Question 88 from UPSC CSE 2015 - Geography

Question

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.

IASCODEX · Accepted Answer

Correct Option: A. 1, 2, and 3 only

Strategy: Focus on the primary functions of IRS satellites: earth observation, resource management, and environmental monitoring. This confirms that statements 1, 2, and 3 (crop assessment, groundwater, minerals) are correct, while statements 4 and 5 (telecommunications, traffic studies) are incorrect as they fall under other satellite systems like INSAT.

Key Info: Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) satellites are a series of earth observation satellites operated by ISRO. Their principal functions include:

- Assessment of crop productivity: IRS satellites facilitate agricultural monitoring, yield estimation, and crop health assessment using multispectral imagery and temporal data.
- Locating groundwater resources: IRS imagery supports groundwater prospect mapping, aquifer identification, and assessment of water resource potential owing to its ability to sense geological and morphological features.
- Mineral exploration: High-resolution sensors aboard IRS help in detecting surface mineralogical signatures, lithological mapping, and exploration for minerals, especially through thematic mapping techniques.

Telecommunications (statement 4) is handled by Indian National Satellite (INSAT) system, a series of geostationary satellites that provide telecommunication, broadcasting, and meteorology services, not IRS.

Traffic studies (statement 5) generally use specialized Geo-stationary satellite data or dedicated urban monitoring projects, not standard IRS missions. While some IRS satellites may provide high-resolution imagery for urban planning, routine traffic management is not a core IRS function.

The IRS program began with IRS-1A in 1988 and has contributed extensively to fields like forestry, soil mapping, environmental monitoring, coastal studies, urban planning, and disaster management support. Sensors used include LISS (Linear Imaging Self-Scanning Sensor), AWiFS (Advanced Wide Field Sensor), and PAN (Panchromatic Camera).

IASCODEX · Answer

Option B: 4 and 5 only

IASCODEX · Answer

Option C: 1 and 2 only

IASCODEX · Answer

Option D: 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5

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.

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.