exploration
    3. To ensure continued access to the ISS after the retirement of the Space Shuttle program
    4. All of the above
14. What was the launch vehicle used for the Starliner mission?
    1. Falcon 9
    2. Atlas V
    3. Delta IV Heavy
    4. Soyuz
15. Where did the Starliner spacecraft launch from?
    1. Kennedy Space Center, Florida
    2. Vandenberg Space Force Base, California
    3. Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida
    4. Wallops Flight Facility, Virginia

Passage:4

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla has been picked to fly on an upcoming Indo-US mission to the International Space Station (ISS), the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has announced. ISRO said that its Human Space Flight Centre has entered into a space flight agreement with Axiom Space Inc, USA for its Axiom-4 mission to the space station. For this, a National Mission

Assignment Board has recommended two 'Gaganyatris' as prime and backup mission pilots for this mission.

While Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla has been selected as the prime pilot, Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair has been selected as backup.

“The assigned crewmembers will be finally approved to fly to the International Space Station by the Multilateral Crew Operations Panel (MCOP). The recommended gaganyatris will commence their training for the mission from the first week of August 2024,” ISRO said in a statement.

ISRO said that in their mission, the Gaganyatris will undertake selected scientific research and technology demonstration experiments on board the ISS and engage in space outreach activities.

1. What is the name of the mission that will take an Indian astronaut to the ISS?
   1. Gaganyaan
   2. Chandrayaan-3
   3. Axiom-4
   4. SpaceX Crew Dragon
2. Which space agency is collaborating with ISRO for this mission?
   1. ESA
   2. Roscosmos
   3. JAXA
   4. NASA
3. Who is the prime astronaut selected for the mission?
   1. Rakesh Sharma
   2. Kalpana Chawla
   3. Sunita Williams
   4. Shubhanshu Shukla
4. Which company is operating the Axiom-4 mission?
   1. SpaceX
   2. Blue Origin
   3. Virgin Galactic
   4. Axiom Space

5. What is the launch vehicle for the Axiom-4 mission?
   1. Falcon 9
   2. Atlas V
   3. Delta IV Heavy
   4. Soyuz
6. How long is the planned duration of the Axiom-4 mission?
   1. 7 days
   2. 10 days
   3. 14 days
   4. 21 days
7. Which country's astronaut is also part of the Axiom-4 crew?
   1. Poland
   2. Hungary
   3. Germany
   4. France
8. What is the primary objective of the Indian astronaut's participation in the Axiom-4 mission?
   1. To conduct scientific experiments
   2. To test new technologies
   3. To gain experience in spaceflight
   4. All of the above
9. Where will the Indian astronaut undergo training for the mission?
   1. India
   2. Russia
   3. USA
   4. Japan
10. What is the significance of this mission for India's space program?
    1. It demonstrates India's growing capabilities in human spaceflight
    2. It strengthens India's international cooperation in space
    3. It provides valuable experience for future Indian human spaceflight missions
    4. All of the above

11. What is the name given to the Indian astronauts selected for the Gaganyaan program?
    1. Vyomanauts
    2. Cosmonauts
    3. Taikonauts
    4. Gaganyaatri
12. Which Indian astronaut flew to space as part of a joint Indo-Soviet mission?
    1. Rakesh Sharma
    2. Kalpana Chawla
    3. Sunita Williams
    4. None of the above
13. What is the role of Axiom Space in the Axiom-4 mission?
    1. To provide the spacecraft
    2. To organize the mission
    3. To train the astronauts
    4. To provide logistics support
14. What is the launch site for the Axiom-4 mission?
    1. Kennedy Space Center
    2. Vandenberg Space Force Base
    3. Baikonur Cosmodrome
    4. Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center
15. What is the expected outcome of the Indian astronaut's participation in the Axiom-4 mission?
    1. Increased international recognition for India's space program
    2. Valuable experience for future Indian human spaceflight missions
    3. Scientific advancements through experiments conducted on the ISS
    4. All of the above 

Passage:5

The Australian government has signed an $18-million memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Indian Space Research Organisation's (Isro's) commercial arm NewSpace India Limited (Nsil).

