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GS Paper: GS3-24. Various Security Forces and Agencies and their Mandate.

  • Exercise MILAN, 2026

    Why in the News?

    India will host the International Fleet Review, Exercise MILAN- 2026, and the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) Conclave of Chiefs together in Visakhapatnam from February 15–25, 2026.

    About Exercise MILAN:

    • Overview: Biennial multilateral naval exercise hosted by the Indian Navy to promote interoperability, maritime cooperation, and goodwill among friendly navies.
    • Origin: First conducted in 1995 under the Andaman and Nicobar Command with participation from Indonesia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.
    • Growth: Expanded over the years to include 40–55 participating nations, reflecting India’s growing maritime diplomacy under Act East Policy and SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) initiative.
    • Participation: The 2026 edition will see participation from over 50 navies, including the U.S., Russia, Japan, Australia, and ASEAN countries.
    • Venue: The 2026 edition will be hosted at Visakhapatnam under the Eastern Naval Command, marking the largest MILAN to date.
    • Structure: Conducted in two phases, a Harbour Phase (seminars, workshops, cultural exchanges, planning conferences) and a Sea Phase (joint operational exercises).
    • Sea Phase Activities: Includes anti-submarine warfare (ASW), air defence, maritime domain awareness (MDA), search and rescue (SAR), and complex fleet manoeuvres.
    • Strategic Significance: Strengthens regional maritime security, demonstrates India’s indigenous naval capabilities, and reinforces its role as a net security provider in the Indo-Pacific.

    Back2Basics: Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS)

    • Overview: A voluntary, multilateral maritime cooperation initiative launched by the Indian Navy in 2008 to enhance regional maritime security and dialogue among littoral nations of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
    • Membership: Comprises 25 member states and 9 observer countries, spanning Africa, West Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Australia.
    • Objective: To promote maritime safety, security, capacity building, information sharing, and cooperation in Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations.
    • Chairmanship: The chairmanship rotates biennially among member nations; India will assume the chair for 2025–2027.
    • Key Areas of Focus:
      • Enhancing maritime domain awareness (MDA) and information exchange.
      • Combating piracy, illegal fishing, human trafficking, and terrorism at sea.
      • Strengthening maritime connectivity and blue economy cooperation.
      • Coordinating disaster relief and search-and-rescue operations.

     

    [UPSC 2024] Which of the following statements about ‘Exercise Mitra Shakti-2023’ are correct?

    1. This was a joint military exercise between India and Bangladesh.

    2. It commenced in Aundh (Pune).

    3. Joint response during counter-terrorism operations was a goal of this operation.

    4. Indian Air Force was a part of this exercise.

    Select the answer using the code given below:

    Options: (a) 1, 2 and 3 (b) 1 and 4 (c) 1 and 4 (d) 2, 3 and 4*

     

  • [pib] Exercise KONKAN-25

    Why in the News?

    Exercise KONKAN-25 has commenced off the western coast of India, marking two decades of India–UK maritime cooperation.

    About Exercise KONKAN:

    • Nature & Objective: Exercise KONKAN is an annual bilateral maritime exercise between the Indian Navy and the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom.
    • Objective: To strengthen interoperability, joint maritime operations, and mutual understanding.
    • Origin: Initiated in 2004, the exercise has expanded into a multi-domain naval engagement involving surface, sub-surface, and aerial warfare.
    • Venue Rotation: Conducted alternately in Indian and UK waters, it symbolises the long-standing India–UK strategic defence partnership.
    • Vision: It aligns with the India–UK Vision 2035, promoting free, open, and rules-based seas across the Indo-Pacific.

