Defence Current Affairs MCQs

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India recently tested the K-4 missile, an intermediate-range, nuclear-capable submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM), from the nuclear-powered submarine INS Arighaat in the Bay of Bengal. K-4 is 12 metres long, weighs 17 tonnes, and uses a two-stage solid-fuel system. It has a range of 3,500 km, a significant upgrade over the older K-15 missile (range 750 km). Each Arihant-class submarine can carry four K-4 missiles. It can carry a payload of up to 2 tonnes, including a nuclear warhead. It is developed indigenously by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

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President Droupadi Murmu undertook her maiden submarine sortie on December 28. She boarded the Kalvari-class submarine INS Vaghsheer at Karwar naval base. With this, she became the second President of India to go on a submarine sortie. The first Indian President to do so was Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam. INS Vaghsheer is a Kalvari-class submarine of the Indian Navy. The event highlights civilian leadership’s close engagement with India’s naval forces. It reflects confidence in India’s indigenously built and advanced submarine capabilities

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The next-generation civil helicopter DHRUV-NG was inaugurated at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Bengaluru. The inaugural flight of the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) DHRUV-NG, a civil variant showcased at Aero India 2025, was flagged off. DHRUV-NG is a 5.5-tonne, light twin-engine, multi-role helicopter designed for diverse Indian terrain and global civil aviation standards. The helicopter focuses on enhanced safety, improved performance, and passenger comfort, marking a milestone in India’s indigenous rotary-wing aviation.

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The Indian Army has declared 2026 as the ‘Year of Networking & Data Centricity’ to build a future-ready force. The focus is on stronger connectivity, real-time decision-making, and higher combat effectiveness. Jointness, self-reliance, and innovation are the core pillars of military power. Data centricity treats data as a key combat asset shared across platforms instantly. This enables faster targeting, efficient troop movement, and better resource use. It shifts the Army from platform-centric to network-centric warfare. The initiative supports indigenisation, defence modernisation, and seamless Army–Navy–Air Force operations.

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Recently, INS Sagardhwani, India’s oceanographic research vessel under DRDO’s Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL), was flagged off for the fifth edition of the Sagar Maitri initiative from Southern Naval Command, Kochi. Sagar Maitri is a collaborative initiative of the Indian Navy and DRDO under MAHASAGAR, aiming to strengthen cooperation among Indian Ocean Rim (IOR) countries through socio-economic engagement and ocean research. The mission includes the MAITRI (Marine & Allied Interdisciplinary Training and Research Initiative) component for long-term scientific partnerships.

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Recently, Indian Coast Guard Ship Sankalp visited Port Louis in Mauritius as part of overseas deployment in the Indian Ocean Region. It is the fifth Advanced Offshore Patrol Vessel of the Indian Coast Guard, commissioned in 2008. The ship is indigenously built by Goa Shipyard Limited. It is designed for maritime surveillance, Exclusive Economic Zone protection, search and rescue, and law enforcement. The vessel is 105 metres long with an endurance of 6,500 nautical miles and a displacement of about 2,325 tonnes. It has advanced navigation and communication systems and can operate Advanced Light Helicopter and Chetak helicopters.

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India, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives conducted the 17th edition of the DOSTI Exercise, which concluded on 19 January 2026 in the Maldives. The trilateral Coast Guard exercise was inaugurated on 17 January 2026 in Malé and included a maritime drill on 18 January 2026. It focused on joint training, information sharing, and interoperability to tackle non-traditional maritime security challenges. The exercise supported India’s Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) vision and strengthened regional maritime cooperation.

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India will debut its Long-Range Anti-Ship Hypersonic Glide Missile (LR-AShM) at the 77th Republic Day parade, marking entry into the hypersonic anti-ship weapons club. LR-AShM is an indigenous missile developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for the Indian Navy. It is designed to destroy high-value naval targets like aircraft carrier battle groups at very long ranges. The missile enhances maritime deterrence in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and strengthens Anti-Access/Area Denial (A2/AD) capability.

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The 13th edition of Exercise KHANJAR, a joint military exercise between India and Kyrgyzstan, has started at Misamari in Sonitpur district of Assam. Exercise KHANJAR is an annual Joint Special Forces exercise conducted by both countries. The exercise is held alternately in India and the Kyrgyz Republic every year. Khanjar-XIII is a 14-day-long exercise aimed at improving interoperability between Special Forces. The 2026 edition focuses on urban warfare and counter-terrorism operations under the United Nations mandate.

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The Indian Air Force (IAF) will conduct its largest day-and-night air power exercise, Vayu Shakti-2026, on 27 February at the Pokaran Field Firing Range in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. The exercise will test operational strategy, precision strikes, and weapon systems against simulated enemy targets like bunkers, bridges, and operation rooms. It will be held at the Chandan Field Firing Range near Pokaran, with a full dress rehearsal on 24 February. Operations will be showcased during day, dusk, and night phases.