The Indian Navy, along with its Sri Lankan counterpart, is participating in the 6th edition of the bilateral naval exercise SLINEX-2018. Commenced in 2005, SLINEX is a series of bilateral maritime exercises that serve as a platform for enhancing interoperability and understanding between the two navies. Both countries have successfully conducted five such exercises to date.
Significance of SLINEX
SLINEX, since its initiation in 2005, has been instrumental in fostering a better understanding of operational procedures between the Indian and Sri Lankan navies. The major goal of this exercise is to augment maritime security in the region through improved interoperability.
Other Important Bilateral and Multilateral Defence Exercises
Apart from SLINEX, there are several crucial defence exercises that India participates in, including Indra (India-Russia), Malabar (US-India-Japan), Varuna (France-India), Simbex (India-Singapore), Ibsamar (India-Brazil-South Africa), Konkan (India-Britain), Ausindex (India-Australia), and Naseem Al-Bahr (India-Oman). These international collaborations help fortify India’s relations with other nations and underscore its role in maintaining global maritime security.
Nari Shakti Puraskar: Honouring Women’s Empowerment
Established in 1991, the Nari Shakti Puraskar is the highest civilian honour for women in India. Announced by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, these national awards are bestowed upon notable women, organizations, and institutions who have made significant contributions towards women’s empowerment. Each year, on International Women’s Day (March 8), the President of India confers these prestigious awards. In 2017, INSV Tarini Team, who was part of the Navika Sagar Parikrama, was one of the 39 awardees.
Operations at Chabahar Port
Iran is ready to hand over a section of the Chabahar port’s operational responsibility to India as per the agreed timeframe in October. India and Iran signed an agreement in 2003 to jointly develop and operate Chabahar, located on the Gulf of Oman outside the Strait of Hormuz and near Iran’s border with Pakistan. As the only Iranian port with direct access to the ocean, it promises to reduce transport costs and time for Indian goods by a third.
Chabahar Port: Boost to Trade
The operation of the Chabahar port is expected to bolster trade among India, Afghanistan, and Iran, especially after Pakistan’s denial of transit access to New Delhi for trade with these two countries. From Chabahar, the Iranian road network can link up to Zaranj in Afghanistan. Coupled with the Zaranj-Delaram road that India constructed in 2009, this paves the way for accessing Afghanistan’s Garland Highway, thereby enabling road access to Herat, Kandahar, Kabul, and Mazar-e-Sharif – four major Afghan cities.
