Mitra Shakti Exercise is a bilateral joint military exercise between the armies of India and Sri Lanka. It is also called the India-Sri Lanka Joint Training Exercise, one of the important joint military exercises India conducts with other nations.

The 8th edition of India-Sri Lanka bilateral joint exercise Mitra Shakti began on October 5, 2021, in the Combat Training School in Ampara, Sri Lanka. The Indian Army participated in the bilateral exercise with 120 troops from an Infantry Battalion Group and a comparable number from a Sri Lankan Army Battalion. The exercise provides an excellent opportunity for both contingents to exchange their operational experience and skills and contribute to expanding interoperability and collaboration between the Armies of India and Sri Lanka.

This article will explain the Principles of Mitra Shakti for UPSC Exams. All these dimensions are important for competitive examinations like IAS, IPS, IFS etc. Considering this, the Testbook provides UPSC Coaching and the best quality notes for IAS Exams.

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Recent News

• The eighth edition of Exercise MITRA SHAKTI, a joint military exercise between the Indian Army and the Sri Lankan Army, was held in Sri Lanka in 2021.
• The seventh round of the India-Sri Lanka joint military training exercise Mitra Shakti-2019 is set to take place in Pune from December 1 to 14, 2019.

Mitra Shakti Exercise

• Mitra Shakti is centred on semi-urban counterinsurgency and counterterrorism operations.
• It is the largest bilateral exercise the Sri Lankan Army conducted, an important component of India and Sri Lanka’s increasing defence relationship.
• The combined exercise is intended to incorporate the contemporary dynamics of United Nations peacekeeping missions through tactical drills and practical talks.

 Year-wise list of all Mitra Shakti Exercises

Mitra Shakti: Background

• In 2019, the 7th Edition of Exercise Mitra Shakti was held at the Foreign Training Node (FTN) in Pune, Maharashtra.
• It was held to strengthen and develop excellent ties between the militaries of both countries.
• It also included contemporary dynamics of UN peacekeeping operations through practical and detailed talks and tactical exercises.

Objective Of Mitra Shakti

According to the Ministry of Defence, the Mitra Shakti exercise between India and Sri Lanka aims to promote close relations between the armies of both nations, enhance inter-operability, and share the best practices in counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations.

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Features of Mitra Shakti

• Exercise Mitra Shakti is centred on counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations in semi-urban terrain.
• It is the largest bilateral exercise the Sri Lankan Army conducted and is an important component of India and Sri Lanka’s increasing defence collaboration.
• This exercise aims to strengthen ties between the armies of India and Sri Lanka.
• It aims to improve interoperability and exchange best practices in counterinsurgency and counterterrorism operations.
• It will entail tactical actions at the subunit level. Operations will take place in a global counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism context.

Three Phases of Mitra Shakti

The Mitra Shakti Exercise was conducted in three phases. Following table describes in detail about the three phases:

Significance of Mitra Shakti Exercise

• The exercise aims to foster strong connections between the militaries of both countries.
• It will involve tactical level operations at the sub-unit level in an international counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism environment, and it will go a long way toward further strengthening the relationship between both South Asian nations, acting as a catalyst for bringing synergy and cooperation at the grassroots level between both armies.
• The Mitra Shakti military exercise between India and Sri Lanka will help to enhance the friendship between the two South Asian countries. It will also catalyze grassroots collaboration and synergy between the two militaries.
• The annual training programme between the two nations, which has contributed to strengthening the bilateral military cooperation, understanding, and bonds between India and Sri Lanka services, takes place alternatively in India or Sri Lanka every year.
• The drills will feature an all-arms detachment of 120 Indian Army soldiers and a battalion-sized deployment of Sri Lankan Army personnel.
• Exercise Mitra Shakti, centred on counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations in semi-urban terrain, is the largest bilateral exercise conducted by the Sri Lankan Army and is an important component of India and Sri Lanka’s increasing defence collaboration.
• Mitra Shakti, which translates to “power of friendship,” is carried out under a United Nations (UN) mandate, as both forces participate in UN Peacekeeping Forces stationed in difficult areas worldwide.
• The exercise will involve tactical level operations at the sub-unit level in an international Counter-Insurgency and Counter-Terrorism environment, and it will go a long way toward further strengthening the relationship between both South Asian nations, acting as a catalyst in bringing synergy and cooperation at the grass-root level between both Armies.
• The Indian forces participating in the combined military exercise will be involved in tactical operations at the sub-unit level in an international counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism environment.

Also, read about Shakti Exercise between India and France.

Recent Development in Mitra Shakti

India-Sri Lanka Relations

• India and Sri Lanka have a long history of bilateral relations. Only 4% of Sri Lankans have a bad opinion of India. Both nations are also economically connected.
• Sri Lanka’s major commercial partner is India. Both nations have a marine boundary. The Palk Strait separates India from Sri Lanka.
• Within the Commonwealth of Nations, they are republics.

UPSC Practice Question Based On Mitra Shakti Military Exercise

The 8th Edition of the joint military exercise between the Indian Army and the Sri Lankan Army, Exercise MITRA SHAKTI was conducted recently. Explain the significance of the military exercise in the context of dynamic India-Sri Lanka relations.

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Conclusion

The aim of the Mitra Shakti is to increase interoperability, foster better connections between the militaries of the two nations, and exchange best practises for counterinsurgency and counterterrorism operations. The exercise will feature tactical level actions at the sub-unit level in an international counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism environment, according to the ministry. It will help to enhance the relationship between the two South Asian nations and will serve as a catalyst for grassroots synergy and collaboration between both Armies.