The syllabus of UPSC Prelims examination is vast and diverse. The syllabus of UPSC Prelims exam for general subjects like History, Geography, Economics, Polity, General sciences and CSAT (aptitude) is well defined. The Current affairs segment which is undefined and dynamic is ​ emerging as an inevitable part of the UPSC exam. In this context, candidates have to concentrate on both traditional and current affairs areas.

Defence is an important and dynamic segment in UPSC Syllabus. The commission has asked ​ ​ several questions related to the launch, its type, etc. According to recent trends, UPSC tends to ask factual questions more than conceptual ones. This has put the candidates into a great pressure as they cannot predict the pattern of questions. To tackle the factual questions, it is essential to know about several facts and figures. Defence is an important area in UPSC Mains and Prelims examination.

To know more about other Government exams, refer to the linked article. ​ ​ Category of Important Indian :

● Surface-To-Air Missiles ● Air-to-air missiles ● Surface-to-surface missiles ● Defence (BMD)/Interceptor Missiles ● Cruise Missiles ● Submarine Launched Ballistic Missiles ● Anti-Tank Missiles

The below table gives the list of important Missiles which are used by or they are currently at different stages of development:

Air-to-air Name of the Type of Operation Speed ​ missiles Missile Missile al Range

MICA Air-to-Air 500 m to Mach 4 Missiles 80 km

Astra Missile Air-to-Air 80-110 km Mach 4.5 + Missiles

Novator K-100 Medium 300–400 Mach 3.3 Range km air-to-air missile Short-Range 9 km There were problems in this Surface-T surface to air missile as it could not hit its o-Air missile targets. Hence, this Missiles programme was officially closed in 2008 by the Ministry of Defence (MoD). This missile was not inducted by the Indian Armed Forces. , decided to import Barak Missiles from .

Akash Missile Medium-range -1S Mach 2.5 to 3.5 (There are 3 surface-to-air (18 - 30 Variants at missile Km) Akash different stages Mk-II (35 - of development 40 Km) - Akash-1S, Akash-NG Akash Mark-II, (More than Akash-NG) 50 Km)

Barak 8 Long-Range 100 km Mach 2 surface to air Missile

Surface-to -I Medium-range 700-1250 Mach 7.5 -surface ballistic km Missiles missile

Agni-II Intermediate-r 2,000–3,00 Mach 12 ange ballistic 0 km missile

Agni-III Intermediate-r Around 5–6 km/s ange ballistic 3,000 km missile

Agni-IV Intermediate-r Around Mach 7 ange ballistic 4,000 km missile

Agni-V Intercontinent Around Mach 24 al ballistic 5,000 km missile I Short-Range 150 km - Ballistic Missile

Prithvi II Short-Range 350 km - Ballistic Missile

Dhanush Short-Range 350 – 600 - Ballistic km Missile

Shaurya Medium-Rang 750 to - e Ballistic 1,900 km Missile

Prahaar Short-Range 150 km - Ballistic Missile

Cruise BrahMos Supersonic 290 km Mach 2.8 to 3 Mach Missiles

BrahMos II Hypersonic 450 - 600 Mach 7 cruise missile km

Nirbhay Subsonic 1,000 - Mach 0.8 cruise missile 1500 km

Ballistic Prithvi Air Exo-atmosphe Altitude - Mach 5+ Missile Defence (PAD) ric 80 km Defence Anti-ballistic (BMD) missile Systems / Intercepto Prithvi Defence Exo-atmosphe Altitude - Mach 4.5 r Missiles Vehicle (PDV) ric 150 km Anti-ballistic missile

Advanced Air Endoatmosph Altitude - Defence (AAD) eric 30 km /Ashwin Ballistic Anti-ballistic Missile missile Interceptor

Submarin e Launched Ballistic Missiles (K-15) Ballistic Around 750 Missile Km

K-4 Ballistic Around Missile 3,000 km

K-5 Ballistic Around Missile 5,000 km

Amogha Anti-Tank 2.8 km Anti-Tank Guided Missile Missile

Nag Anti-Tank 500 m - 4 230 m/s Guided km Missile

Helina Anti-Tank 7 - 10 km Guided Missile

List of Missiles of India is an important static GK topic. For information on various static GK ​ topics check the article linked here. ​

Important Facts - Missiles in India ​ 1. The Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP) was launched in 1983. 2. This program was launched with an agenda to develop five missile systems in the country - Trishul, Akash, , Prithvi, and Agni. 3. who is an Indian scientist and Director General of Aeronautical Systems and the former Project Director for Agni-IV missile in Defence Research and Development Organisation(DRDO) is known as the 'Missile Woman' of India. 4. Prithvi was the first Indian single staged liquid-fuelled surface-to-surface Missile.