Defence – Fill in the Blank – GK Questions

Q: Admiral Krishna Swaminathan commanded the ___, which is referred to as the Sword Arm of the Indian Navy.

Western Fleet – Admiral Swaminathan commanded the Western Fleet, which holds the strategic designation as the Sword Arm of the Indian Navy. This was one of his key operational appointments during his career.

Q: India follows a ___ nuclear doctrine, meaning it will not use nuclear weapons first in any conflict.

No First Use – India's nuclear doctrine is based on 'No First Use' (NFU) — India will not be the first to use nuclear weapons, but will respond with massive retaliation if attacked with nuclear weapons.

Q: The Indian Coast Guard operates under the ___ Ministry.

Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways – The Indian Coast Guard is under the administrative control of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (not the Ministry of Defence), though it works closely with the Navy.

Q: India's DRDO successfully tested the ___ hypersonic missile in November 2024, a breakthrough in hypersonic weapons technology.

Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle – DRDO tested a long-range hypersonic missile based on the Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV) in November 2024, marking a major leap in India's defence capabilities.

Q: India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is headquartered in ___.

New Delhi – DRDO's headquarters is in New Delhi. It has 52 laboratories across India working on various defence technologies including missiles, aircraft, electronics, and materials.

Q: According to NATO in May 2026, ________ reckless behaviour is a danger to all member states.

Russia's – NATO's characterisation of Russian actions as 'reckless' and dangerous reflects the alliance's heightened concern over Moscow's military activities near member states' borders. Such incidents involving drones or aircraft violations have become a recurring security challenge for eastern European NATO members since regional tensions escalated.

Q: Under the proposed US-Iran deal, the fragile ceasefire would be extended by ________ days.

60 – The tentative agreement between the US and Iran proposes extending the existing fragile ceasefire by 60 days. This extension would provide time for new negotiations focused on Iran's disputed nuclear programme, indicating diplomatic efforts to resolve the long-standing conflict.