SSC Stenographer 2026 PYQ — Question 9

SSC Stenographer - 10 Sep 2026 - Shift 3 • General Awareness • Q9

Often called the "Missile Woman of India", this female scientist led many DRDO missile projects and became a symbol of female leadership in STEM. Who is she?

Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: C

Explanation

Solution: The correct answer is (C) Tessy Thomas.
Explanation:
☛ Dr. Tessy Thomas is widely known as the "Missile Woman of India" and "Agni Putri".
☛ She served as the Project Director for the Agni-IV and Agni-V intercontinental ballistic missile systems at the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
☛ She was the first woman scientist to head a missile project in India, making her a prominent role model for women in STEM.
☛ Born in Alappuzha, Kerala, she also served as the Director General of Aeronautical Systems (DG-AERO) at DRDO.
Extra Exam-Relevant Facts:
☛ Dr. Ritu Karidhal: Known as the "Rocket Woman of India", she served as the Mission Director for Chandrayaan-2 and Deputy Operations Director for the Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan).
☛ Nandini Harinath: A prominent ISRO rocket scientist who served as the Deputy Operations Director for the Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan).
☛ Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw: A pioneering Indian entrepreneur and the founder-chairperson of the biopharmaceutical company Biocon.
☛ Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam: Revered as the "Missile Man of India" for leading India's Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP).
Important One-Liners for Upcoming Exams:
☛ Who is popularly known as the "Rocket Woman of India"? → Dr. Ritu Karidhal
☛ Who is widely celebrated as the "Missile Man of India"? → Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
☛ In which year was the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) launched? → 1983
☛ In which year was the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) established? → 1958
☛ Where is the headquarters of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) located? → New Delhi