India-Russia & Israel Relations — Set 4
International Relations · भारत-रूस और इजरायल संबंध · Questions 31–40 of 140
Russia is India's largest defence supplier historically. Approximately what percentage of India's defence imports have come from Russia?
Correct Answer: C. 60-65%
Historically, Russia (and before it the Soviet Union) has supplied approximately 60-65% of India's defence imports, making it by far the largest single source of military equipment. India's arsenal includes Russian-origin aircraft (Su-30MKI, MiG-29), submarines, frigates, tanks (T-90), and missiles. However, India has been actively diversifying its defence procurement to reduce this dependence.
The Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant is located in which district of Tamil Nadu?
Correct Answer: B. Tirunelveli
The Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant is located in Tirunelveli district, at the southernmost tip of Tamil Nadu. It is the single largest nuclear power station in India with an eventual planned capacity of 6,000 MW across six units. The plant has faced protests from local fishing communities over safety concerns, but has been operational since 2013 and contributes significantly to Tamil Nadu and southern India's power grid.
Israel has a strong cybersecurity industry. India-Israel cybersecurity cooperation involves:
Correct Answer: B. Joint cybersecurity research, technology sharing, and training
India-Israel cybersecurity cooperation includes joint research through the India-Israel Industrial R&D and Technological Innovation Fund (I4F), technology sharing, training of Indian cybersecurity professionals in Israel, and cooperation between national cybersecurity agencies. Israel is a global leader in cybersecurity, with companies like Check Point, CyberArk, and Checkpoint, and shares its expertise with India. The two countries have also collaborated on critical infrastructure protection.
The Iron Dome missile defence system belongs to Israel. Has India sought to procure or develop a similar system?
Correct Answer: B. India is developing an indigenous system (Kusha/Project XRSAM)
India has not procured Iron Dome directly but has been developing its own indigenous air defence system — the Extended Range Surface-to-Air Missile (XRSAM), also referred to as Project Kusha — with DRDO as the lead agency. Additionally, India has procured the Israeli SPYDER quick-reaction air defence system. The S-400 from Russia provides longer-range air defence. India thus has a layered air defence strategy.
Russia's Rosatom is involved in nuclear cooperation with India. Apart from Kudankulam, what future nuclear cooperation has been discussed?
Correct Answer: B. Building six more nuclear plants at a new site
Russia's Rosatom and India's DAE (Department of Atomic Energy) have discussions about building six additional nuclear reactors at a new site in India beyond the six Kudankulam units. The two countries signed a framework agreement for future nuclear cooperation extending to multiple sites. Russia has been India's most reliable partner in civilian nuclear power development, helping India navigate the post-Pokhran isolation and the nuclear non-proliferation regime.
The Su-30MKI fighter aircraft, the mainstay of the Indian Air Force, is manufactured under license in India by:
Correct Answer: A. HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited)
The Sukhoi Su-30MKI is manufactured under license in India by HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited) at its facilities in Nashik, Maharashtra, and Ojhar. India has a contract for 272 Su-30MKI aircraft, making it the largest fleet of this variant in any air force. HAL also undertakes maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) of these aircraft and is upgrading them with Indian-made systems.
France's role as a bridge between India and the European Union is important. India launched trade negotiations with the EU in which year?
Correct Answer: D. 2022
India and the European Union relaunched negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA, now termed India-EU Trade and Investment Agreement) in 2022, after talks stalled in 2013. France, as a key EU member, has played a role in facilitating India-EU engagement. The India-EU strategic partnership covers trade, investment, climate, digital, and connectivity — with the EU being India's largest trading partner bloc.
India and Israel jointly produce which agricultural technology that has transformed water-scarce farming?
Correct Answer: B. Drip irrigation, micro-irrigation systems, and protected cultivation through Centres of Excellence
India and Israel jointly promote drip irrigation, micro-irrigation systems, and protected cultivation (poly-houses, net-houses) through the network of Centres of Excellence in Agriculture established under bilateral cooperation. These centres demonstrate Israeli agro-technologies adapted for Indian conditions, benefiting farmers in water-scarce states. The I-CARE (Indo-Israel Centre for Agricultural Research and Education) initiative also supports this cooperation.
Russia's GLONASS navigation system is a counterpart to America's GPS. India cooperates with Russia on GLONASS and has its own indigenous navigation system called:
Correct Answer: B. NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation)
India's indigenous navigation satellite system is NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation), formerly called IRNSS (Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System). NavIC provides positioning services for India and surrounding regions up to 1,500 km beyond its borders. India has cooperated with Russia on GLONASS integration and also works on inter-operability between NavIC and other global navigation systems including GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo.
Israel's Spike ATGM was a contentious procurement in India. Some procurement decisions favoured domestic production (Nag ATGM). What is Nag?
Correct Answer: B. India's indigenous third-generation anti-tank guided missile developed by DRDO
Nag is India's indigenous third-generation, fire-and-forget anti-tank guided missile developed by DRDO as part of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP). The helicopter-launched version is called Helina (Helicopter-launched Nag), and the man-portable version is MPATGM. India's procurement of Spike ATGMs alongside Nag development reflects the challenge of balancing self-reliance with operational readiness timelines.