India's forces hold regular joint exercises with friendly countries to practise working together. Each has a name, usually fixed to one partner, and the venue alternates between the two countries. Some are army exercises (Yudh Abhyas with the United States, Surya Kiran with Nepal, Mitra Shakti with Sri Lanka), some naval (Varuna with France, Malabar with the Quad navies of the US, Japan and Australia), some air force (Garuda with France).
Key facts
- Malabar began in May 1992 as an India-US naval exercise; Japan became permanent in 2015 and Australia rejoined in 2020, making it a Quad exercise; the 28th edition was held in November 2025 near Guam. (as of 23 Oct 2026)
- Yudh Abhyas, the India-US army exercise, began in 2002 and alternates venues: 2024 Mahajan (Rajasthan), 2025 Fort Wainwright (Alaska), 2026 Auli and Mahajan. (as of 23 Oct 2026)
- Varuna, the India-France naval exercise, started in 1983 and took its name in 2001; the 24th edition (2026) was held off Toulon. (as of 23 Oct 2026)
Why exams ask about it
Match-the-following questions pair four exercise names with four partner countries every season.