Which of the following is the first indigenously developed commercial civilian aircraft of India?

Introduction / Context:

This question focuses on Indian science and technology, specifically the development of indigenous aircraft. It is important for aspirants to know which aircraft are designed for defence roles and which are targeted at civilian or commercial use. Saras is a significant milestone because it represents an attempt to design and build a multi role civilian aircraft within India rather than importing such technology.

Given Data / Assumptions:

Concept / Approach:

Saras is a twin turboprop light transport aircraft developed by the National Aerospace Laboratories in India for civilian and multi role use. Pawan Hans is primarily the name of a helicopter service company, Tejas is a light combat aircraft used by the Indian Air Force, and Gajraj is a transport aircraft designation for the Ilyushin IL 76, which is of Russian origin. Among the given options, only Saras qualifies as the first indigenously developed civilian passenger aircraft.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:

A useful check is to categorise each option by role. Tejas is clearly associated with fighter squadrons, Gajraj with heavy military airlift, and Pawan Hans with helicopter services, all of which are either military or service operator names. Saras stands out as a specifically named indigenous aircraft project aimed at civilian applications, including regional connectivity and utility roles. This categorisation confirms Saras as the correct response.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Pawan Hans: This is a helicopter service company that operates helicopters, not the name of an indigenous commercial airplane designed by Indian aerospace laboratories.

Tejas: Tejas is an indigenously developed light combat aircraft designed for the Indian Air Force and is primarily a military platform, not a commercial civilian aircraft.

Gajraj: Gajraj is the Indian name for the IL 76 heavy transport aircraft, which is imported from Russia and is used mainly for military logistics.

Common Pitfalls:

Many students see familiar aviation related names and choose Tejas or Pawan Hans without carefully distinguishing between companies, imported aircraft, and indigenous civilian designs. Another pitfall is assuming that any indigenous aircraft, such as Tejas, qualifies automatically as civilian, which is not correct. A good practice is to associate each name with its primary role, such as fighter, transport, helicopter service, or civilian passenger aircraft.

Final Answer:

The correct answer is Saras.