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Take a look at the essential events, concepts, terms, quotes, or phenomena every day and brush up your knowledge. Here’s your UPSC Current Affairs knowledge nugget for today on exercise Trishul and other recently held defence exercises.
(Relevance: Military exercises have become an important part of the UPSC syllabus as they reflect not only India’s defence preparedness but also its defence cooperation with other nations. Notably, UPSC has previously asked questions on military exercises—for instance, in the Prelims 2024 exam, it included a question on Mitra Shakti.)
The three defence services have begun participating in an ambitious exercise named ‘Trishul’ spanning the marshy Sir Creek sector and the Saurashtra coast in Gujarat, the Rann of Kutch, and desert zones in Rajasthan. Coming on the heels of Operation Sindoor, Exercise Trishul has caused unease among the Pakistani military, which has issued a series of cautionary alerts among its own tri-service deployments. Something similar happened in 1987 when India conducted a military exercise, named Exercise BRASS TACKS IV, along the India-Pakistan border. In this context, let’s know about Exercise Trishul and revisit Exercise BRASS TACKS IV.
1. The exercise integrates land manoeuvres, air operations and naval assets across the west coast and creek sectors, thereby mapping a multi-domain theatre of operations.
2. Covering the Gujarat coast and the northern Arabian Sea – Army Southern Command, Western Naval Command, and the South Western Air Command are the principal formations participating in the exercise.
3. It aims to foster synergy and interoperability among the three wings of the armed forces, and achieve integrated operations across diverse terrain and mission spectrums, involving large scale deployment of Indian Navy warships, Indian Air Force fighter and support aircraft, as well as amphibious operations involving amphibious component of Indian Army and Indian Navy including the Landing Platform Dock INS Jalashwa and Landing Craft Utility vessels (LCUs).
4. Sources said the three services will operationally test the entire spectrum of resources for efficacy and capability — T-90 and Arjun tanks, attack helicopters, missile systems, Rafale and Sukhoi-30MKI fighters, drones and a range of warships. Also taking part in the drills will be indigenous platforms and equipment that have been inducted or recently upgraded.
5. The tri-services’ assets will also be tested in the electromagnetic spectrum, and in the cyber and information warfare domain.
6. Exercise Trishul exemplifies India’s resolve to safeguard its borders through the spirit of “JAI” — “Jointness, Atmanirbharta and Innovation”, the defence ministry said.
1. In January 1987, a military exercise, named Exercise BRASS TACKS IV, was carried out in Punjab and Rajasthan along the India-Pakistan border.
2. BRASS TACKS IV was the final sequence in a series of four exercises that began in the summer of 1986. BRASS TACKS I and II were conducted in July and November as command post exercises designed to test the administrative, communication, and logistics skills of senior Indian Army commanders. General K Sundarji was the Chief of Army Staff and was the force behind this exercise.
3. Analysing the Indian intentions behind the exercise, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) of the United States of America (USA) believed that BRASS TACKS IV fitted the Indian Army’s standard annual training cycle. It said that the Indian Army normally concluded its training cycle in the months of January and February with corps or multi-corps exercises in Rajasthan.
4. The CIA analysis said the evidence indicated that the BRASS TACKS exercises were not a prelude to war.
5. Just as Pakistan has adjusted its deployments in reaction to Exercise Trishul, it did the same with BRASS TACKS IV. There was apprehension among the Pakistan military and political hierarchy about the Indian intent, as they had not been notified about the manoeuvres at that point in time.
1. Yudh Abhyas: The 21st edition of Yudh Abhyas, the annual joint military exercise of US and India held at Fort Wainwright in Alaska from September 1 to 14. The military exercise underlines their steady strategic and defence ties despite the strain in relations between Delhi and Washington over the issue of tariffs, India’s purchase of Russian oil.
2. Mitra Shakti: The 10th edition of the India-Sri Lanka Joint Military Exercise ‘Mitra Shakti’ was conducted at the Army Training School, Maduru Oya, from August 12-25 last year. Mitra Shakti is an annual training event conducted alternatively in India and Sri Lanka. Its last edition was conducted in Pune in November 2023.
3. Passage Exercise: The Indian Navy’s stealth frigate INS Tabar, a submarine, and P-8I maritime patrol aircraft participated in a passage exercise (PASSEX) with the United Kingdom’s Carrier Strike Group in the North Arabian Sea on June 9 and 10, 2025. The joint exercise demonstrates the deepening cooperation between the Indian Navy and the Royal Navy, showcasing a shared commitment to maritime security and robust bilateral ties.
4. Nomadic Elephant: The 17th edition of India-Mongolia Joint Military Exercise NOMADIC ELEPHANT is being conducted in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, from 31st May to 13th June 2025. It is an annual event conducted alternately in India and Mongolia. The 2024 edition was conducted at Umroi, Meghalaya.
5. Dustlik: The sixth edition of the joint military exercise ‘Dustlik’ between India and Uzbekistan is being held at the Foreign Training Node (FTN) at Aundh, Pune from April 16 to 28, 2025. Exercise Dustlik is a yearly event conducted alternatively in India and Uzbekistan. The last edition was conducted at Termez in Uzbekistan and at Pithoragarh in Uttarakhand in 2023. The aim of the exercise is to foster military cooperation and enhance combined capabilities to execute joint operations in various environments and terrains.
Which of the following statements about ‘Exercise Mitra Shakti-2023’ are correct? (UPSC CSE 2024)
1. This was a joint military exercise between India and Bangladesh.
2. It commenced in Aundh (Pune).
3. Joint response during counter-terrorism operation 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, 2 and 4
(c) 1, 3 and 4
(d) 2, 3 and 4
| Answer Key |
| (d) |
(Sources: Military Digest I Exercise Trishul creates scare in Pakistan just as BRASS TACKS IV did in 1987, Knowledge Nugget | Yudh Abhyas: What UPSC aspirants must know for the exam, Armed Forces carry out mega drills along Western border to test combat readiness)
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