Assertion (A): GSAT-24 was launched aboard the French Ariane-5 rocket.

Reason (R): India currently lacks a launch vehicle capable of placing a 4-ton satellite in geostationary orbit.

Which of the following is correct?

Assertion (A) is Correct: GSAT-24, a 24-KU band communication satellite, was indeed launched by NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) using the Ariane-5 rocket from Kourou, French Guiana, in June 2022.

Reason (R) is False: This statement is no longer accurate. India's LVM3 (Launch Vehicle Mark 3, formerly known as GSLV Mk-III) is specifically designed to carry payloads of up to 4 tons into the Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO). While India historically relied on foreign rockets like Ariane for 4-ton class satellites, the LVM3 has successfully proven this capability (for example, launching the Chandrayaan missions and heavy communication satellites).

Why was GSAT-24 launched on Ariane-5?

Although India has the LVM3, the specific launch of GSAT-24 was a commercial demand-driven mission by NSIL where the launch slot and mission requirements led to the choice of the Ariane-5. It was not due to an absolute lack of indigenous capability at that time.