    Key Features:

    • Two-Phase Format:
      • Harbour Phase – Professional interactions, cross-deck visits, sports & cultural events, subject-matter expert exchanges, and working group meetings.
      • Sea Phase – Complex operational drills including anti-air, anti-surface, and anti-submarine warfare, flying operations, seamanship drills, and live-fire gunnery.
    • Major Participants (2025):
      • India – Carrier Battle Group led by INS Vikrant, supported by destroyers, frigates, submarines, and naval air assets.
      • United Kingdom – Carrier Strike Group 25 (CSG-25) led by HMS Prince of Wales, joined by allies Norway (HNoMS Roald Amundsen) and Japan (JS Akebono).
    • Special Highlight: First-ever carrier strike group collaboration between India and the UK, marking a new milestone in joint naval power projection.
    [UPSC 2024] Which of the following statements about ‘Exercise Mitra Shakti-2023’ are correct?

    1. This was a joint military exercise between India and Bangladesh.

    2. It commenced in Aundh (Pune).

    3. Joint response during counter-terrorism operations was a goal of this operation.

    4. Indian Air Force was a part of this exercise.

    Select the answer using the code given below:

    (a) 1, 2 and 3 (b) 1 and 4 (c) 1 and 4 (d) 2, 3 and 4*

     

  • Upgradation of Army Radars

    Why in the News?

    After Operation Sindoor and Pakistani drone incursions, the Army is upgrading air defence with advanced radars to counter low-RCS (radar cross-section) drones and other aerial threats along northern and western borders.

    What are Radars?

    • About: Radar stands for Radio Detection and Ranging; it uses radio waves to locate, track, and measure speed of objects.
    • Components: Transmitter emits radio signals, receiver captures reflections.
    • Functions: Measures direction, distance (via time delay), and velocity (via Doppler shift).
    • Types in air defence:
      • Surveillance radars: Monitor airspace and detect aerial objects, not directly linked to weapons.
      • Fire control radars: Provide targeting data to guide anti-aircraft guns or missiles.

    Current Indian Capabilities:

    • Indian Air Force: Operates High-Power Radars and Medium-Power Radars for long-range, high-altitude threats such as jets, AWACS, and large transport aircraft.
      • For fire control, the Air Force employs systems like the 3D Central Acquisition Radar and Rajendra radar.
    • Indian Army: Uses Low-Level Light-Weight Radars, designed to pick up low-flying, small radar cross-section objects like drones.
      • Upgraded Flycatcher and Air Defence Tactical Control Radar systems to aim weapons and manage local defence.

    India’s Air Defence Infrastructure:

    • Missile systems: Includes Russian S-400 and the indigenous Akash missile system.
    • Army’s Akashteer system: Integrates radars, sensors, air defence guns, and communications into a real-time operational air picture.
    • IAF’s IACCS (Integrated Air Command and Control System): Unifies data from multiple assets for coordinated detection and interception.
    • Mission Sudarshan Chakra: Ongoing modernisation programme; DRDO recently tested the Integrated Air Defence Weapon System.
    [UPSC 2024] Consider the following activities:

    1. Identification of narcotics on passengers at airports or in aircraft

    2. Monitoring of precipitation

    3. Tracking the migration of animals

    In how many of the above activities can the radars be used?

    (a) Only one (b) Only two* (c) All three (d) None

     

  • [pib] Exercise Pacific Reach, 2025

    Why in the News?

    INS Nistar, the Navy’s new indigenous Diving Support Vessel, made its maiden port call at Singapore to join the multinational Exercise Pacific Reach 2025.

    About Exercise Pacific Reach:

    • Overview: A biennial, multinational submarine rescue exercise initiated in 1996 (Asia-Pacific).
    • Objective: Enhances cooperation, interoperability, and readiness in submarine rescue.
    • Pacific Reach 2025 (XPR-25): 9th edition, hosted by Singapore.
    • Phases:
      • Harbour Phase: Seminars, Subject Matter Expert Exchanges (SMEE), medical symposium, cross-deck visits.
      • Sea Phase: Live submarine rescue drills, intervention ops, deep-water simulated emergencies, and Mass Evacuation Exercises (MASSEVEX).
    • Participation: 40+ countries (participants + observers).

