1. Where was IMEX TTX 2026 (IONS Maritime Exercise Tabletop Exercise 2026) held?
[A] Surat
[B] Jaipur
[C] Kochi
[D] Bhopal
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Kochi]
Notes:
Indian Navy hosted IMEX TTX 2026 (IONS Maritime Exercise Tabletop Exercise 2026) at Maritime Warfare Centre, Southern Naval Command, Kochi. It involved members of Indian Ocean Naval Symposium and international officers to discuss maritime security. Countries like Bangladesh, France, Indonesia, Kenya, Maldives, Mauritius, Myanmar, Seychelles, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, and Timor-Leste participated. India assumes IONS Chairmanship (2026–2028) after 16 years.
2. ‘Kalari Leap’ is a joint maritime exercise conducted in which state/UT?
[A] Lakshadweep
[B] Gujarat
[C] Andaman and Nicobar
[D] Jammu and Kashmir
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Lakshadweep]
Notes:
The Southern Air Command conducts a high-tempo joint maritime exercise named Kalari Leap in the Lakshadweep and Minicoy archipelago. The exercise validates joint planning, rapid force projection and precise operations in complex maritime environments. The Armed Forces Special Operations Division and the Indian Coast Guard participate in the joint drill. Indian Air Force assets operate alongside Coast Guard ships, Gemini boats and Dornier 228 aircraft. The exercise demonstrates readiness for integrated air, maritime and special operations in island territories.
3. Exercise Ekatha is an annual bilateral maritime exercise between India and which country?
[A] Maldives
[B] Singapore
[C] Bangladesh
[D] Sri Lanka
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Maldives]
Notes:
Exercise Ekatha 2025 was held in Maldives from 15–17 December 2025. Exercise Ekatha, established in 2017, is an annual bilateral maritime exercise, conducted between the Indian Navy and the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF). The 8th edition focused on interoperability and operational synergy through technical/combat diving, boarding operations, firing drills, demolition, explosive handling, asymmetric warfare, and special heli-borne drills.
4. Which Indian naval ship participated in SIMBEX (Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise) 2025?
[A] INS Talwar
[B] INS Shivalik
[C] INS Vikramaditya
[D] INS Satpura
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [INS Satpura]
Notes:
Recently, Singapore and Indian navies concluded the 32nd edition of SIMBEX (Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise) on 1st August 2025. The exercise was held at Singapore’s Changi Naval Base and at sea in the South China Sea. It involved naval ships and aircraft from both nations, including the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF). Singapore deployed the Formidable-class frigate Republic of Singapore Ship (RSS) Supreme, Victory-class corvette RSS Vigilance, and cargo ship MV Mentor. India participated with the Shivalik-class frigate INS Satpura. SIMBEX is India’s longest uninterrupted bilateral naval exercise and one of Singapore’s oldest.
5. SIMBEX is an annual maritime bilateral exercise held between India and which country?
[A] France
[B] Singapore
[C] South Africa
[D] Australia
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Singapore]
Notes:
Indian Navy will participate in the 32nd edition of the Singapore India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX), earlier known as Exercise Lion King. It is one of India’s longest uninterrupted annual maritime exercises. It is conducted every year between the Indian Navy and the Republic of Singapore Navy. The exercise aims to enhance naval cooperation, interoperability, and maritime security. It supports India’s Vision SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region).
6. Consider the following statements about the proposed joint exercise between the European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) and the Indian Navy in May 2025:
- It focuses on routine Passage Exercises (PASSEX) to maintain operational readiness.
- The exercise aims to enhance coordination and cooperation in counter-piracy operations, tactical manoeuvres, and communications.
- The exercise aims to strengthen joint maritime defence strategies against nuclear threats.
- The exercise aims to increase naval presence in the South China Sea and the Pacific Ocean.
Which of the above statements are correct?
