UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — INDIAN NAVY ASSUMES FIRST-EVER COMMAND OF COMBINED TASK FORCE (CTF) 154

Q1. With reference to Combined Task Force (CTF) 154 and the other task forces of the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. Both CTF 153 and CTF 154 were established in the 2020s, with CTF 154 being the more recent of the two.
2. Unlike the four other Combined Task Forces, which carry operational maritime-security mandates, CTF 154 is dedicated to training and capacity building.
3. CTF 154 is the only Combined Task Force that operates independently of the Combined Maritime Forces headquarters at Manama.

• A. 1 and 2 only
• B. 2 and 3 only
• C. 1 and 3 only
• D. 1, 2 and 3

Q2. CTF 154, the training and capacity-building task force, was established by the Combined Maritime Forces in which year?

• A. 2020
• B. 2021
• C. 2022
• D. 2023

Q3. India's command of CTF 154 (assumed in February 2026) is operationalised by the Indian Navy under which Union ministry?

• A. Ministry of External Affairs
• B. Ministry of Defence
• C. Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
• D. Ministry of Home Affairs

Q4. With reference to India's assumption of command of CTF 154 in February 2026, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is NOT correct?

1. CTF 154 is oriented towards training and capacity building of CMF member navies.
2. India's assumption of CTF 154 command was the first-ever Indian command of a CMF task force.
3. The change-of-command ceremony was held at CMF headquarters in Manama, Bahrain.
4. India took over command of CTF 154 from the French Navy.

• A. 1
• B. 2
• C. 3
• D. 4

Q5. The five Combined Task Forces, including CTF 154, function under which parent multilateral body headquartered at Manama, Bahrain?

• A. Indian Ocean Rim Association
• B. Combined Maritime Forces
• C. Indian Ocean Naval Symposium
• D. Combined Joint Task Force–Operation Inherent Resolve

Q6. Consider the following pairings of Combined Task Forces with their mandates: Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

1. CTF 151 — Counter-piracy operations, notably off the coast of Somalia.
2. CTF 152 — Maritime security within the Arabian Gulf.
3. CTF 150 — Maritime security operations outside the Arabian Gulf.
4. CTF 153 — Training and capacity building of member navies.

• A. 1, 2 and 3
• B. 2 and 4
• C. 1 and 3
• D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q7. In which year did India commence its participation in the Combined Maritime Forces as an Associate Partner?

• A. 2008
• B. 2019
• C. 2022
• D. 2024

Q8. With reference to the evolution of India's engagement with the Combined Maritime Forces, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. India's maiden participation in a CMF exercise, by INS Sunayna, took place in 2022.
2. India assumed command of CTF 154 before it had ever taken part in any CMF exercise.
3. India's assumption of CTF 154 command in 2026 was its first-ever command of a CMF task force.

• A. 1 and 2 only
• B. 1 and 3 only
• C. 2 and 3 only
• D. 1, 2 and 3

Q9. The officer commanding the Combined Maritime Forces concurrently holds how many command appointments — namely CMF, US Naval Forces Central Command and the US Fifth Fleet?

• A. 2
• B. 3
• C. 4
• D. 5

Q10. The overall Commander of the Combined Maritime Forces has consistently been an officer of which navy?

• A. Royal Navy (United Kingdom)
• B. United States Navy
• C. French Navy
• D. Royal Australian Navy

Q11. The Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS), a forum of Indian Ocean littoral states, was conceived in 2008 and is anchored by which of the following?

• A. Indian Coast Guard
• B. Indian Navy
• C. Ministry of External Affairs
• D. National Maritime Foundation

Q12. The MAHASAGAR vision, articulated by the Prime Minister in 2025, is built around how many core dimensions (trade for development, capacity-building for sustainable growth, and mutual security for a shared future)?

• A. 3
• B. 4
• C. 5
• D. 6