    India’s Participation:

    • INS Nistar: India’s indigenous Diving Support Vessel (DSV), mothership for Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV).
    • Submarine Rescue Unit (East): Taking part in live rescue drills.
    • Significance: Showcases 80% indigenous capability (built by Hindustan Shipyard Ltd), and positions India as a regional leader in humanitarian submarine rescue.

    Back2Basics: INS Nistar

    • Commissioning: First indigenous DSV, commissioned July 2025 at Visakhapatnam.
    • Design: Built with 80% indigenous content, in line with Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
    • Capability: Supports DSRV rescue ops up to 300 m; equipped with ROVs, hyperbaric lifeboats, subsea cranes, helipad, and medical facilities.
    • Role: Provides endurance for long missions, reinforcing India’s deep-sea rescue & maritime safety architecture.

  • Expedition ‘Samudra Pradakshina’

    Why in the News?

    Defence Minister flagged off Samudra Pradakshina, the world’s first tri-service all-women circumnavigation sailing mission, from the Gateway of India, Mumbai.

    About Expedition ‘Samudra Pradakshina’:

    • Overview: First-ever all-women tri-service circumnavigation sailing expedition in the world.
    • Crew: Ten women officers from the Army, Navy, and Air Force, led by Lt. Col. Anuja Varudkar.
    • Vessel: IASV Triveni, a 50-foot yacht built indigenously in Puducherry.
    • Duration & Route: Nine months, covering 26,000 nautical miles, crossing the Equator twice, and rounding Capes Leeuwin, Horn, and Good Hope.
    • Port Calls: Fremantle (Australia), Lyttelton (New Zealand), Buenos Aires (Argentina), Cape Town (South Africa).
    • Mission Objectives: Showcase Nari Shakti, promote joint military cooperation, advance Atmanirbhar Bharat, strengthen maritime diplomacy, and conduct ocean research with the National Institute of Oceanography.

    Historic Precursors:

    • Sir Robin Knox-Johnston (UK):  First solo non-stop circumnavigation (1969).
    • Captain Dilip Donde (2009–10): First Indian solo circumnavigation. Commander Abhilash Tomy (2012–13) — first Indian solo non-stop circumnavigation.
    • Women-led Expeditions: Navika Sagar Parikrama (2017–18)– first all-women Indian Navy circumnavigation on INSV Tarini. Navika Sagar Parikrama-II (2024–25) – second successful all-women naval circumnavigation on INSV Tarini.
    [UPSC 2025] Operations undertaken by the Army towards upliftment of the local population in remote areas to include addressing of their basic needs is called:

    Options:

    (a) Operation Sankalp (b) Operation Maitri (c) Operation Sadbhavana* (d) Operation Madad

     

  • [pib] Exercise ZAPAD 2025

    Why in the News?

    An Indian Armed Forces contingent has departed for Mulino Training Ground, Nizhniy, Russia, to participate in Exercise ZAPAD 2025.

    About Exercise ZAPAD:

    • Meaning: “ZAPAD” means West in Russian; a series of large-scale joint strategic military drills led by Russia and Belarus.
    • Origins: Started during the Soviet era with Zapad-77, Zapad-81, Zapad-84, reflecting Cold War dynamics.
    • Post-Soviet Revival: Resumed with Zapad-99 (1999), partly as a response to NATO’s Yugoslavia operations.
    • Frequency: Held about once every 4 years, with major editions in 2009, 2013, 2017, 2021, and 2025.
    • Series Context: Forms part of Russia’s rotating operational drills along with Vostok (East), Tsentr (Central), and Kavkaz (Caucasus).
    • Scale: Zapad-2021 involved ~200,000 personnel from 17 countries, one of the largest recent drills.

