UPSC Prelims 2015 · Question 71 of 98

UPSC Prelims 2015 question on Indian Remote Sensing Satellites

In which of the following activities are Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) satellites used?

1. Assessment of crop productivity

2. Locating groundwater resources

3. Mineral exploration

4. Telecommunications

5. Traffic studies

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

  1. 1, 2 and 3 only
  2. 4 and 5 only
  3. 1 and 2 only
  4. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
Show answer

Answer: A. 1, 2 and 3 only

Verdict

The answer is 1, 2 and 3 only. Indian Remote Sensing satellites are used for crop assessment, groundwater location and mineral exploration, but not for telecommunications.

Analysis

Statements 1, 2 and 3 are CORRECT. The IRS series is designed for monitoring and management of natural resources, which covers crop productivity assessment, location of groundwater resources, mineral exploration and disaster management support. Statement 4 is INCORRECT. Telecommunications, television broadcasting and meteorological services are provided by the geostationary INSAT system, which is the other arm of the Indian space programme. Statement 5, traffic studies, does not fall within the operational uses described for the IRS constellation in the standard source.

Source

ISRO material on satellite applications.

How to crack it

Split the Indian space programme into its two operational systems and let orbit type do the reasoning. Geostationary satellites stay above one point and are therefore used for communication and broadcasting, which is INSAT and GSAT. Sun synchronous polar orbiting satellites sweep the surface repeatedly and are therefore used for resource survey, which is IRS and Cartosat. Once you attach function to orbit, telecommunication can never belong to a remote sensing series.

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