SSC
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) traces its origin to Hindustan Aircraft, established in:
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Answer: Option D — 1940
Detailed Solution
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) traces its origin to "Hindustan Aircraft Private Limited", which was established on 23 December 1940 in Bangalore (Bengaluru).
About the founding:
It was founded by the industrialist Walchand Hirachand, with the support of the Kingdom of Mysore (which provided land and capital).
It was set up to manufacture aircraft in India. Its first products included the Harlow trainer and the assembly and repair of aircraft during the Second World War.
In 1942, the Government of India bought a stake in it, and it came under government control.
In 1964, Hindustan Aircraft merged with Aeronautics India Limited to form Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
About HAL:
- It is a public sector undertaking under the Ministry of Defence.
- Its headquarters is in Bengaluru.
- It designs, develops, manufactures and maintains aircraft, helicopters, engines and avionics for the Indian armed forces.
- In 2024, it was granted "Maharatna" status, becoming the 14th Maharatna company.
Important products:
- Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA): developed with the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA).
- Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH).
- Prachand Light Combat Helicopter (LCH): the first combat helicopter designed for high altitudes; inducted in 2022.
- Light Utility Helicopter (LUH).
- HF-24 Marut: India's first indigenous jet fighter (1960s).
- It has manufactured aircraft such as the MiG-21, MiG-27, Su-30MKI, Jaguar and Hawk under licence.
- It has a large helicopter factory at Tumakuru, Karnataka, inaugurated in 2023.
Other defence PSUs:
- Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL): 1954, Bengaluru.
- Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL): 1970, Hyderabad; makes missiles.
- Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders: Mumbai; builds warships and submarines.
Why not the other options?
- ✗1950 is the year India became a republic.
- ✗1964 is the year HAL got its present name after a merger.
- ✗1969 is the year ISRO was established.
Quick tip
Remember: HAL = origin as Hindustan Aircraft, 23 December 1940, Bangalore (Walchand Hirachand); renamed HAL 1964; Maharatna 2024; Tejas, Dhruv, Prachand; BEL = 1954; BDL = 1970.
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Defence Technology & Missiles — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of Defence Technology & Missiles, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
This topic covers India's defence technology: the missiles developed under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme and later, their types and ranges, DRDO, defence equipment such as aircraft, tanks, submarines and warships, and military exercises with other countries. Common questions ask what type a missile is (Prithvi is surface-to-surface, Akash is surface-to-air, and Nag is anti-tank), which missile was developed with Russia (BrahMos), and which countries take part in a joint exercise. Lists of exercises and newly inducted equipment change often, so check current affairs as well. Practise the defence technology and missiles questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.