    Geopolitical Significance:

    • Deterrence: Sends a strategic message to NATO about Russian readiness.
    • Allied Assurance: Reassures Russia’s partners and allies of its military strength.
    [UPSC 2024] Which of the following statements about ‘Exercise Mitra Shakti-2023’ are correct?

    1. This was a joint military exercise between India and Bangladesh.

    2. It commenced in Aundh (Pune).

    3. Joint response during counter-terrorism operations was a goal of this operation.

    4. Indian Air Force was a part of this exercise.

    Select the answer using the code given below:

     

    Options: (a) 1, 2 and 3 (b) 1 and 4 (c) 1 and 4 (d) 2, 3 and 4*

     

  • [pib] Exercise ‘BRIGHT STAR 2025’

    Why in the News?

    India is set to participate with over 700 personnel from tri-services for 19th edition of Exercise Bright Star 2025 in Egypt.

    About Exercise Bright Star:

    • Origin: Began in 1980 as a US–Egypt bilateral drill after the Egypt–Israel peace treaty.
    • Nature: Now one of the largest and longest-running multinational tri-service military exercises in the Middle East.
    • Frequency: Held biennially in Egypt with the United States as the principal partner.
    • Objectives:
      • Enhance regional security and stability.
      • Improve jointness, interoperability, and operational coordination among partner nations.

    Key Highlights of the 2025 Edition:

    • Scale: Approximate 7,900 troops from 43 nations.
      • 13 countries directly deploying troops.
      • 30 countries participating as observers.
    • Strategic Significance:
      • Builds defence cooperation between India, Egypt, US, and partner nations.
      • Important amid West Asia, Red Sea, and Gulf security challenges.
    [UPSC 2024] Which of the following statements about ‘Exercise Mitra Shakti-2023’ are correct?

    1. This was a joint military exercise between India and Bangladesh.

    2. It commenced in Aundh (Pune).

    3. Joint response during counter-terrorism operations was a goal of this operation.

    4. Indian Air Force was a part of this exercise.

    Select the answer using the code given below:

    Options: (a) 1, 2 and 3 (b) 1 and 4 (c) 1 and 4 (d) 2, 3 and 4*

     

  • Induction of INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri Stealth Nilgiri Class Frigates

    Why in the News?

    The Indian Navy has commissioned INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri, Nilgiri-class frigates built under Project 17A, at Visakhapatnam.

    Induction of INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri Stealth Nilgiri Class Frigates

    About INS Udaygiri & INS Himgiri:

    Feature INS Udaygiri INS Himgiri
    Builder Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd. (MDL), Mumbai Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata
    Series / Class 2nd ship of Project 17A;

    100th vessel designed by Navy’s Warship Design Bureau

    		 1st Project 17A frigate from GRSE
    Naming After Udaygiri mountain range (AP); earlier ship (1976–2007) Legacy of original INS Himgiri (1974–2005)
    Displacement / Size ~6,700 tonnes ~6,670 tonnes; Length: 149 m
    Propulsion CODOG (Combined Diesel or Gas) CODOG; speeds 28+ knots
    Stealth Features Reduced radar, infrared, and acoustic signatures Enhanced radar & IR signature reduction
    Armament BrahMos, Barak-8 SAMs, 76 mm gun, CIWS, advanced ASW weapons BrahMos, Barak-8, CIWS, ASW rocket launchers, torpedo tubes, EW systems
    Aviation Facilities – Flight deck + hangar for MH-60 Romeo, ALH Dhruv Mk-III, Sea King helicopters
    Indigenous Content ~75% (local sensors, systems, IPMS) ~75%

     

    [UPSC 2016] Which one of the following is the best description of ‘INS Astradharini’, that was in the news recently?

    Options: (a) Amphibious warfare ship (b) Nuclear-powered submarine (c) Torpedo launch and recovery vessel* (d) Nuclear-powered aircraft carrier

     

  • Exercise ‘Bold Kurukshetra’, 2025

    Why in the News?

