Question

Prithvi Defence Vehicle is ..............

• A. The name of a single seated aircraft developed by HAL
• B. The name of an amphibious Naval vessel
• C. The name of India’s Nuclear Interceptor Missile
• D. The name of a newly developed tank

Hint:

When studying defence GK, note whether the system is meant for air, land, sea, or space — PDV’s role is space-based interception, making it unique.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

The Prithvi Defence Vehicle (PDV) is an advanced missile system developed by India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) as part of the country’s Ballistic Missile Defence Programme.
It is specifically designed to intercept and destroy incoming hostile ballistic missiles outside the earth’s atmosphere.
The PDV operates as an exo-atmospheric interceptor, meaning it can engage targets at altitudes of more than 50 kilometres, enhancing India’s strategic defence capabilities.
Option (a) is incorrect because the PDV is not an aircraft, and HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited) focuses on aircraft production, not missile systems of this kind.
Option (b) is wrong because an amphibious naval vessel is a ship that can operate both on water and land, unrelated to missile defence.
Option (d) is also incorrect because the PDV is not a tank or ground combat vehicle.
The development of PDV reflects India’s ongoing efforts to build a multi-layered missile defence shield to protect against both nuclear and conventional missile threats.