Which of the following statements with regard to the Square Kilometer Array (SKA) project is/are correct? 1. SKA is a state of the art, mega science international facility to build the world's biggest and most sensitive radio telescope for addressing a wide variety of cutting-edge science goals. 2. The Government of India has accorded its approval for India's participation in the international mega science project. Select the answer using the code given below:
- (a)1 only
- (b)2 only
- (c)Both 1 and 2
- (d)Neither 1 nor 2
Correct — C, both statements 1 and 2. The Square Kilometre Array is a state-of-the-art international mega-science facility building the world's largest and most sensitive radio telescope, with its antennas spread across South Africa (the SKA-Mid dish array) and Western Australia (the SKA-Low low-frequency array) to chase a wide range of frontier science goals, so statement 1 is correct. The Union Government approved India's participation in the SKA Observatory in 2023, committing funding for the construction phase and making India a member of the international consortium, so statement 2 is correct. With both true, the answer is 'Both 1 and 2'.
- (a)1 only — Understates the position — India has indeed joined; the Union Cabinet cleared India's participation in the SKA Observatory in 2023, so statement 2 is also correct.
- (b)2 only — Statement 1 is equally correct — the SKA genuinely is the world's largest, most sensitive radio-telescope mega-science facility, which is the whole point of the project.
- (d)Neither 1 nor 2 — Both statements are accurate, so rejecting both is wrong.
The Square Kilometre Array is an inter-governmental radio-astronomy project run by the SKA Observatory (SKAO), headquartered at Jodrell Bank in the United Kingdom. It builds two complementary arrays — SKA-Mid dish antennas in South Africa's Karoo and SKA-Low tree-like antennas in Western Australia — which together will form the world's largest radio telescope, named for the roughly one square kilometre of eventual collecting area.
In a two-statement 'is/are correct' question the trap is doubting one clause. Both are independently established — the SKA's flagship description as the largest radio telescope, and India's Cabinet-approved participation — so once you recognise each as fact the answer settles on 'Both 1 and 2'.
- The SKA Observatory is an inter-governmental organisation headquartered at Jodrell Bank, United Kingdom.
- SKA-Mid is being built in South Africa's Karoo region and SKA-Low in Western Australia.
- The Union Cabinet approved India's participation in the SKA Observatory in 2023 for the 2023-2033 construction phase.
- India's role is coordinated by the National Centre for Radio Astrophysics (NCRA), Pune, under the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research.
- Assuming India is not part of the SKA just because the telescope is built in South Africa and Australia.
- Confusing the SKA with India's own Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope near Pune.
Asked as a two-statement 'is/are correct' code — verify the SKA's flagship description and India's approved participation, both of which hold.
No directly related past PYQ was found.
- practice — not a real PYQ
The Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT), one of the world's largest arrays of radio telescopes, is located near which Indian city?
- (a)Pune
- (b)Bengaluru
- (c)Nainital
- (d)Hyderabad
Answer(a) Pune — the GMRT is at Khodad near Narayangaon in Maharashtra, operated by the National Centre for Radio Astrophysics.
- practice — not a real PYQ
The SKA Observatory, which runs the Square Kilometre Array project, has its headquarters in which country?
- (a)United Kingdom
- (b)South Africa
- (c)Australia
- (d)India
Answer(a) United Kingdom — the SKAO is headquartered at Jodrell Bank, even though the telescopes are built in South Africa and Australia.