UPSC PYQ Analysis: 10-Year Trend of Defense Technology

The UPSC Prelims is seen to be setting stage for the new and more complex sector of defense technology and innovations especially in the past decade. Defense science and technology now include such subjects as indigenous missile systems, fighter aircraft, international missile defense systems, and space-based weapon platforms, so forced upon the candidate is not simply static knowledge but awareness of strategic technology development.

Between 2015 and 2025, at least one to three questions per year have touched upon military innovations, satellite systems, advanced propulsion, or emerging dual-use technologies. This trend conforms to India’s great focus of audacious and independent defense production, as well as on geopolitical importance of modern warfare tools: drones, hypersonic missiles, electronic warfare, and navigation systems.

Why, thus, does UPSC focus more on defence technology? What topics recur year after year? Which are most likely to be asked in the future? This blog will decode the 10-year trends seen in UPSC PYQs related to defence science and technology, analyze the kind of carpet upon which UPSC dances, and throw in some strategic insights of preparation to place aspirants in a more intelligent position.

From 2016-2025 , Science & Technology questions has seen a significant jump in weightage numbers in UPSC prelims, usually having 10-15% of total questions.In the graph below, we observe the number of S&T questions staying fairly significant throughout, peaking at 14-15 questions in 2019 and 2022. What is even more interesting, however, is Defence Technology gaining a larger share in this section—a trend accentuated since 2018, with 3 defence-tech questions recorded in 2023 and 2024 (second graph).

What is even more interesting, however, is Defence Technology gaining a larger share in this section—a trend accentuated since 2018, with 3 defence-tech questions recorded in 2023 and 2024.

This underlines UPSC’s newly evolving focus on dynamic and current affairs-Girl technologies, especially those connected with national security and strategic innovation. Such topics have included hypersonic missiles (FOBS), 5th-generation fighter jets, radar applications, and advanced explosive compounds like CL-20—topics that merge conceptual clarity with an understanding of recent global developments.

The following PDF will enable aspirants to decode these patterns and strategically prepare: 10 years of Science & Tech PYQs (including Defence Tech):

Why UPSC Asks Defence Technology Questions?

The evolution of Defence Technology has expanded beyond scientific and military circles to become essential for national protection and international relations and technological independence and strategic operations. The UPSC Prelims has added defence technology questions because it needs future civil servants to be familiar with the latest military developments and their policy ramifications.

1. Civil Servants’ Jobs

The professional duties of IAS and IPS officers and IFS and Defence Estates personnel frequently involve tasks relating to defence procurement and border control and military planning and intelligence agency coordination. Knowledge of ballistic missile technologies and surveillance technologies and fighter aircraft platforms enables them to participate effectively in inter-ministerial activities and policy formulation and crisis management operations.

2. National Security Relevance

Under the “Make in India” and “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” programs DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation) together with HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited) and the Ministry of Defence (MoD) advance indigenous innovations. The strategic platforms including Agni series missiles and Tejas MK‑1 and Dornier-228 directly affect India’s defense capabilities thus making them important for UPSC to evaluate institutional achievements and national security awareness.

3. India in the Global Military Tech Race

India continues its active development of defense technology through acquiring Rafale jets and S-400 missile systems while building hypersonic weapons and AI-based defense systems and fifth-generation fighter aircrafts. The UPSC requires candidates to understand technical developments along with their geopolitical effects regarding India’s relationships with Russia and the United States and regional adversaries.

4. Tech-Security Diplomacy

The India-Russia S-400 contract along with the India-France Rafale agreement and the India–Philippines BrahMos export demonstrate how technological aspects meet security needs and diplomatic relations. The strategic value of these platforms must be understood by civil servants working in policy making and foreign service and trade and UPSC tests this through specific questions in Prelims.

Year-Wise Defence Tech PYQ Analysis

➤ CL‑20, HMX, LLM‑105 (2025)

Source: These high-energy military explosives serve as precision munition components. Also, in the review report Council of Scientific and Industrial Research released by PIB in Dec 2024 also became one of the reason for UPSC asking this question.

Context: The High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL) under DRDO in Pune produces CL‑20 which stands as the strongest non-nuclear explosive material.

Why it appeared: The media became interested in DRDO’s ‘Indian CL‑20‘ because of recent developments and official statements which led UPSC to include questions about new military technology in their exams.

➤ Dornier‑228 , C‑17 – Aircraft Classification (2025)

Source: Dornier‑228 operates as a maritime patrol and surveillance aircraft for both Navy and Coast Guard services . The aircraft types IL‑76 and C‑17 Globemaster III function as transport planes for strategic airlift missions.

Context: DRDO showcased new sensor systems named ‘Shyen’ for Dornier‑228 during Aero India 2025 it revealed upgrades which demonstrate government focus on platform modernization.

