Which among the following is not correctly matched regarding Indian Navy's exercises with Foreign Navies?
List - I                                    List - II
(Name of the exercise)        (Countries involved)
(1) Bongosagar                    India and Bangladesh
(2) SLINEX 22                     India and Sri Lanka
(3) Exercise Varuna 2022    India and Australia
(4) JIMEX 22                       India and Japan

Correct option is C

The Correct Answer is Exercise Varuna 2022 – India and Australia
The VARUNA 2025 bilateral naval exercise, held from 19 to 22 March 2025, brought together the Indian and French Navies, highlighting their strong and enduring maritime partnership. This edition featured multi-domain operations including advanced air defence drills with Rafale-M and MiG-29K, anti-submarine warfare with submarines and ASW frigates, and surface warfare exercises involving complex maneuvers. Replenishment at sea operations by both navies demonstrated strong logistical interoperability. The exercise significantly enhanced operational coordination, strengthened joint combat readiness, and reinforced both nations' commitment to a rules-based maritime order and Indo-Pacific stability.
Information Booster:
• The 22nd edition of the India–France bilateral naval exercise VARUNA was conducted in the Mediterranean Sea.
• From the Indian Navy, participation included INS Tabar, a frontline stealth frigate, along with a ship-borne helicopter and a P-8I Long-Range Maritime Reconnaissance (LRMR) aircraft. On the French side, the assets comprised FS Provence, the Suffren-class submarine, F20 aircraft, Atlantique 2 maritime patrol aircraft, MB339 fighter jets, and NH90 Dauphin helicopters.
• These bilateral naval drills are regularly held either in the Indian Ocean Region or the Mediterranean Sea, and are designed to enhance operational coordination and maritime interoperability.
Operations Conducted:
The exercises featured a range of advanced naval operations including:
• Tactical maneuvers
• Anti-submarine warfare drills
• Flight operations
• Air defense exercises
• Live weapon firings
• PHOTOEX (Photographic Exercise)
• Steam past for ceremonial display and mutual respect between navies.
Additional Knowledge:
• Bongosagar – The 6th edition of the Coordinated Patrol (CORPAT) and the 4th edition of the bilateral naval exercise ‘BONGOSAGAR’ between the Indian Navy and the Bangladesh Navy began on March 10, 2025, and will continue until March 12, 2025. These joint exercises are taking place in designated maritime zones of the Bay of Bengal, near the Indo-Bangladesh maritime boundary. Conducted under the supervision of the Commander Flotilla West, the exercises aim to bolster maritime security, enhance bilateral cooperation, and tackle various criminal activities at sea.
• SLINEX 22 – The 9th edition of the India–Sri Lanka Bilateral Maritime Exercise, SLINEX (Sri Lanka–India Naval Exercise), was conducted in Visakhapatnam from March 7 to March 10, 2022. The primary objective of the exercise was to enhance interoperability and foster mutual understanding between the navies of the two neighboring nations in the strategically vital Indian Ocean Region.
• JIMEX 22 – The sixth edition of the Japan-India Maritime Exercise 2022 (JIMEX 22), hosted by the Indian Navy, commenced in the Bay of Bengal. The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) contingent is led by Rear Admiral Hirata Toshiyuki, Commander of Escort Flotilla Four, while the Indian Navy is commanded by Rear Admiral Sanjay Bhalla, Flag Officer Commanding the Eastern Fleet.
• AUSINDEX -AUSINDEX is a bilateral naval exercise conducted between the Indian Navy and the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). Launched in 2015, this joint maritime exercise has progressively evolved in scope and complexity. Notably, the third edition, held in 2019 in the Bay of Bengal, featured anti-submarine warfare drills for the first time, marking a significant enhancement in operational engagement between the two navies.