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RAS question

India's Chandrayaan-2 mission's Vikram lander was named after:

Correct answer: (A) Vikram Sarabhai.

Chandrayaan-2's Vikram lander was named after Dr Vikram A Sarabhai, the father of the Indian space programme.

  1. (A)

    Vikram Sarabhai

  2. (B)

    Vikramaditya

  3. (C)

    Vikram Seth

  4. (D)

    Vikram Batra

Explanation

The answer is Vikram Sarabhai because ISRO identifies Chandrayaan-2's lander as Vikram and states that it was named after Dr Vikram A Sarabhai, the father of the Indian space programme. The naming matters for exam recall because Sarabhai established the Physical Research Laboratory and was the first chairman of ISRO, so his name is tied directly to India's institutional space effort. Chandrayaan-2 brought together an orbiter, lander and rover, and the lander's name signals this heritage rather than a generic mythological or military reference. Chandrayaan-3 also used this naming pattern for its lander, which was called Vikram.

Why the other options are wrong

  • (B) Vikramaditya is not supported by ISRO's Chandrayaan-2 spacecraft page; the lander name is explicitly linked to Dr Vikram A Sarabhai, not to this royal or legendary name.
  • (C) Vikram Seth is a writer, but the naming of the Chandrayaan-2 lander is tied to India's space programme and to Dr Vikram A Sarabhai.
  • (D) Vikram Batra is not the source of the lander's name; ISRO's account connects Vikram with Dr Vikram A Sarabhai and the Indian space programme.

Concept

This tests the Science and Technology syllabus area around India's space missions and key institutions. RAS repeatedly asks such name-origin facts because they connect current missions with the builders of India's scientific institutions.

Source

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