India's Space Security Strategy
Science & Technology
- PYQs8
- Articles1
Background
This concept is directly relevant to India's national security, strategic autonomy, and its policy responses to geopolitical challenges in the space domain. It covers technological self-reliance, international cooperation, and defense preparedness.
India's space security strategy encompasses a range of policy and technological measures aimed at protecting its vital space assets from adversarial threats, enhancing resilience, and maintaining strategic deterrence in the face of evolving counter-space capabilities by other nations.
Facts & tables
- Vulnerability
- Limited satellite redundancy (approx. 60 operational satellites) compared to adversaries, making India more susceptible to losses.
- Threats
- Potential for peacetime harassment (lasing), jamming (e.g., NavIC system), or hard-kill attacks on critical satellites (e.g., CARTOSAT/RISAT series).
- Resilience Measures
- Expanding the domestic space industry, disaggregating large satellite constellations, strengthening ground asset protection, and enhancing data-sharing with strategic partners.
- Deterrence
- Mission Shakti (India's ASAT test) has strengthened deterrence, but India still lacks co-orbital capabilities and needs to define clear red lines for proportionate response.
| Type | Reference |
|---|---|
| Conceptual area | International Relations |
| Conceptual area | Science & Technology |
| Body | Role |
|---|---|
| Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) | Develops and launches satellites, key player in india's space program and technological self-reliance |
Prelims angle
Prelims angle: Multi-statement analysis
Prelims angle: Conceptual understanding
- India's vulnerability stems from limited satellite redundancy.
- Strategies include expanding industry and disaggregating constellations.
- Protection of ground assets and data sharing are vital.
- Mission Shakti strengthens deterrence but has limitations.
- Need for co-orbital capabilities and clear red lines.
| Year | Framing tags |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall |
| 2023 | Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall |
| 2019 | Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding |
| 2018 | Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding |
| 2017 | Factual recall, Purpose or function of a policy tool |
| 2016 | Statement-based questions, Factual recall |
| 2015 | Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall |
| 2014 | Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall |
Timeline
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International Relations
Conceptual area
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Science & Technology
Conceptual area
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Prelims 2014
Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
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Prelims 2015
Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
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Prelims 2016
Statement-based questions, Factual recall
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Prelims 2017
Factual recall, Purpose or function of a policy tool
-
Prelims 2018
Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding
-
Prelims 2019
Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding
-
Prelims 2023
Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
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Prelims 2025
Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
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Orbital rivalry — the challenge of China’s space power
India's space security strategy focuses on building resilience against counter-space threats through industrial expansion, disaggregated satellite constellations, robust ground infrastructure, and international data-sharing, while also leveraging capabilities like Mission Shakti for deterrence and defining clear red lines.
See also
No related topics linked yet.
Past papers
2014–2025 · 8 questions
In the news
Orbital rivalry — the challenge of China’s space power
India's space security strategy focuses on building resilience against counter-space threats through industrial expansion, disaggregated satellite constellations, robust ground infrastructure, and international data-sharing, while also leveraging capabilities like Mission Shakti for deterrence and defining clear red lines.
Try these PYQs
For the measurement/estimation of which of the following are satellite images/remote sensing data used?
1. Chlorophyll content in the vegetation of a specific location
2. Greenhouse gas emissions from rice paddies of a specific location
3. Land surface temperatures of a specific location
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Remote sensing is the process of detecting and monitoring the physical characteristics of an area by measuring its reflected and emitted radiation at a distance from the targeted area. Statement 1 is correct. Satellite images and remote sensing data can indeed be used to estimate the chlorophyll content in vegetation. This is done by measuring the reflectance of light from the vegetation. The chlorophyll in plants absorbs light for photosynthesis, and the amount of light reflected back can give an estimate of the chlorophyll content. Statement 2 is correct. Satellite images and remote sensing data can also be used to estimate greenhouse gas emissions. This is done by detecting the radiations emitted by the substances in the rice paddies. Statement 3 is correct. Satellite images and remote sensing data can be used to measure land surface temperatures as well. This is done by detecting the infrared radiation emitted by the land surface. Therefore, all three parameters can be measured or estimated using satellite images or remote sensing data.
With reference to ‘Astrosat’, the astronomical observatory launched by India, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. Other than the USA and Russia, India is the only country to have launched a similar observatory into space.
