Wars: 1971 & Kargil — Set 8
Defence GK · युद्ध: 1971 और कारगिल · Questions 71–80 of 200
Which naval base was targeted by India during Operation Trident and Operation Python in the 1971 war?
Correct Answer: C. Karachi
Karachi naval base and its harbour were the primary targets of both Operation Trident (December 4-5) and Operation Python (December 8-9) during the 1971 war. The attacks destroyed fuel storage facilities and naval vessels. Karachi's fuel supply was severely disrupted, with fires burning for several weeks.
The Battle of Basantar in the 1971 war involved a significant tank battle in which sector?
Correct Answer: B. Punjab sector
The Battle of Basantar was fought in the Punjab sector during December 1971. It involved a major tank battle where Indian Army Centurion tanks fought Pakistani Pattons. Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal of Poona Horse was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra for his bravery in this battle.
The town of Drass in Kargil is known as the second coldest inhabited place on earth. At what approximate temperature does it freeze in winter?
Correct Answer: C. −45°C
Drass in the Kargil district experiences temperatures as low as -45°C (-49°F) in winter, making it the second coldest inhabited place on Earth after Oymyakon in Russia. These extreme conditions made military operations there exceptionally difficult. Indian soldiers fighting in Kargil faced both enemy fire and severe weather.
Which Pakistani General planned and executed the Kargil intrusion strategy?
Correct Answer: A. Gen Pervez Musharraf
General Pervez Musharraf, then Chief of Army Staff of Pakistan, is widely considered the architect of the Kargil intrusion. He reportedly planned Operation Badr without fully informing Pakistani PM Nawaz Sharif. Musharraf later staged a coup in October 1999, becoming Pakistan's military ruler.
In the 1971 war, the Indian Navy's Eastern Fleet was commanded by which admiral?
Correct Answer: B. Vice Admiral N Krishnan
Vice Admiral N Krishnan commanded the Eastern Naval Command during the 1971 war. Under his command, INS Vikrant enforced the blockade of East Pakistan. The Eastern Fleet's operations were crucial in preventing Pakistani naval vessels from reaching East Pakistan.
Post the Balakot airstrike, Pakistan also conducted airstrikes in India. In the aerial dogfight, India claimed to have shot down which Pakistani aircraft?
Correct Answer: C. F-16 Falcon
India claimed that Wing Commander Abhinandan shot down a Pakistani F-16 Fighting Falcon using an R-73 air-to-air missile during the February 27, 2019 aerial engagement. Pakistan denied losing an F-16. The USA later conducted an inventory check of Pakistan's F-16 fleet amid the controversy.
The Indian Army's 'Op Vijay' in Kargil used which famous mountain warfare tactic of frontal assault rather than flanking?
Correct Answer: C. It was forced to use frontal assaults due to terrain and LoC restrictions
Indian forces were constrained to use frontal assaults on Pakistani-held peaks because flanking manoeuvres would require crossing the Line of Control into Pakistani territory. The government imposed strict restrictions to prevent escalation. This made operations extremely difficult and costly in terms of casualties.
Which IAF base in Srinagar was attacked by Pakistani jets on December 3, 1971, triggering India's full-scale entry into the war?
Correct Answer: C. Srinagar Air Force Station
Pakistan launched pre-emptive strikes on multiple Indian airbases on December 3, 1971, including Srinagar, Ambala, Pathankot, and others. These strikes triggered India's formal declaration of war. PM Indira Gandhi addressed the nation that same evening, announcing India was at war.
The Subedar Major Bana Singh was awarded the Param Vir Chakra for an action related to which glacier?
Correct Answer: B. Siachen Glacier
Subedar (later Honorary Captain) Bana Singh of 8 JAK LI was awarded the Param Vir Chakra for capturing Pakistani post 'Quaid' on the Siachen Glacier in 1987. He led his patrol up a near-vertical ice wall and overpowered the Pakistani garrison. The post was renamed 'Bana Top' in his honour.
When was the first Kargil War's Tiger Hill recaptured? Identify the correct date.
Correct Answer: B. July 4, 1999
Tiger Hill was recaptured by the Indian Army (8 Sikh Regiment and 18 Grenadiers) on July 4, 1999. The recapture was a major tactical and psychological victory in the Kargil War. It came after intense fighting at extreme altitudes and was heavily covered by Indian media.