The Technology Development Fund (TDF) is a flagship initiative under
- A.Ministry of Defence
- B.Ministry of Heavy Industries
- C.Ministry of Science and Technology
- D.Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is A, Ministry of Defence. The Technology Development Fund was set up by the Ministry of Defence in 2016 and is run by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) as part of the Make in India drive. It gives grants to Indian industry, especially MSMEs and start-ups, and to academic and scientific institutions, so that they can design and develop defence technologies that the armed forces need but that are not yet made in India. The idea is self-reliance in defence equipment: the fund backs research, design and prototypes rather than bulk purchases. Option B is wrong because the Ministry of Heavy Industries handles schemes such as FAME for electric vehicles and the PLI for automobiles. Option C is wrong because the Ministry of Science and Technology runs departments like DST, DBT and DSIR, not this defence fund. Option D is wrong because the agriculture ministry runs farm schemes such as PM-KISAN. Exam tip: TDF means Ministry of Defence, executed by DRDO, for MSMEs and start-ups.
Practice Questions
View allWhich one of the following is India's first indigenously designed and developed long-range subsonic cruise missile which can be deployed from multiple platforms?
- A.Astra
- B.Akash
- C.Nirbhay
- D.Shankhnaad
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Nirbhay is the long-range subsonic cruise missile designed and developed in India by the DRDO. Nirbhay was developed by DRDO's Aeronautical Development Establishment in Bengaluru.
Read the full explanation →"Million Minds Augmenting National Aspirations and Knowledge" (MANAK), a scheme under the flagship programme, Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE), caters to :
- A.The college students studying in the undergraduate programme in the age group of 19 - 25 years.
- B.The research scholars in recognized research laboratories of national importance.
- C.The college teachers of the country.
- D.The school children studying in classes 6 - 10 in the age group of 10 - 15 years.
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INSPIRE-MANAK is the school-level part of INSPIRE. INSPIRE is run by the Department of Science and Technology to draw young talent into science.
Read the full explanation →Which one of the following statements is not correct?
- A.BrahMos is a supersonic cruise missile made by India and Russian Federation.
- B.The name BrahMos came from two rivers, Brahmaputra of India and Moskva of Russia.
- C.Indian military scientists were capable of integrating BrahMos cruise missile with Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter.
- D.Defence Research and Development Organization is the manufacturer of Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter.
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The Sukhoi-30 MKI is not made by DRDO; it was designed by Russia's Sukhoi bureau and is built in India under licence by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) at Nashik.
Read the full explanation →'Tejas' is the name of which one of the following?
- A.Main battle tank
- B.Nuclear submarine
- C.Light combat aircraft
- D.Aircraft carrier
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Tejas is India's indigenous single-engine light combat aircraft built for the Indian Air Force. The Light Combat Aircraft programme was started in the 1980s to replace the ageing MiG-21 fleet.
Read the full explanation →Which one of the following is an indigenous assault rifle developed by DRDO?
- A.Heckler
- B.T91
- C.Tikka
- D.Ugram
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Ugram is a 7.62 mm assault rifle designed in India by DRDO for the armed forces and police. Ugram was developed by the Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE), Pune, a DRDO laboratory, together with a private Hyderabad firm, Dvipa Armour India, and it was unveiled in January 2024.
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