The 14th edition of the Joint Military Exercise EKUVERIN between the Indian Army and the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) recently concluded with a validation phase in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
Exercise EKUVERIN:
- Nomenclature: “Ekuverin” translates to “Friends” in the Dhivehi language, symbolizing the close bilateral ties.
- Format: It is an annual bilateral military exercise conducted alternately in India and the Maldives since 2009.
- 2024 Location: Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala (India).
- Participants: Contingents from the Indian Army and the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF).
Operational Focus & Objectives
- Core Mandate: Enhancing interoperability in Counter-Insurgency (CI) and Counter-Terrorism (CT) operations.
- Operational Environment: Drills focused on diverse terrains including jungle, semi-urban, and coastal areas, reflecting the contemporary security landscape of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
- Technological Integration: The 14th edition emphasized the integration of niche technologies to refine operational synergy.
Strategic Significance
- Policy Alignment: The exercise aligns with India’s “Neighbourhood First” policy and the SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) vision.
- Regional Stability: It reinforces the shared commitment of both nations to maintaining security and stability in the Indian Ocean Region.
- Crisis Response: India remains the Maldives’ key defence partner and “first responder,” a role historically evidenced by Operation Cactus (1988) and disaster relief efforts post-2004 Tsunami.
Related Defence Engagements
- Exercise Ekatha: A bilateral exercise between India and Maldives focused on diving and special operations.
- Exercise Dosti: A trilateral coast guard exercise involving India, Maldives, and Sri Lanka.
- Defence Cooperation Dialogue (DCD): Institutionalized in 2016 at the Defence Secretary level to review bilateral defence cooperation.
Q. With respect to Exercise EKUVERIN, consider the following statements:
- It is an annual bilateral military exercise conducted between India and the Maldives.
- The 14th edition of the exercise was conducted in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
ANSWER : C
Explanation:
Statement 1 is correct: EKUVERIN is an annual bilateral military exercise focusing on counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism between the Indian Army and the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF).
Statement 2 is correct: The 14th edition of the exercise concluded its validation phase in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, in 2024.
