Military Exercises of India List Notes for SSC Exams

Joint military exercises of India with other countries are asked in SSC exams in the form "Exercise Dharma Guardian is held between India and which country?". The questions test the pair of the exercise name and the partner country. These military exercises of India notes for SSC give the important exercises in three tables for the Army, Navy and Air Force, followed by the 2026 editions and practice questions.

Army Exercises

Navy Exercises

Air Force Exercises

Important Exercises of 2026

These details are as reported by news websites. Check the PIB and defence ministry releases for the final dates and the participants.

Types of Military Exercises

Knowing the type of an exercise helps you eliminate wrong options in the exam. For example, an exercise that includes a ship or a fleet is a naval exercise, and an exercise on jungle or mountain warfare is an Army exercise.

Tips to Learn the Exercises

• Learn the exercise name with one partner country, and make a list separately for each force.
• Many exercises have the word "Shakti" or "Abhyas", so also remember the country with each name.
• Remember that the Hand-in-Hand exercise with China has not been held for years.
• Note the host place for the major exercises held in India.

Quick Tips

• Revise the table of exercises with a friend by asking the partner country for each name.
• Do not mix Yudh Abhyas (Army with the USA) with Malabar (Navy with the Quad countries).
• Learn the latest edition number and the host place of the biggest exercises.
• Check defence news once a month for new exercises.

Quick Revision Points

• Yudh Abhyas is held with the United States.
• Dharma Guardian is held with Japan.
• Nomadic Elephant is held with Mongolia.
• Malabar is a naval exercise with the Quad countries.
• Tarang Shakti is a multinational air exercise of the IAF.

Practice Questions With Answers

1. Exercise Yudh Abhyas is held between India and which country?
   Answer: United States
2. Exercise Dharma Guardian is held between India and which country?
   Answer: Japan
3. Exercise Nomadic Elephant is held between India and which country?
   Answer: Mongolia
4. Exercise Malabar is a naval exercise of India with which countries?
   Answer: United States, Japan and Australia
5. Exercise Garuda Shakti is held with which country?
   Answer: Indonesia
6. Exercise Ekuverin is held between India and which country?
   Answer: Maldives
7. Exercise Mitra Shakti is held with which country?
   Answer: Sri Lanka
8. Exercise Surya Kiran is held with which country?
   Answer: Nepal
9. Exercise Varuna is held with which country?
   Answer: France
10. Exercise Tarang Shakti is conducted by which force?
    Answer: Indian Air Force

How to Practise This Chapter

Learn five exercises daily and revise them with a quiz on the partner country. Then solve questions from our practice papers and the previous year papers page. Read this note with the ISRO Missions List and the Summits 2026 notes. The Current Affairs notes page has more topics, and the General Awareness notes cover defence basics.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are joint military exercises?

Joint military exercises are training drills held by India with the armed forces of other countries to improve cooperation and skills.

Which exercise is held between India and the USA?

Yudh Abhyas is the Army exercise between India and the USA. Cope India is the air force exercise.

What is Exercise Malabar?

Malabar is a naval exercise held among India, the United States, Japan and Australia, the Quad countries.

What is Exercise Dharma Guardian?

Dharma Guardian is an Army exercise between India and Japan. The 7th edition was held in 2026 at Chaubattia, Uttarakhand.

What is Exercise Nomadic Elephant?

It is an annual Army exercise between India and Mongolia. The 18th edition was held in 2026 at Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand.

What is Tarang Shakti?

Tarang Shakti is a multinational air exercise hosted by the Indian Air Force. The second edition was held in 2026 at Jodhpur.

What is Exercise Pragati 2026?

Pragati 2026 was a multinational army exercise hosted by India at Umroi, Meghalaya, in May 2026, with 12 friendly nations.

Which exercise is held between India and France?

Shakti is the Army exercise, Garuda is the Air Force exercise and Varuna is the Navy exercise between India and France.

Which exercise is held between India and Japan?

Dharma Guardian is the Army exercise and JIMEX is the Navy exercise between India and Japan.

How can I remember so many exercises?

Make three tables for the Army, Navy and Air Force with the partner country, and revise them with a quiz every week.

Where can I find the latest exercise details?

Check the press releases of the Press Information Bureau (PIB) and the Ministry of Defence for the latest exercises.

How many questions come from military exercises in SSC exams?

Usually one question comes from defence and exercises in SSC General Awareness papers, but the number changes from year to year.