Preeti Sinha Becomes First Woman to Lead ISRO's Mars Mission 2
Senior scientist Preeti Sinha has been appointed as the Mission Director for ISRO's upcoming Mars Orbiter Mission 2 (Mangalyaan-2).
Key Points for Quick Revision
- Dr. Preeti Sinha is the first woman Mission Director for an ISRO planetary mission.
- She will lead the Mangalyaan-2 (Mars Orbiter Mission 2) project.
- Mangalyaan-2 aims to study the Martian surface and atmosphere with advanced sensors.
- The mission is part of India's expanding planetary exploration program.
How This Topic is Tested in Competitive Exams
| Exam | Frequency | Approx. Marks | What Gets Asked |
|---|---|---|---|
| SSC (CGL / CHSL / MTS) | High | 4–8 | Basic science, space missions, ISRO launches, and defence technology are standard SSC GK topics. |
| Banking (IBPS / SBI) | Low | 1–2 | Occasionally tested via banking technology, fintech, or climate-science crossovers. |
| Railway (RRB NTPC / Group D) | Very High | 6–10 | Science and Technology is one of the largest GK sections in Railway papers. |
| UPSC / State PCS | Medium | 5–8 | UPSC tests Science & Technology through governance: space policy, biotech regulations, cyber security. |
What to Memorize from This Topic
- ISRO missions: satellite name, purpose, launch date, orbit type
- Defence acquisitions: system name, origin country, inducted into which force
- COVID/health research: vaccine names, institutes involved, approval status
- Technology achievements: first-ever milestones, world records, India-specific achievements
- Scientific organizations: HQ, head, purpose (CSIR, DRDO, BARC, ICAR)
Practice Questions
Q1. Who has been appointed as the Mission Director for ISRO's Mangalyaan-2?
- Ritu Karidhal
- Preeti Sinha
- Muthayya Vanitha
- N. Kalaiselvi
Explanation: Dr. Preeti Sinha has been appointed as the Mission Director for Mangalyaan-2.
Q2. What was the name of India's first mission to Mars?
- Mangalyaan-1
- Gaganyaan
- Aditya-L1
- Chandrayaan-1
Explanation: India's first mission to Mars, launched in 2013, was the Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM), commonly known as Mangalyaan-1.
How to Prepare Science & Technology for Government Exams
For Railway exams, make flashcards for every major ISRO launch — name, payload, purpose, date. These repeat frequently.
For SSC, focus on defence acquisitions and their strategic significance rather than technical specs.
For UPSC, connect every scientific development to policy — climate targets, digital India, health policy.