MPPSC 2020 Prelims Paper-I · Question 56 of 100

Correct — B, ISRO. Vyommitra is a half-humanoid robot built by the Indian Space Research Organisation for its Gaganyaan human-spaceflight programme. Unveiled in January 2020, it is designed to fly aboard the uncrewed Gaganyaan test missions and mimic an astronaut — monitoring cabin and module parameters, operating life-support functions, and recognising and responding to human actions — so the crew module can be validated before humans are sent up. The name blends 'Vyoma' (space) and 'Mitra' (friend).

• (a)C-DAC, Pune — The Centre for Development of Advanced Computing is India's supercomputing and IT R&D body (the PARAM series of supercomputers) — it did not build Vyommitra.
• (c)TIFR — The Tata Institute of Fundamental Research does basic research in physics, mathematics and biology; a space robot for Gaganyaan is not its work.
• (d)DRDO — The Defence Research and Development Organisation develops defence systems (missiles, radars, armour), not ISRO's human-spaceflight hardware.

Gaganyaan is India's first human-spaceflight programme, run by ISRO. Before crewed flights, ISRO plans uncrewed test flights that carry the humanoid robot Vyommitra to rehearse the astronaut's role and check that the crew module and life-support systems work safely.

The trap is the alphabet soup of Indian tech agencies. Map each to its domain: ISRO = space, DRDO = defence, C-DAC = supercomputing/IT, TIFR = fundamental science. A space robot built for Gaganyaan points straight to ISRO.

• Vyommitra: a half-humanoid robot by ISRO, unveiled January 2020, for the Gaganyaan programme.
• Role: fly on uncrewed Gaganyaan test flights, mimic an astronaut, monitor module parameters and operate life-support functions.
• 'Vyommitra' = Vyoma (space) + Mitra (friend), i.e. 'space friend'.
• It is a 'half-humanoid' (head, torso and arms; no legs).

• Confusing ISRO with DRDO or C-DAC when the question names a robot or 'organisation'
• Thinking Vyommitra is a Chandrayaan/Mars payload rather than a Gaganyaan test payload

Current-affairs + S&T style: 'which body developed X' or 'X is associated with which mission'. Lock the chain Vyommitra to ISRO to Gaganyaan.

No directly related past PYQ was found.

• practice — not a real PYQ

  Vyommitra, the humanoid robot, is associated with which Indian space programme?

  • (a)Gaganyaan
  • (b)Chandrayaan
  • (c)Mangalyaan
  • (d)Aditya-L1

  Answer(a) Gaganyaan — Vyommitra is meant to fly on its uncrewed test missions.

• practice — not a real PYQ

  C-DAC (Pune) is best known for developing which of the following?

  • (a)PARAM series of supercomputers
  • (b)Cryogenic rocket engines
  • (c)The BrahMos missile
  • (d)The Vyommitra robot

  Answer(a) PARAM supercomputers — C-DAC is India's supercomputing/IT R&D body.