UPSC frequently asks questions related to joint military exercises in both Prelims and Mains. These exercises highlight India’s strategic ties and defense cooperation with other countries, which is important for International Relations and Security topics. Questions are often asked about the name, meaning, and participating countries of exercises like Dharma Guardian, Yudh Abhyas, and Varuna. Sometimes, the exam includes map-based questions related to locations where these exercises are held. Current affairs play a big role because UPSC focuses on recent developments. Therefore, aspirants must regularly update their notes on military exercises as they are a favorite area for UPSC examiners.
1. Dharma Guardian 2025
Country Involved: Japan
Meaning: “Guardian of Righteousness”
Focus: Counter-terrorism and urban warfare at Mount Fuji, Japan from Feb 25 to Mar 9, 2025. Target Defence AcademyNetMock
2. Ekuverin 2025
Country Involved: Maldives
Meaning: “Friends” in Dhivehi
Focus: Bilateral cooperation hosted in Maldives from Feb 2 to 15, 2025. Target Defence Academy
3. Cyclone 2025
Country Involved: Egypt
Meaning: Named after swift, forceful storms—symbolizing rapid tactical operations
Focus: Special Forces desert warfare drills at Rajasthan (Feb 10–23, 2025) emphasizing counter-terror operations. Target Defence Academy
4. La Pérouse 25 (5th Edition)
Countries Involved: France, Australia, Canada, US, UK, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore
Meaning: Named for the French explorer La Pérouse
Focus: Multi-national naval drills in Indo-Pacific straits (Jan 16–24, 2025). Target Defence Academy
5. Surya Kiran (18th Edition)
Country Involved: Nepal
Meaning: “Ray of the Sun” in Sanskrit
Focus: Senior-level Army-to-Army engagement in Nepal; exact 2025 dates pending. Target Defence AcademyStudy IQ Education
6. IFR 2025 / Komodo 2025
Countries Involved: India and ~38 others
Meaning: IFR likely indicates “Indian Foreign Relations”; “Komodo” refers to Indonesia’s iconic dragon
Focus: Large-scale multilateral maritime drills in Bali; dates not announced yet. Target Defence Academy
7. Bongosagar 2025
Country Involved: Bangladesh
Meaning: “Bongosagar” literally means “Bengal Sea”
Focus: Coordinated naval patrols in the Bay of Bengal in March 2025, covering anti-piracy and maritime surveillance. Samvada WorldStudy IQ Education
8. Khanjar XII
Country Involved: Kyrgyzstan
Meaning: “Khanjar” means “dagger”—symbolizing precision
Focus: Special Forces drills in urban, mountain, and hostage rescue in Himachal Pradesh from March 5–9, 2025. Samvada WorldStudy IQ Education
9. Yudh Abhyas 2025
Country Involved: United States
Meaning: “War Practice” in Hindi
Focus: Joint Army combat training in Alaska (Sep 1–14, 2025), including high-altitude warfare, UAV, artillery, and inter-domain integration. The Economic Times
10. Tiger Triumph 2025
Country Involved: United States
Meaning: Symbolic—”Tiger” for India and “Triumph” for victory
Focus: Tri-service HADR (Humanitarian Assistance & Disaster Relief) operations along Eastern Seaboard (Visakhapatnam & Kakinada, Apr 1–13, 2025), involving Indian and US forces including Space Force participation. WikipediaStudy IQ Education
11. Varuna 2025
Country Involved: France
Meaning: Named after the Vedic god of the oceans—apt for naval drills
Focus: Naval cooperation including anti-submarine and air defense drills off Goa (Mar 19–22, 2025). Wikipedia
12. SLINEX 2025
Country Involved: Sri Lanka
Meaning: “Sri Lanka India Naval Exercise”
Focus: Maritime operational drills in Colombo (Aug 14–18, 2025), involving warships, support vessels, and special forces. Wikipedia
13. Super Garuda Shield 2025
Countries Involved: Indonesia, US, Australia, Japan, UK + others
Meaning: “Garuda” is Indonesia’s eagle emblem for strength; “Super” highlights scale
Focus: Massive multilateral military drills across Indonesia (Aug 25–Sep 3, 2025) involving ~6,500 troops from 13 nations. Wikipedia
