Learn about Military Exercises of India list, including joint drills with countries like the US, UK, France, China, and Nepal. See how Military Exercises of India helps in strengthening India's defense and teamwork.
theIAShub | 12 Mar, 2025 | 1863 | 0
Military Exercises of India: India regularly participates in military exercises with other countries to improve defense skills and strengthen international partnerships. These Military Exercises of India help in sharing knowledge, learning new techniques, and enhancing combat readiness for different situations, such as counter-terrorism, disaster relief, and peacekeeping operations.
In 2024-25, India engaged in joint drills with key nations like the United States, the United Kingdom, France, China, and Nepal. Each exercise focuses on specific areas such as tactical operations, naval security, and air force collaboration. For instance, the Malabar exercise strengthens maritime cooperation, while Yudh Abhyas enhances combat preparedness between Indian and US armies. Similarly, Shakti with France focuses on counter-terrorism operations.
These Military Exercises of India not only boost India’s defense capabilities but also promote friendly relations with partner nations. They play a vital role in keeping the country prepared for any future challenges and maintaining peace in the region.
The Dharma Guardian exercise is a bilateral military training program between India and Japan, focusing on counter-terrorism operations in urban terrain and United Nations peacekeeping drills like Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR). The 6th edition was held from February 24 to March 9, 2024, at the East Fuji Training Area in Japan, strengthening military cooperation and interoperability.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Exercise Name | Dharma Guardian |
| Participating Nations | India and Japan |
| 6th Edition Date | February 24 – March 9, 2024 |
| Location | East Fuji Training Area, Japan |
| Focus Areas | Counter-terrorism, Urban Warfare, UN Peacekeeping, HADR |
| Conducted By | Indian Army & Japan Ground Self-Defence Force (JGSDF) |
| Objective | Strengthening defense ties, operational readiness, and mutual cooperation |
India conducts various military exercises to enhance defense capabilities, strengthen international ties, and improve operational readiness. These exercises are categorized into three main types: Domestic, Bilateral, and Multilateral.
These are conducted within India to improve internal coordination. They can involve collaboration between different branches of the armed forces.
List of Key Domestic Exercises:
These are conducted between India and one other country to strengthen defense cooperation and share knowledge.
Important Bilateral Exercises:
| Exercise Name | Participant Nations |
| Sampriti | India & Bangladesh |
| Mitra Shakti | India & Sri Lanka |
| SLINEX | India & Sri Lanka |
| Maitree Exercise | India & Thailand |
| Siam Bharat | India & Thailand |
| Vajra Prahar | India & US |
| Yudh Abhyas | India & US |
| Cope India | India & US |
| Nomadic Elephant | India & Mongolia |
| Garuda Shakti | India & Indonesia |
| IND-INDO CORPAT | India & Indonesia |
| Samudra Shakti | India & Indonesia |
| Shakti Exercise | India & France |
| Varuna Exercise | India & France |
| Garuda Exercise | India & France |
| Dharma Guardian | India & Japan |
| JIMEX | India & Japan |
| Surya Kiran | India & Nepal |
| Hand in Hand | India & China |
| SIMBEX | India & Singapore |
| AUSINDEX | India & Australia |
| Indo-Thai CORPAT | India & Thailand |
| AUSTRA HIND | India & Australia |
| IN-BN CORPAT | India & Bangladesh |
| Table Top | India & Bangladesh |
| Prabal Dostyk | India & Kazakhstan |
| Khanjar | India & Kyrgyzstan |
| Ekuverin | India & Maldives |
| IMBEX | India & Myanmar |
| IMCOR | India & Myanmar |
| Al Nagah | India & Oman |
| Naseem Al Bahr | India & Oman |
| Eastern Bridge | India & Oman |
| Exercise Indra | India & Russia |
| Ajeya Warrior | India & UK |
| Konkan | India & UK |
| Indradhanush | India & UK |
| Lamitiye | India & Seychelles |
| VINBAX | India & Vietnam |
These involve multiple partner nations working together to improve defense strategies and cooperation.
Major Multilateral Exercises:
| Exercise Name | Number of Participant Nations |
| RIMPAC | 26 |
| MALABAR | 4 |
| COBRA-GOLD | Asia-Pacific countries |
| Samvedna | South Asian Region Nations |
India conducts joint military exercises to strengthen defense cooperation, improve operational readiness, and foster collaboration with global forces. These exercises span the Army, Navy, and Air Force, covering diverse operational scenarios.
