UPSC Current Affairs
EXERCISE MALABAR
What’s the News The Indian Naval Ship (INS) Sahyadri has reached Guam, an island in the Northern Pacific Ocean, to take part in Exercise Malabar 2025 — a major multilateral naval exercise. The exercise involves the navies of India, the United States, Japan, and Australia. INDIA’S PARTICIPATION INS Sahyadri is representing India in the exercise.
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What’s the News The Indian Naval Ship (INS) Sahyadri has reached Guam, an island in the Northern Pacific Ocean, to take part in Exercise Malabar 2025 — a major multilateral naval exercise. The exercise involves the navies of India, the United States, Japan, and Australia. INDIA’S PARTICIPATION INS Sahyadri is representing India in the exercise.
What’s the News
- The Indian Naval Ship (INS) Sahyadri has reached Guam, an island in the Northern Pacific Ocean, to take part in Exercise Malabar 2025 — a major multilateral naval exercise.
- The exercise involves the navies of India, the United States, Japan, and Australia.
INDIA’S PARTICIPATION
- INS Sahyadri is representing India in the exercise.
- It is an indigenously designed and built Guided Missile Stealth Frigate, showcasing the Aatmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) initiative in defence production.
- The ship has previously participated in many international exercises and missions, reflecting India’s strong naval capabilities and partnerships.
PHASES OF EXERCISE MALABAR 2025
- Harbour Phase (at port):
- Involves operational discussions, planning sessions, and communication alignment between the participating countries.
- Includes familiarisation visits (crew from each country visit each other’s ships) and sports events to promote friendship and coordination.
- Sea Phase (at sea):
- Focuses on practical naval drills and operations, such as:
- Joint fleet operations
- Anti-submarine warfare
- Gunnery serials (target practice)
- Flying operations (aircraft coordination at sea)
| Aspect |
Details |
| Started in |
1992 |
| Initially between |
India and the United States |
| First held in Bay of Bengal |
2007 |
| Became trilateral (India-US-Japan) |
2015 |
| Australia joined (making it QUAD exercise) |
2020 |
| Where it is held |
Alternately in the Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean |
| Nature |
Annual naval exercise among QUAD countries |
| Purpose |
Strengthen coordination, enhance interoperability, and address shared maritime challenges |
| Focus areas |
Security in the Indo-Pacific region, freedom of navigation, and maritime stability |
ABOUT INS SAHYADRI
| Feature |
Details |
| Class |
Shivalik-class Guided Missile Stealth Frigate |
| Builder |
Built indigenously in India |
| Key Feature |
Stealth design — makes it hard to detect by radar |
| Role |
Capable of surface, air, and underwater warfare |
| Significance |
Represents India’s self-reliance in naval defence (Aatmanirbhar Bharat) |
WHY THIS EXERCISE IS IMPORTANT?
- Strengthens India’s strategic ties with other QUAD nations (US, Japan, Australia).
- Enhances joint operational capabilities of participating navies.
- Promotes maritime security and freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific region.
- Demonstrates India’s growing naval strength and indigenous defence production.
- Prelims: Key facts, institutions, locations and terminology in the article.
- Mains: Connect the topic with Economy, Defence, Polity & Governance.
- Revision: Use the article headings to prepare concise notes and answer-writing points.
Test your understanding
Questions from this article
Prelims practiceWith reference to EXERCISE MALABAR, consider the following statements:
- The Indian Naval Ship (INS) Sahyadri has reached Guam, an island in the Northern Pacific Ocean, to take part in Exercise Malabar 2025 — a major multilateral naval exercise.
- The exercise involves the navies of India, the United States, Japan, and Australia.
- INS Sahyadri is representing India in the exercise.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
View answer
Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3. All three statements are drawn from the article.
Mains practiceDiscuss the background, key issues and significance of EXERCISE MALABAR for India.
Answer in 250 words.
View answer approach
- INDIA’S PARTICIPATION
- PHASES OF EXERCISE MALABAR 2025
- ABOUT INS SAHYADRI
- WHY THIS EXERCISE IS IMPORTANT?
Frequently asked questionsFrequently asked questions
Why is Exercise Malabar in the news?
What’s the News The Indian Naval Ship (INS) Sahyadri has reached Guam, an island in the Northern Pacific Ocean, to take part in Exercise Malabar 2025 — a major multilateral naval exercise. The exercise involves the navies of India, the United States, Japan, and Australia.
What are the key facts about Exercise Malabar?
INDIA’S PARTICIPATION INS Sahyadri is representing India in the exercise. It is an indigenously designed and built Guided Missile Stealth Frigate, showcasing the Aatmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) initiative in defence production. The ship has previously participated in many international exercises and missions, reflecting India’s strong naval capabilities and partnerships.
Why is Exercise Malabar important for UPSC preparation?
The topic connects current developments with Economy, Defence, Polity & Governance and is relevant for both objective revision and analytical answer writing.