India and France Finalize Deal for 26 Rafale-M Fighter Jets
India and France have signed a multi-billion dollar deal for 26 Rafale-M (Marine) fighter jets for the Indian Navy.
2-Minute Summary (TL;DR)
- India signs deal with France for 26 Rafale-M fighter jets.
- Jets to be deployed on the indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant.
- Rafale-M selected after trials against the F/A-18 Super Hornet.
- Includes 'Make in India' provisions for maintenance and spares.
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. The Rafale-M fighter jets are being procured for which branch of the Indian Armed Forces?
- Indian Army
- Indian Air Force
- Indian Navy
- Indian Coast Guard
Explanation: The Rafale-M (Marine) is being procured specifically for the Indian Navy's aircraft carriers.
Q2. On which Indian aircraft carrier will the Rafale-M jets be primarily deployed?
- INS Vikramaditya
- INS Vikrant
- INS Viraat
- INS Vishal
Explanation: The jets will be deployed on India's first indigenous aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant.
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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