The Indian Army conducts joint exercises to enhance combat readiness, share expertise, and foster defense cooperation. These drills focus on counter-terrorism, disaster response, and terrain-specific warfare.
| Exercise Name | Participating Nations |
| Nomadic Elephant | India and Mongolia |
| Sampriti | India and Bangladesh |
| Hand in Hand | India and China |
| Shakti | India and France |
| Mitra Shakti | India and Sri Lanka |
| Yudh Abhyas | India and the USA |
| Khanjar | India and Kyrgyzstan |
| Ajeya Warrior | India and the UK |
The Indian Navy participates in international exercises to enhance maritime security, ensure safe trade routes, and conduct search and rescue missions.
| Exercise Name | Participating Nations |
| MALABAR | India, USA, Japan, and Australia |
| Varuna | India and France |
| SLINEX | India and Sri Lanka |
| Samudra Shakti | India and Indonesia |
| AUSINDEX | India and Australia |
| SIMBEX | India and Singapore |
| Bright Star | India and 34 other countries |
The Indian Air Force engages in drills to improve operational readiness, simulate air combat scenarios, and foster collaboration with foreign air forces.
| Exercise Name | Participating Nations |
| Veer Guardian | India and Japan |
| Desert Flag | India and UAE |
| Cobra Warrior | Multinational exercise in the UK |
| Cope India | India and the USA |
| Orion | Multinational exercise in France |
These operations focus on providing aid during natural disasters and emergency situations, showcasing India’s commitment to humanitarian causes.
The Indian Armed Forces engage in a wide range of military exercises, including domestic, bilateral, and multilateral events. These exercises are designed to improve operational efficiency and build strategic partnerships.
| Month & Date | Name of the Exercise | Name of Participating Countries | Location |
| 2nd to 15th January 2024 | Desert Cyclone | India with UAE | Rajasthan, India |
| 22nd January to 1st February 2024 | Ex Cyclone-I | India with Egypt | Anshas, Egypt |
| 22nd January to 3rd February 2024 | Ex Khanjar | India with Kyrgyzstan | Himachal Pradesh, India |
| 29th January to 10th February 2024 | SADA TANSEEQ | India with Saudi Arabia | Rajasthan, India |
| February 2024 | Exercise Dosti | India, Maldives, and Sri Lanka | Near Male, Maldives |
| 25th February to 9th March 2024 | Dharma Guardian | India with Japan | Rajasthan, India |
| 28th February to 2nd March 2024 | Samudra Laksmana | India with Malaysia | Visakhapatnam, India |
| 18th to 31st March 2024 | Tiger Triumph | India with USA | Kakinada, India |
| 18th to 27th March 2024 | Ex LAMITIYE | India with Seychelles | Seychelles |
| 15th to 28th April 2024 | Ex DUSTLIK | India with Uzbekistan | Termez, Uzbekistan |
| 20th to 24th May 2024 | Exercise Cyber Suraksha | India | – |
| 13th to 26th May 2024 | SHAKTI | India with France | Umroi, Meghalaya, India |
| 9th to 22nd September 2024 | YUDH ABHYAS | India with USA | Rajasthan, India |
| 30th September to 13th October 2024 | KAZIND | India with Kazakhstan | Auli, Uttarakhand, India |
| 2nd to 22nd November 2024 | VAJRA PRAHAR | India with USA | Idaho, USA |
| 4th to 23rd November 2024 | VINBAX | India with Vietnam | Ambala & Chandimandir, India |
| 2nd to 15th December 2024 | HARIMAU SHAKTI | India with Malaysia | Pahang District, Malaysia |
| 31st December 2024 to 13th January 2025 | SURYA KIRAN | India with Nepal | Saljhandi, Nepal |
India conducts joint military exercises to build interoperability and strengthen defense cooperation with partner nations. These exercises focus on combat strategies, tactical training, and knowledge sharing.
Check below a comprehensive list of all Military exercises of India with other countries:
| Participating Countries | Army/Navy/Air Force | Exercise Name |
| India – Australia | Army | AUSTRA HIND |
| India – Bangladesh | Army | SAMPRITI |
| India – China | Army | HAND IN HAND |
| India – France | Army | SHAKTI |
| India – Japan | Navy | JIMEX |
| India – Nepal | Army | SURYA KIRAN |
| India – USA | Army | YUDHABHAYAS |
India regularly participates in joint military exercises with various nations to strengthen defense ties, enhance operational readiness, and foster mutual cooperation. Below is a detailed list of major military exercises conducted between India and key international partners.
