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INS Trishul takes part in the 24th edition of India-France exercise Varuna
बातमीत का?
Varuna, Shakti, Garuda: can you match India-France exercises to their service? The GS3 defence list to know
Varuna 2026 reinforces India-France naval cooperation.
Why it matters: asked in UPSC 2004; factual, Prelims-type
What you need to know
2 मिनिटे
The Indian Navy's INS Trishul participated in the 24th edition of Varuna, the bilateral maritime exercise between India and France.
Varuna is the flagship naval engagement between the two countries and strengthens bilateral defence cooperation.
स्रोत: Topper IAS editorial (PIB / The Hindu / Indian Express)
महत्त्वाची तथ्ये
Remember these
- Varuna is the bilateral naval exercise between India and France; the 2026 edition is its 24th.
- INS Trishul of the Indian Navy took part in the 24th edition.
- Varuna is the flagship naval engagement between the two countries.
- Other India-France exercises: Shakti (Army) and Garuda (Air Force).
- India and France share a strategic partnership dating back to 1998.
पूर्व · मुख्य
How the exam will ask it
पूर्व
- Statement: Varuna is a bilateral naval exercise between India and France. (Correct)
- Statement: Varuna is a trilateral exercise between India, France and Japan. (Incorrect; it is bilateral)
- Match: Varuna - India-France Navy; Shakti - India-France Army; Garuda - India-France Air Force.
- Name tip: JIMEX is India-Japan, AUSINDEX is India-Australia, INDRA is India-Russia; do not confuse them with Varuna.
मुख्य
GS2 (International Relations) and GS3 (Defence). Regular bilateral exercises like Varuna build interoperability and operational trust, anchored in the India-France strategic partnership and shared interest in a free, open Indian Ocean. Way forward: deepen joint maritime domain awareness, defence-industrial cooperation and logistics support to secure sea lanes and balance regional power shifts.
PYQ connection
A question UPSC has already asked on this
INS Trishul acquired by the Indian Navy in 2003 has been built by:
- Israel
- USA
- Russia
- France
उत्तर पहा
उत्तर: C
Why this matters: today's issue is directly connected to a concept UPSC has already tested. Read the story with this question in mind.
Practise this PYQ →Quick recall
Answer before you reveal
Varuna, in whose 24th edition INS Trishul took part, is a bilateral naval exercise between India and which country?
- Japan
- Australia
- France
- Russia
उत्तर पहा
उत्तर: C — Correct: France — Varuna is the India-France bilateral naval exercise, and INS Trishul took part in its 24th edition. • Japan — wrong: India's bilateral naval exercise with Japan is JIMEX, not Varuna. • Australia — wrong: The India-Australia bilateral naval exercise is AUSINDEX, not Varuna. • Russia — wrong: India's naval exercise with Russia is INDRA, not Varuna.
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