Why it appeared: The topic connects directly to governmental efforts for enhancing maritime domain monitoring and showcasing national defense capabilities therefore it stands as a relevant UPSC subjectFifth-Gen Fighter Query: Rafale, MiG‑29, Tejas MK‑1 (2024)

➤ Fifth-Gen Fighter Query: Rafale, MiG‑29, Tejas MK‑1 (2024)

Source: The official Air Force and MoD databases confirm that none of these aircraft meet the criteria for fifth-generation fighter status.

Context: The inquiry tests candidates’ understanding about fighter classification while steering them away from making predictions regarding India’s future LCA‑Mk2 or 5th-gen programs.

Why it appeared: The UPSC designed a question to improve conceptual understanding instead of testing particular platform details because government discussions about native versus imported aircraft persist.

➤ Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators (RTGs) (2024)

Source: RTGs function as spacecraft power units which employ Plutonium‑238. This plutonium-238 is an important part of India’s nuclear energy four stage process.

Context: ISRO’s 2021 request for a 100 W RTG together with BARC’s RTG advancement received media attention as well as think tank analysis. In addition to that , In PIB’s Year End Review of the Department of Atomic Energy mentioned about BARC and about this topic.

Why it appeared: The UPSC assessed knowledge of modern space power technology through RTGs because India is intensifying its deep-space expedition efforts.

➤ Radar Applications (Prelims 2024)

Source: Radar serves multiple purposes including narcotics detection along with weather monitoring and wildlife tracking; however one of these uses is false.

Context: The increasing deployment of radar technology in civilian and environmental applications stands out as a key focus in projects implemented by MoES and law enforcement agencies.

Why it appeared: The test included this question because UPSC wants students to show their knowledge about how technology works in different real-world situations.

➤ Ballistic vs Cruise, Missile Typologies (2023)

Source: The ballistic missiles operate through rocket propulsion while cruise missiles use jet propulsion; BrahMos functions as a cruise missile and Agni-V operates as a ballistic missile. The article clarifies that ballistic missiles operate through rocket propulsion while cruise missiles use jet propulsion; BrahMos functions as a cruise missile and Agni-V operates as a ballistic missile.

Context: BrahMos completed 25 years in 2023 and after media’s attention on missile tests and new systems like hypersonic Agni, UPSC corrected typology confusion.

Why it appeared: Testing conceptual clarity.

➤ Satellite Navigation Systems (2023)

Source: Japan maintains the QZSS system as its satellite navigation service and India too launched Indeginous chip for NavIC based satellite which was addressed in THE Hindu.

Context: The UPSC highlighted the need for comparative knowledge of IRNSS/NavIC and other global systems because India focuses on them.

Why it appeared: The need for comparative understanding of GNSS emerges because India incorporates regional navigation systems into geopolitical and defense strategies.

➤ FOBS – Fractional Orbit Bombardment System (2022)

Source: The FOBS concept represents an orbital missile system which deploys its payload through Earth reentry. In 2021, China and North Korea flight tested these missiles having FOBS.

Context: The media spotlight on FOBS intensified after China conducted tests and DPRK made statements which elevated public recognition of strategic risks.

Why it appeared: UPSC wanted to test how students relate technological progress like hypersonics and space weapons to strategic doctrine.

➤ THAAD & IRNSS (2018)

Source: The United States operates THAAD as a missile defence system . The IRNSS system consists of geostationary and geosynchronous satellites which provide coverage across India and approximately 5,500 kilometers.

Context: Media coverage about India–US defence ties including THAAD donation discussions and NavIC regional rollout and agricultural and weather applications. And in 2017, South Korea got THAAD deliveries from USA.

Why it appeared: To assess aspirants’ knowledge regarding important defence systems from abroad and indigenous satellite navigation technology.

Topic-Wise Categorization of Defence PYQs

• Missile Systems & Ballistic Defence
• Aircrafts & Fighter Jets (LCA Tejas, Rafale, etc.)
• Space-based Defence & Satellites
• AI, Robotics, and Cybersecurity in Warfare
• Advanced Materials & Explosives (e.g., CL-20, composites)
• International Tech Collaborations (e.g., S-400, BrahMos)

Key Reasons Behind the Rising Trend of Defence Questions

• India’s growing defence expenditure combined with domestic production growth
• News coverage of DRDO and ISRO and HAL accomplishments
• Geopolitical disputes together with technological warfare including the Russia-Ukraine conflict and Israel wars
• The defence sector advances alongside Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat programmes.

Best Sources to Prepare Defence Tech for UPSC

Conclusion

UPSC examinations have demonstrated a steady pattern of evaluating candidates through essential defence innovations over the past ten years according to this analysis. The testing pattern demonstrates both India’s strategic focus and the Commission’s dedication to developing practical understanding of defence innovation including missile systems and navigation technology and military-grade explosives and aircraft capabilities.

The requirement remains specific: Candidates need to connect traditional science and technology concepts with present-day defence innovations which include hypersonic missiles like FOBS and nuclear-capable aircraft and IRNSS navigation satellites.