India and the Maldives continue to strengthen their bilateral defence ties through the 13th edition of the joint military exercise ‘Ekuverin,’ being hosted by the Maldives from 2nd to 15th February 2025 at the Official Composite Training Center in Maafilaafushi.
India and Maldives have maintained strong defence ties since 1998. The Comprehensive Action Plan for Defence (2016) further solidified this relationship, with regular joint military exercises fostering operational readiness and close collaboration.
| Exercise | Participants | Latest Edition & Year | Key Objective |
| Ekuverin | Indian Army and MNDF | 13th edition in 2025 | Counter-insurgency & disaster relief |
| Exercise Katha | Indian Navy and MNDF Naval Wing | 6th edition in 2023 | Maritime cooperation |
| Exercise Shield | Indian Navy, MNDF, and Sri Lanka Navy | 1st edition in 2021 | Anti-narcotics & maritime search |
| Exercise Dosti | Coast Guards of India, Maldives, and Sri Lanka | 16th edition in 2024 | Maritime security cooperation |
This exercise underscores the ongoing defence collaboration and strategic partnership between India and the Maldives.
Military exercises strengthen operational capabilities and build international partnerships, contributing to India’s defense readiness.
These exercises reflect India’s proactive defense strategy and commitment to international peace and cooperation.
Military exercises play a critical role in strengthening India’s defense capabilities and fostering international cooperation. By participating in these strategic drills, India continues to bolster its military readiness and build strong defense partnerships with countries around the world.
Are you preparing for UPSC 2025? Join IAShub’s UPSC coaching batches to boost your preparation. Enroll now!
India's most important joint military exercises in 2024-25 include Nomadic Elephant with Mongolia, Yudh Abhyas with the USA, MALABAR with the USA, Japan, and Australia, and Veer Guardian with Japan. These exercises strengthen defense ties and enhance operational readiness across land, sea, and air domains.
India conducts three types of military exercises: bilateral, multilateral, and domestic. These exercises involve various operational and strategic scenarios where the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force participate with units and battalions based on the exercise's specific objectives.
In 2024-2025, India conducted joint military exercises in Visakhapatnam under the Eastern Naval Command. Partner countries included Japan (Yokosuka) and others, with the active participation of the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force.
In 2024, the Indian Army conducted the 13th edition of the bilateral military exercise "Agni Warrior" with the Singapore Armed Forces. The exercise concluded on 30th November 2024 at the Field Firing Ranges in Devlali, Maharashtra.
In 2025, India is participating in the 13th edition of the joint military exercise 'Ekuverin' with the Maldives, hosted in the Maldives from 2nd to 15th February.
Refine your answer writing skills and elevate your UPSC preparation with personalized support and expert feedback.
Fill out the form to get started with the program or any other enquiries !
theIAShub is dedicated to shaping the next generation of civil
servants by providing a transformative preparation platform tailored
to the unique challenges of UPSC CSE. From mastering the
foundational concepts for Prelims to crafting impactful answers for
Mains and excelling in the Personality Test, we ensure every
aspirant is equipped with the skills and strategies required to
succeed.
With a perfect blend of online and offline learning options, our
programs are designed to deliver personalized guidance and
cutting-edge resources. theIAShub’s renowned Test Series for GS
Prelims, Mains, CSAT, Essay, and Optional Subjects empowers
aspirants through continuous evaluation and improvement, fostering a
deep understanding and readiness for every stage of the examination.
At theIAShub, our mission is to inspire, guide, and empower aspirants to transform their potential into tangible success. Through our innovative mentorship ecosystem, aspirants receive individualized feedback, actionable strategies, and focused attention that help them overcome challenges and achieve their goals. As pioneers in UPSC preparation, we combine expertise, innovation, and commitment to create an unparalleled learning experience. Whether through engaging workshops, insightful resources, or interactive sessions, theIAShub fosters a community where aspirants not only prepare for exams but also develop the mindset of future leaders dedicated to nation-building.
Join theIAShub and become part of a transformative journey, where your aspirations meet the guidance, support, and excellence needed to succeed in the world of civil services.
