Curtain Raiser:Exercise INDRA 2019

News:India and Russia will be conducting the Exercise INDRA 2019 in India from 10 December simultaneously at Babina (near Jhansi), Pune, and Goa.

Facts:

About Exercise Indra:

• Exercise Indra is a joint tri-services exercise comprising Army, Air Force and Navy of India and Russia.
• The exercise began in the year 2003 and the first joint tri services exercise was conducted in 2017.
• The aim of the exercise is to practice joint planning and conduct to enhance interoperability in the peacekeeping and enforcement environment under the aegis of the United Nations.
• The exercise consists of tactical operations end drills such as handling and neutralisation of Improvised Explosive Devices, prevention of arms smuggling through the sea route and anti-piracy measures among others.

Additional information:

Other exercises between India and Russia:

Exercise Avia Indra:

• Exercise Aviaindra is an Air Force level exercise between India and Russia. 
• It was conducted for the first time in 2014 and since then it is conducted bi-annually (twice a year) in both countries. 
• The aim of this exercise is focused towards anti-terrorist operations in bilateral scenario.

About Exercise TSENTR:

• Exercise TSENTR is part of the annual series of large scale exercises that form part of the Russian Armed Forces annual training cycle.
• The series rotates through the four main Russian operational strategic commands namely (a)Vostok (East) (b)Zapad (West) (c)TSENTR (Centre) and (d)Kavkaz (South).
• The exercise in 2019 saw the participation of military contingents from China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Pakistan and Uzbekistan also taking part in the event.
• The exercise aims at evolving drills of the participating armies and practicing them in the fight against the scourge of international terrorism thereby ensuring military security in the strategic central Asian region.