UPSC CSE Prelims
Question 43
In which of the following activities are Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) satellites used?
- Assessment of crop productivity
- Locating groundwater resources
- Mineral exploration
- Telecommunications
- Traffic studies
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
View correct answer and explanation
Correct answer: A
Correct Option: A
Explanation: Indian remote-sensing satellites supply imagery for agriculture, water-resource mapping and mineral prospecting; the other listed applications are not their core IRS uses in this question.
Statement/Pair-wise Analysis:
Statement/Item 1: Correct - Satellite imagery supports crop acreage, health and productivity assessment.
Statement/Item 2: Correct - Remote sensing helps locate groundwater potential zones and recharge features.
Statement/Item 3: Correct - Spectral and geological imagery can assist mineral exploration.
Statement/Item 4: Incorrect - Telecommunications mainly uses communication satellites, not the IRS remote-sensing constellation.
Statement/Item 5: Incorrect - Traffic studies are not counted as a primary IRS use in the supplied exam answer; though modern imagery can support transport planning.
Option-wise Analysis:
A: Correct - includes all and only the correct items.
B: Incorrect - includes incorrect statement/items 4, 5; omits correct statement/items 1, 2, 3.
C: Incorrect - omits correct statement/item 3.
D: Incorrect - includes incorrect statement/items 4, 5.
Review Note: Nuance: satellite imagery can aid transport/traffic-related spatial analysis, but the keyed syllabus distinction excludes item 5.