Consider the following statements with respect to the Radar Imaging Satellite (RISAT-2): 1. This is the first Indian satellite with microwave imaging configuration on board. 2. The satellite will boost India’s defence capabilities. 3. It can take images of the earth day and night, even under rainy and cloudy-conditions. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

RISAT-2, launched in April 2009, was India's first satellite equipped with a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) instrument, providing it with microwave imaging configuration. Although RISAT-1 was the first indigenous project, its development was delayed, leading India to fast-track RISAT-2 using an Israeli-supplied X-band radar system [2]. This satellite significantly boosted India's defense and surveillance capabilities, particularly in response to the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, earning it the moniker 'spy satellite' [1]. Unlike optical satellites, RISAT-2's SAR technology allows it to penetrate cloud cover, haze, and darkness, enabling all-weather, day-and-night imaging of the Earth's surface. These capabilities are critical for monitoring border areas, disaster management, and strategic reconnaissance. Consequently, all three statements regarding its microwave configuration, defense utility, and all-weather imaging are correct.

Sources

1. [2] INDIA PEOPLE AND ECONOMY, TEXTBOOK IN GEOGRAPHY FOR CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 7: Transport and Communication > Satellite Communication > p. 84
2. [1] https://www.ipcs.org/comm_select.php?articleNo=2867