Military Exercises — Set 7

Correct Answer: C. Singapore

Exercise SIMBEX (Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise) is one of India's longest-running bilateral naval exercises, having been conducted since 1994. It focuses on anti-submarine warfare, surface warfare, and maritime domain awareness. Singapore is a key maritime partner for India in the Strait of Malacca region.

Correct Answer: D. France

Shakti (Army), Varuna (Navy), and Garuda (Air Force) together represent all three service-level bilateral exercises between India and France. This comprehensive tri-service engagement reflects India-France's Strategic Partnership of 1998 and their shared strategic interests in the Indo-Pacific. France is one of India's most important defence partners.

Correct Answer: B. Bongosagar

Exercise Bongosagar is the India-Bangladesh naval exercise conducted in the Bay of Bengal. First held in 2019, it covers surface warfare, anti-piracy, and maritime security. Sampriti is the India-Bangladesh army exercise. India and Bangladesh share the longest land border between two South Asian nations (4,156 km).

Correct Answer: A. Milan

Exercise Milan is a multilateral naval exercise hosted by India at the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. First held in 1995 with just 5 nations, it has grown to include 50+ countries. Milan 2022 was the largest edition with 46 navies participating. The exercise focuses on maritime security, anti-piracy, and humanitarian operations in the Indian Ocean Region.

Correct Answer: C. Port Blair (Andaman and Nicobar)

Exercise Milan is hosted at Port Blair in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The strategic location of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands at the entrance to the Malacca Strait makes it an ideal venue for an Indian Ocean maritime exercise. The exercise is conducted by the Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC), India's only tri-service command.

Correct Answer: B. Counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism

Exercise Yudh Abhyas focuses on counter-insurgency (CI) and counter-terrorism (CT) operations under a United Nations mandate. It involves infantry, special forces, and combat support elements of both armies. The exercise scenarios typically involve joint operations to neutralize terrorist threats in jungle or mountain terrain.

Correct Answer: B. 1993

Exercise Varuna between the Indian Navy and French Navy was first conducted in 1993. The exercise was formalized with the India-France Strategic Partnership in 1998. Named after the Hindu god of water and oceans, Varuna has grown into a comprehensive naval exercise covering anti-submarine warfare, air defence, and surface warfare.

Correct Answer: C. UN Peacekeeping training

Exercises focused on Shakti Doot and similar peacekeeping training fall under India's commitments to UN Peacekeeping. India has been participating in UN Peacekeeping since the Congo Crisis in 1960 and is among the top three troop-contributing countries. The Centre for United Nations Peacekeeping (CUNPK) in New Delhi conducts training for Indian peacekeepers.

Correct Answer: B. Dharma Guardian

Exercise Dharma Guardian between India and Japan includes jungle warfare and counter-terrorism training. Exercise Shinyuu Maitri is the India-Japan air force exercise. JIMEX is the naval exercise. Dharma Guardian has grown to include specialized urban warfare and irregular warfare scenarios reflecting joint learning from both nations' operational experiences.

Correct Answer: C. Japan

Exercise Shinyuu Maitri (Shinyuu means 'Friend' in Japanese; Maitri means 'Friendship' in Sanskrit) is a bilateral air force exercise between the Indian Air Force and the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF). It focuses on air combat training and joint operations. The exercise is part of the growing India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership in the defence sphere.