The joint, tri services exercise known as Exercise INDRA 2019, is to be conducted by India and Russia from the 10th to 19th December 2019. These exercises simultaneously take place at Babina (near Jhansi), Pune, and Goa. The exercise aims to allow the two nations to adopt the best practices from each other and jointly evolve and drill measures to combat the threat of terrorism under the umbrella of the United Nations. The inception of the INDRA series of exercises took place in 2003. Initially, the exercises were singular service in nature and were alternately hosted by both nations. Nevertheless, the first joint Tri Services Exercise was conducted in 2017. Exercise INDRA 2018 was a joint military exercise between India and Russia focused on combating insurgency under the United Nations (UN) directive and was held at Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh.
The Outset of Exercise INDRA
Exercise INDRA began in the year 2003 as a single service exercise where the two countries- India and Russia would alternatively conduct these exercises. This exercise marked a milestone in the military collaboration between the two countries, allowing them to share their respective expertise and learn from one another.
Evolution to a Joint Tri-Services Exercise
The evolution of Exercise INDRA into a joint tri-services exercise commenced in the year 2017. This major shift allowed forces from multiple services including army, navy and air force, from both countries to participate in combined exercises, promoting better coordination and understanding.
Focus on Combating Terrorism
The primary focus of these exercises is to draft strategies and carry out drills to quench the threat of terrorism. In the face of global terror threats, Exercise INDRA offers an opportunity for the two nations to jointly evolve counter-terrorism measures under the United Nations’ mandate, ensuring a safer world.
Details of Previous Exercise-INDRA 2018
Exercise INDRA 2018 was conducted in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh. This joint military exercise between India and Russia was directed towards combating insurgency within the framework of the United Nations. This exercise fortified the collaboration between the two nations in their fight against insurgency.
| Year | Venue | Nature |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Alternating between India and Russia | Single Service Exercise |
| 2017 | India | Joint Tri Services Exercise |
| 2018 | Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh | Joint Military Exercise (Combating Insurgency) |
| 2019 | Babina, Pune, Goa | Tri services Exercise |
A New Chapter with INDRA 2019
The newest iteration, Exercise INDRA 2019, took place from the 10th to 19th December 2019. The exercises were hosted by India and were simultaneously conducted at Babina (near Jhansi), Pune, and Goa. The purpose of these joint tri-services exercises was for the two countries to continue learning from each other’s best practices and jointly evolve strategies and conduct drills to eliminate the scourge of terror following the directives of the United Nations.