India-Nepal joint military exercise Surya Kiran XVII begins

The 17th edition of the regularly conducted joint military exercise Surya Kiran between India and Nepal is being organized in Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand from 24 November to 07 December 2023.

• Nepal Army contingent comprising 334 personnel arrived in India to participate in the 17th edition of joint military exercise Surya Kiran.
• It is an annual event and is held alternately in both the countries.

Both countries Representation in joint military exercise Surya Kiran:

• The Indian Army contingent of 354 personnel is being led by a battalion of the Kumaon Regiment. While the Nepali Army contingent is represented by the Tara Dal battalion.

Objective of the exercise:

• Establishing military relations in inaccessible mountainous areas by the soldiers of both the countries.
• Providing humanitarian assistance under disaster management.
• To share experiences gained during the conduct of counter-insurgency operations.
• To develop interoperability and share experience between the armies of the two countries.
• The exercise aims to enhance interoperability in jungle warfare, counter-terrorism operations in mountainous areas and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief under the United Nations Charter on Peacekeeping Operations.
• The exercise will focus on the employment of drones and counter drone measures, medical training, aviation aspects and environmental protection.
• Through these activities, the soldiers will enhance their operational capabilities, hone their fighting skills and strengthen their coordination in challenging situations.

Defense relations between the two countries will get a boost:

• The exercise will provide a platform to the troops of India and Nepal to exchange ideas and experiences. It will share best practices and promote deeper understanding of each other's operational processes.

Surya Kiran Practice:

• It symbolizes the strong bond of friendship, trust, common cultural ties that exists between India and Nepal. It sets the stage for a productive and fruitful engagement demonstrating the unwavering commitment of both countries towards comprehensive defense cooperation.
• The exercise aims to achieve common security objectives and boost bilateral relations between the two friendly neighbours.
• Exercise Surya Kiran India-Nepal military exercise Surya Kiran started in 2011 and since then the exercise has been conducted by the armies of both the countries to boost defense cooperation and interoperability.
• The 16th edition of India-Nepal joint training exercise ‘Surya Kiran’ was conducted at Nepal Army Battle School, Saljhandi, Nepal in December 2022.
• Earlier, the 15th edition was held in Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand in September 2021.