Under the partnership, announced in New Delhi by Australian high commissioner Philip Green on Wednesday, Australian firm Space Machines will launch a satellite inspection and observation payload aboard Isro's Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) in 2026. Rajat Kulshrestha, cofounder of Space Machines, said the payload will be the biggest Australian satellite launched to date.

S Somanath, chairman of Isro, said eventual goal is 20-30 SSLV launches a year, based on the expected demand for small satellite launch rockets.

“While Australia has partnerships with multiple nations for space ventures, we are taking our engagement with India to the next level. The partnership will lead to Australian satellites being launched into orbit from Indian soil,” Green said at the inaugural keynote at the Indian Space Congress 2024.

1. Which two organizations signed the Dedicated Launch Service Agreement?
   1. ISRO and NASA
   2. ISRO and ESA
   3. NSIL and Space Machines Company
   4. ISRO and Space Machines Company
2. What is the name of the mission that will be launched on the SSLV?
   1. Chandrayaan-3
   2. Aditya-L1
   3. Space MAITRI
   4. Gaganyaan
3. Which country is the primary partner of India in the Space MAITRI mission?
   1. USA
   2. Russia
   3. Japan
   4. Australia
4. What is the approximate weight of the Optimus spacecraft?
   1. 250 kg
   2. 350 kg
   3. 450 kg
   4. 550 kg

5. What is the primary focus of the Space MAITRI mission?
   1. Remote sensing
   2. Communication
   3. Navigation
   4. Debris management and sustainability
6. What is the full form of NSIL?
   1. National Space Innovation Limited
   2. New Space India Limited
   3. National Space Institute Limited
   4. None of the above
7. What is the primary role of NSIL?
   1. Space research
   2. Satellite development
   3. Launch vehicle development
   4. Commercialization of space technology
8. What is the approximate weight-carrying capacity of the SSLV to low Earth orbit?
   1. 200 kg
   2. 300 kg
   3. 400 kg
   4. 500 kg
9. What is the advantage of the SSLV over other launch vehicles?
   1. Higher payload capacity
   2. Lower cost
   3. Greater reliability
   4. Faster launch turnaround time
10. Which ISRO launch vehicle has a higher payload capacity than the SSLV?
    1. GSLV Mk III
    2. PSLV
    3. SSLV-D2
    4. None of the above

11. What is the significance of the Space MAITRI mission for India?
    1. It strengthens India's position as a major space power
    2. It promotes international cooperation in space exploration
    3. It demonstrates India's capability in launching commercial satellites
    4. All of the above
12. What is the primary purpose of the Optimus spacecraft?
    1. Earth observation
    2. Communication
    3. Navigation
    4. Technology demonstration
13. Which organization is responsible for developing the SSLV?
    1. ISRO
    2. DRDO
    3. NSIL
    4. Antrix Corporation
14. What is the approximate time taken to assemble the SSLV?
    1. 24 hours
    2. 48 hours
    3. 72 hours
    4. 96 hours
15. What is the significance of the Space MAITRI mission for Australia?
    1. It strengthens Australia's space capabilities
    2. It promotes international cooperation in space exploration
    3. It provides a platform for Australian researchers to conduct experiments in space
    4. All of the above
16. What is the role of NSIL in the Space MAITRI mission?
    1. To design and develop the spacecraft
    2. To provide launch services
    3. To conduct ground operations
    4. To analyze mission data
17. What is the significance of the first commercial launch of the SSLV?
    1. It demonstrates the commercial viability of the SSLV
    2. It opens up new opportunities for ISRO to generate revenue
    3. It strengthens India's position as a global leader in small satellite launch services
    4. All of the above
18. What is the potential impact of the Space MAITRI mission on future Indo-Australian space collaborations?
    1. Increased cooperation in space science and technology
    2. Joint development of future space missions
    3. Sharing of expertise and resources
    4. All of the above