With reference to the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), consider the following statements :
- 1.IRNSS has three satellites in geostationary and four satellites in geosynchronous orbits.
- 2.IRNSS covers entire India and about 5500 sq. km beyond its borders.
- 3.India will have its own satellite navigation system with full global coverage by the middle of 2019.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
Show answer
Answer: A. Statement 1 is correct: IRNSS (NavIC) was designed with 3 satellites in geostationary orbit and 4 in geosynchronous orbit. Statement 2 is wrong: it covers India and about 1500 km beyond its borders, not 5500 sq km. Statement 3 is wrong: IRNSS is a regional system with no plan for full global coverage by 2019. So only 1.
Watch for: Mixing kilometres with square kilometres in statement 2 is the hidden error.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. Wrong because the coverage is 1500 km beyond India, not 5500 sq km.
- C. Wrong because IRNSS is regional and the coverage figure is wrong.
- D. Wrong because statement 1 is correct.
Source to check: ISRO official website (isro.gov.in), 'IRNSS Programme' / NavIC
Answer from the official UPSC key. Written and fact-checked by AI against the official key. Spotted a mistake? Report it.