2. Astrosat is a 2000 kg satellite placed in an orbit at 1650 km above the surface of the Earth.
Statement 1 is incorrect: AstroSat is India's first dedicated multi-wavelength space observatory aimed at studying celestial sources in X-ray, optical and UV spectral bands simultaneously. India is the 5th country to join the space observatory elite list after the USA, Russia, Japan, and Europe. Statement 2 is incorrect: AstroSat with a lift-off mass of about 1513 kg was launched into a 650 km orbit inclined at an angle of 6 degrees to the equator by PSLV-C30. Therefore, option D is the correct answer.
Consider the following phenomena :
1. Light is affected by gravity.
2. The Universe is constantly expanding.
3. Matter warps its surrounding space-time.
Which of the above is/are the prediction/predictions of Albert Einstein's General Theory of Relativity, often discussed in media?
Statement 1 is correct: According to Einstein's General Theory of Relativity, gravity can bend light. This phenomenon is known as gravitational lensing. Statement 2 is correct: The General Theory of Relativity led to the prediction of an expanding universe, which has been confirmed by observational evidence. Statement 3 is correct: According to the General Theory of Relativity, the presence of matter and energy warps the fabric of space and time around it, which is the underlying cause of the gravitational force. So, all three statements are correct.
Which of the following pair is/are correctly matched?
|Spacecraft|Purpose|
|-- |--|
|1. Cassini-Huygens | Orbiting Venus and transmitting data to the Earth|
|2. Messenger|Mapping and investigating the Mercury|
|3. Voyager 1 and 2 | Exploring the outer solar system|
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Pair 1 is incorrectly matched: The Cassini-Huygens mission was a joint NASA/ESA/ASI mission to study the planet Saturn and its system of rings and moons. The Huygens probe successfully landed on Saturn's largest moon, Titan. Pair 2 is correctly matched: The MESSENGER (MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry, and Ranging) was a NASA spacecraft that orbited the planet Mercury from 2011 to 2015, studying its chemical composition, geology, and magnetic field. Pair 3 is correctly matched: These twin NASA spacecraft were launched in 1977 to conduct a "Grand Tour" of the outer planets. They provided detailed images and data on Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune and are now continuing their journey into interstellar space.
Consider the following space missions:
I. Axiom-4
II. SpaDeX
III. Gaganyaan
How many of the space missions given above encourage and support micro-gravity research?
✅ I. Axiom-4: Correct
Axiom-4 is a private crewed ISS mission focused on micro-gravity research through scientific experiments. ✅ II. SpaDeX: Correct
SpaDeX, ISRO’s autonomous docking tech demo, also supports micro-gravity research during its mission. ✅ III. Gaganyaan: Correct
India’s first human spaceflight, Gaganyaan, promotes micro-gravity research by enabling experiments in space. Therefore, all three missions support and encourage micro-gravity research.
Show 3 more PYQs
Consider the following pairs :
Objects in space: Description
1. Cepheids: Giant clouds of dust and gas in space
2. Nebulae: Stars which brighten and dim periodically
3. Pulsars: Neutron stars that are formed when massive stars run out of fuel and collapse
How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?
* Pair 1 is incorrect: Cepheids are actually stars that brighten and dim periodically, not giant clouds of dust and gas. * Pair 2 is incorrect: Nebulae are giant clouds of dust and gas in space, not stars that brighten and dim periodically. Thus, the first two pairs are reversed. * Pair 3 is correct: Pulsars are rapidly rotating neutron stars that are formed when massive stars exhaust their fuel and collapse. * So out of the 3 pairs given, only 1 pair (pair 3) is correctly matched.
What is the purpose of ‘evolved Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (eLISA)’ project?
Gravitational waves are ripples in the fabric of spacetime, predicted by Einstein's theory of general relativity. eLISA is a space-based gravitational wave observatory that can detect and study these gravitational waves. It is a joint project of the European Space Agency (ESA) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). eLISA is designed to detect gravitational waves from astronomical sources such as merging black holes and neutron stars. It would use laser interferometry to measure the tiny distortions in spacetime caused by passing gravitational waves. Detecting gravitational waves would provide important insights into the nature of gravity and the evolution of the universe.
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
Assessment of crop productivity: IRS satellites capture data that helps assess crop health, growth stage, and potential yield.
Locating groundwater resources: Remote sensing allows for studying geological features and identifying potential zones with underground water reserves.
Mineral exploration: IRS data can reveal signatures of specific minerals on the Earth's surface, aiding in mineral exploration activities.
Telecommunications: IRS satellites are not designed for telecommunication purposes. Geostationary satellites are typically used for this function.
Traffic studies: While remote sensing can be used for some traffic studies (e.g., analyzing transportation infrastructure), it's not the primary application of IRS satellites. Therefore, only 1,2 and 3 are primary applications of IRS satellites.