Context

7th edition of India-France Joint Military Exercise SHAKTI commenced on 13th May, at Umroi in Meghalaya.

About India-France Joint Military Exercise SHAKTI

• Biennial Exercise: Exercise Shakti is held every two years, alternating between India and France. The last edition was held in France in November 2021.
• Multi-Domain Operations: The exercise aims to enhance the joint military capabilities of India and France to conduct multi-domain operations in a sub-conventional scenario, adhering to Chapter VII of the UN Mandate.
• Varied Terrain Operations: The focus is on semi-urban and mountainous terrain, challenging the participants to adapt to different environmental conditions.
• Objectives of Exercise Shakti:
  • Physical Fitness and Tactical Drills: The exercise emphasizes achieving a high degree of physical fitness, refining tactical-level operations drills, and sharing best practices between the forces.
  • Practice of Tactical Drills: The exercise includes various tactical responses such as handling terrorist actions, establishing joint command posts and intelligence centers, securing helipads, and employing drones and counter-drone systems.
  • Interoperability and Cooperation: The exercise facilitates the development of interoperability and fosters camaraderie and bonhomie between the armed forces personnel of the two countries.

Enroll now for UPSC Online Course

Other Defence Exercises between India and France:

• Varuna: Naval exercise
• Desert Knight-21 and Garuda: Air exercise
• Shakti: Army exercise