[A] Only 1 and 3
[B] Only 2 and 4
[C] Only 2 and 3
[D] Only 1 and 2
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Only 2 and 4]
Notes:
The joint exercise between EUNAVFOR and the Indian Navy focusses on enhancing coordination and cooperation in counter-piracy operations, tactical manoeuvres, and communications (statement 2) and increasing naval presence in the South China Sea and the Pacific Ocean (statement 4). However, it doesn’t focus on routine PASSEX (statement 1) or nuclear threats (statement 3). Hence, the correct answer is Option 2.
7. With reference to INS Sunayna’s recent deployment to Africa under the IOS SAGAR mission, consider the following statements:
- The mission is part of India’s regional initiative titled SAGAR, which emphasizes Security and Growth for All in the Region.
- The inaugural session of the India-Africa maritime partnership exercise AIKEYME 25 was conducted at Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania.
- INS Sunayna was flagged off from Mumbai by the Hon’ble Minister of External Affairs.
Which of the statements given above is / are correct?
[A] 1 and 2 only
[B] 1 and 3 only
[C] 2 and 3 only
[D] 1, 2 and 3
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [1 and 2 only]
Notes:
- Statement 1 is correct – SAGAR stands for Security and Growth for All in the Region.
- Statement 2 is correct – AIKEYME 25 was held at Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania.
- Statement 3 is incorrect – The ship was flagged off from Karwar by the Raksha Mantri (Defence Minister), not the Minister of External Affairs.
The correct answer is option 1, which includes only the first and second statements.
8. Consider the following about the India-Africa maritime exercise AIKEYME 25, in which INS Sunayna participated:
- It marked the first India-Africa multilateral maritime exercise hosted in the western Indian Ocean.
- It was the first such exercise under the expanded SAGAR initiative involving nine African nations.
- It aimed at promoting operational coordination and interoperability in the Western Pacific region.
Which of the above statements is / are correct?
[A] 1 and 2 only
[B] 1 and 3 only
[C] 2 only
[D] 3 only
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [1 and 2 only]
Notes:
The India-Africa maritime exercise AIKEYME 25 marked the first such bilateral exercise hosted in the western Indian Ocean (Statement 1). It was indeed part of the expanded SAGAR initiative and involved nine African nations (Statement 2). However, the exercise was not aimed at promoting operational coordination and interoperability in the Western Pacific region (Statement 3) but was focused on the Western Indian Ocean Region.
9. Consider the following objectives of the AIKEYME exercise:
- Develop solutions for regional maritime challenges
- Enhance interoperability among the maritime forces of partner nations
- Promote defence cooperation exclusively between India and Tanzania
Select the correct objectives using the code below:
[A] 1 and 2 only
[B] 1 and 3 only
[C] 2 and 3 only
[D] 1, 2 and 3
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [1 and 2 only]
Notes:
The AIKEYME exercise mainly focuses on developing collaborative solutions to regional maritime challenges and enhancing interoperability among the maritime forces of participating nations. It is a multilateral exercise involving several African nations and India and thus it is not an exclusive defence cooperation between only India and Tanzania.
10. Where was the Africa India Key Maritime Engagement (AIKEYME) Exercise 2025 held?
[A] Tanzania
[B] Madagascar
[C] Mauritius
[D] South Africa
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Tanzania]
Notes:
The Africa India Key Maritime Engagement (AIKEYME) 2025 was inaugurated on 13 April 2025 in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, marking a major step in India-Africa maritime cooperation. It is a large-scale multilateral maritime exercise jointly hosted by India and Tanzania to boost ties in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). Eleven nations are participating: India, Tanzania, Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, and South Africa. The aim is to enhance naval coordination and develop joint solutions to regional maritime challenges. It aligns with India’s SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) visions. Indian Navy ships INS Chennai, INS Kesari, and INS Sunayna are deployed, with INS Sunayna part of the Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) SAGAR mission. The exercise runs for six days (April 13–18, 2025) with harbour and sea phases.
