Defence Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
Vajra Prahar 2023 is a joint exercise of the special forces of India and the United States. It is being organized in Meghalaya’s Umroi Cantonment.
The Indian Army contingent is led by Special Forces personnel from the Eastern Command. The first edition was conducted in the year 2010 in India.

Notes:
The Nepal Army contingent, consisting of 334 personnel, has arrived in India to take part in the 17th edition of the Joint Military Exercise SURYA KIRAN.
This annual event is conducted alternately in India and Nepal. The exercise is scheduled to take place in Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand, and will span from November 24 to December 7, 2023.

Notes:
Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers delivered the largest survey vessel built in India, INS Sandhayak to the Indian Navy on Navy Day 2023.
INS Sandhayak is the first in a series of four Survey Vessels (Large) being built by GRSE. INS Sandhayak is the first of four advanced Survey Vessels (Large) or SVLs. It is a new version of a previous ship with the same name, which was a survey vessel in the Indian Navy from 1981 to 2021. These survey ships are capable of full-scale coastal and deep-water hydrographic survey of port and harbour approaches as well as the determination of navigation channels and routes.

Notes:
India successfully conducted the training launch of short-range ballistic missile ‘Agni-1 from APJ Abdul Kalam Island, off the Odisha coast.
The user training launch successfully validated all operational and technical parameters,” said the official. These systems were deployed at different locations along the flight path, including two down-range ships at the terminal point, and covered the entire trajectory. The missile was successfully test-fired last time on June 1 from the same base. In October last year, India successfully test-fired ‘Agni Prime’ – a new generation of ballistic missiles – from off the coast of Odisha. The Agni series of missiles are the mainstay of India’s nuclear delivery options.

Notes:
The military exercise “VINBAX-23” between the Armies of India and Vietnam will take place in Hanoi, this year.
It is an annual training event conducted alternatively in India and Vietnam. The aim of the exercise is to foster a collaborative partnership and promote interoperability between the two forces. Exercise VINBAX was instituted in 2018 and the first edition was conducted at Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh. Last edition was conducted at Chandimandir Military Station in 2022. India gifted its in-service missile corvette, INS Kirpan, to Vietnam in July.

Notes:
The Defence Cyber Agency is the Indian military’s dedicated three-service cyber command. Headquartered in New Delhi and headed by a two-star military officer, the DCyA is tasked with handling cybersecurity threats to India. It brings together cyber expertise from the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force through their respective Cyber Emergency Response Teams that were set up in 2021. The DCyA aims to unify cyber capabilities across India’s military branches to strengthen national security, especially to defend against cyber attacks from adversaries like China.

Notes:
Vijay Diwas, celebrated on December 16th every year, commemorates the victory of the Indian armed forces over Pakistan during the 1971 war. It marks the creation of Bangladesh from erstwhile East Pakistan. On this day, India pays homage to the soldiers who sacrificed their lives to defend the nation. The war resulted in the biggest-ever military surrender since World War II, with General Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi, the head of Pakistan’s armed forces, surrendering to the combined forces of the Indian Army and the Mukti Bahini of Bangladesh. In Bangladesh, December 16th is celebrated as Victory Day. Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, the Chief of the Army Staff during the 1971 war, is regarded as the architect of India’s victory. The day holds significant historical and national importance, symbolizing India’s emergence as a celebrated nation. It also altered the relationship between the US and the South Asian region. Five inspirational quotes by Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw were shared, highlighting his leadership and wisdom.

Notes:
The Dare to Dream (D2D) scheme is a contest organized by the Ministry of Defence in India, specifically by the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO). The contest aims to encourage innovation and creativity among individual innovators and start-ups. The Dare to Dream Contest, initiated in memory of former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam.
Launched in 2019, the contest provides a unique opportunity for start-ups, innovators, entrepreneurs, and individuals above 18 years old to address key challenges in emerging technologies, ultimately contributing to enhancing India’s defence and aerospace capabilities. The evaluation criteria for entries include completeness of proposal, scientific soundness, design completeness, merit, technological readiness level achieved, and innovation. The contest aims to bring together a diverse group of participants to foster innovation and creativity in addressing technological challenges relevant to defence and aerospace.

Notes:
It is former Army Chief General M M Naravane’s forthcoming memoir “Four Stars of Destiny” that mentions the armed forces were taken by surprise when the Agnipath military recruitment scheme was introduced. Gen Naravane writes he had proposed a Tour of Duty model for limited jawan intake but what came up as Agnipath applied to all new recruits in Army, Navy and Air Force, that too for only 4 years.

Notes:
Unveiled on Navy Day 2023, the Indian Navy’s new shoulder rank insignias (epaulettes) for senior leadership draw design elements from the Naval Ensign and legendary Maratha ruler Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Features like the golden button and octagon shape reflect indigenization efforts and long-term strategic vision respectively. The insignia artfully integrates symbols of the sword, telescope, and ‘Rajmudra’ seal used by Shivaji in special decrees, blending India’s rich maritime heritage with its glorious history. The creative vision signifies the Navy’s cultural shift towards ‘swadeshi’ under the current government.