Exercise 'Varuna 2026': India-France Naval Drill Commences in Arabian Sea
The 24th edition of the bilateral naval exercise 'Varuna' between India and France has started in the Arabian Sea.
2-Minute Summary (TL;DR)
- 24th edition of Exercise 'Varuna' held in the Arabian Sea.
- Bilateral naval exercise between India and France.
- Focuses on maritime security and interoperability.
How This Topic is Tested in Competitive Exams
| Exam | Frequency | Approx. Marks | What Gets Asked |
|---|---|---|---|
| SSC (CGL / CHSL / MTS) | High | 3–5 | Defence acquisitions, military exercises, and appointments appear in SSC GK. |
| UPSC / State PCS | Medium | 4–8 | UPSC focuses on strategic aspects: defence policy, Indo-Pacific, border issues, and bilateral defence deals. |
What to Memorize from This Topic
- Military exercise: name, participating countries, location, purpose
- Defence acquisition: system name, purpose, procured from which country
- Appointments: new Chief of Army Staff, CNS, CAS, and their tenures
- Indigenization: 'Made in India' defence milestones, first-ever systems
- Strategic policy: recent changes to defence export policy, FDI limits in defence
Practice Questions
Q1. Exercise 'Varuna' is a bilateral naval exercise between India and which country?
- USA
- Russia
- France
- Japan
Explanation: Exercise Varuna is a bilateral naval exercise between India and France.
Q2. Where is the 2026 edition of Exercise Varuna being conducted?
- Bay of Bengal
- Arabian Sea
- Indian Ocean
- South China Sea
Explanation: The 2026 edition of Exercise Varuna is being conducted in the Arabian Sea.
How to Prepare Defence for Government Exams
For every military exercise, note: India + Partner country + Purpose (bilateral or multilateral). Questions are pattern-based.
Defence indigenization ('Atmanirbhar Bharat in Defence') is a high-priority topic for 2025–26. Focus on systems developed by DRDO or HAL.
Chiefs of defence services change periodically. Always keep the current CDS, Army Chief, Navy Chief, and Air Chief up to date.
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