    The 14th edition of the India–Singapore Joint Military Exercise — Exercise Bold Kurukshetra — commenced in Jodhpur.

    About Exercise ‘Bold Kurukshetra’

    • Launch Year: 2005, after the 2003 India–Singapore Defence Cooperation Agreement.
    • Purpose: Strengthen bilateral defence ties, boost operational coordination, and enhance regional security.
    • Frequency: Held annually or biannually, alternating between Indian training zones like Babina and Jodhpur.
    • Participants: Focuses on armoured and mechanised infantry units from India and Singapore.
    • Framework: Conducted under United Nations Peacekeeping mandates, simulating mechanised warfare and joint operations.

    Key Features:

    • Format:
      • Tabletop wargaming and computer-based simulations.
      • Validates doctrines and standard operating procedures in mechanised warfare.
    • Operational Objectives:
      • Improve interoperability and tactical planning.
      • Execute joint manoeuvres and enhance command-level coordination.
      • Build mutual understanding of combat and operational doctrines.
    • Evolution Over Time:
      • Progressed from basic drills to complex command post exercises and live-fire missions.
      • Includes scenario-based planning and real-time decision-making via digital simulations.
    [UPSC 2008] ‘Hand-in-Hand 2007’, a joint anti-terrorism military training was held by the officers of the Indian Army and officers of the Army of which one of the following countries?

    Options: (a) China *(b) Japan (c) Russia (d) USA

     

  • MiG-21s to retire by September

    MiG-21s to retire by September

    Why in the News?

    The Indian Air Force’s longest-serving combat aircraft, the Russian-origin MiG (Mikoyan and Gurevich)-21, is set to be phased out by September 2025.

    About MiG-21:

    • Type: Single-engine, single-seater, multi-role fighter and ground attack aircraft.
    • Origin: Originally inducted as an interceptor; later upgraded for multi-role capabilities.
    • Key Indian Variants: Type-77, Type-96, MiG-21 BIS and MiG-21 Bison (most advanced variant with upgraded radar, avionics, and missile systems).
    • Safety Concerns:
      • High accident rate, especially in recent decades.
      • Earned the nickname “flying coffin” due to frequent crashes and pilot fatalities.
    • Combat Features:
      • Performance: Known for high speed, agility, and rapid climb capability.
      • Armament: Capable of deploying both air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles.
      • War Record: Played key roles in- 1965 War with Pakistan; 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War; 1999 Kargil Conflict.
    • Notable Operation: In 2019, a MiG-21 Bison piloted by Group Captain Abhinandan Varthaman shot down a Pakistani F-16 during aerial combat.

    Induction and Retirement:

    • Induction:
      • Timeline: Inducted into the Indian Air Force in 1963 during tensions with China and Pakistan.
      • Assembly: First units assembled in India at Chandigarh with Soviet assistance.
      • Scale: Over 700 MiG-21s were procured, forming the backbone of the Indian Air Force for decades.
    • Retirement:
      • Current Status: As of now, three MiG-21 Bison squadrons remain, each with 16–18 aircraft.
      • Replacement: To be replaced by the indigenously developed Tejas Mark-1A aircraft.

    Back2Basics: LCA Tejas

    • Type: Indian single-engine, fourth-generation, multirole light fighter aircraft.
    • R&D: Designed by the Aeronautical Development Agency in collaboration with the Aircraft Research and Design Centre of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.
    • Origins: Developed under the Light Combat Aircraft programme launched in the 1980s to replace India’s ageing MiG-21 fleet.
    • Indigenous Content:
      • By Value: 59.7% of the aircraft’s components are sourced indigenously.
      • By Units: 75.5% of the line replaceable units are domestically produced.

     

    [UPSC 2024] Consider the following aircraft:

    1. Rafael 2. MiG-29 3. Tejas MK-1

    How many of the above are considered fifth generation fighter aircraft?

    Options: (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) All three (d) None*