Vajra Prahar Exercise - Aim, Significance, List of Exercises, Challenges, Facts And More

Vajra Prahar is a series of bilateral India-US military exercises. Recently the 13th edition of the Vajra Prahar exercise is held in Bakloh, Himachal Pradesh, in August 2022. In this article, we will discuss in detail the aim, meaning, significance, and editions of the Vajra Prahar exercise.

Vajra Prahar is important for the UPSC IAS Exam perspective and is covered under the Bilateral Relations and National Security topic of the General Studies Paper-2 Syllabus of the UPSC mains exam. For further information, Join Online IAS Coaching today.

Latest News

• The 13th edition of the Vajra Prahar India USA Joint Special Forces Exercise occurred at the Special Forces Training School, Bakloh (Himachal Pradesh), in August 2022.
• The previous 12th edition was conducted in Washington, USA, in October 2021.

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What is Exercise Vajra Prahar?

The Vajra Prahar exercise holds great importance for India and the United States as they face security challenges in the current global situation. This annual exercise takes place alternately in India and the United States. The 13th edition of the India-USA Joint Special Forces Exercise, Vajra Prahar 2022, concluded in Bakloh, Himachal Pradesh, on August 28, 2022.

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Vajra Prahar Exercise 2022

The bilateral exercise Vajra Prahar was a 21-day joint training consisting of the special forces of India and the USA, which provided a training opportunity in Counter-terrorism Operations, Airborne Operations, and Special Operations. The 13th edition of the Vajra Prahar Exercise had two phases:

• First Phase- combat conditioning and special mission training exercises (tactical level).
• Second Phase- 48 hours of validation of training received by the joint forces in the first phase.

Phases of Exercise Vajra Praha

The training was divided into two phases:

1. In the initial phase, the focus was on combat conditioning and specialized tactical missions training exercises.
2. The subsequent phase consisted of a 48-hour validation process, during which both contingents were assessed to ensure the effectiveness of the training they had undergone in the first phase.

Read an article on the India-USA Bilateral Relations here!

The aim of the Vajra Prahar

Vajra Prahar military exercise is aimed at

• Strengthening little military cooperation.
• Undertaking joint training, execution, and planning of various mock operations.
• Undertaking operations in conventional and non-conventional scenarios in the mountainous terrain of the Himalayas.

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Vajra Prahar List

Following list mentioned the years and hosts of the Vajra Prahar Exercises held till date

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Significance of Vajra Prahar

Military exercises, especially bilateral and multilateral, are of extreme significance in the current Geo-political scenario. The significance of Vajra Prahar can be gauged under the following two points:

Security challenges

Given the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia and China's assertive posture in the border region, the Vajra Prahar exercise assumes great importance in national security. This exercise is critical in preparing for potential conflicts in India's border regions, particularly the mountainous Indo-China border.

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Traditional Bond of Friendship

In addition to the national security perspective, the joint exercise between India and the USA has consolidated the ever-strengthening traditional bond of India-US friendship and the bilateral defense cooperation between the two countries.

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Other Important Military Exercises Between India & USA

Along with Vajra Prahar, India and the US jointly participate in the following bilateral and multilateral military exercises:

• Yudh Abhyas (Joint Army Exercise)
• Malabar (Multilateral Naval Exercise)
• Red Flag (Joint Air Force Exercise)
• Tiger Triumph (DisasterRelief and Humanitarian Assistance Exercise)
• RIMPAC (World’s largest International Maritime Warfare Exercise)

Read an article on India-Australia Relations here!

Facts about Exercise Vajra Prahar

Read about Exercise Nomadic Elephant here.

Download the PDF on Vajra Prahar notes for UPSC Exam here.

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