UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — INDIAN NAVY INAUGURATES MILAN VILLAGE AS PART OF EXERCISE MILAN 2026, VISAKHAPATNAM
Q1. Exercise MILAN 2026 was hosted under the aegis of which command of the Indian Navy?
- A. Eastern Naval Command
- B. Andaman & Nicobar Command
- C. Western Naval Command
- D. Southern Naval Command
Q2. Which one of the following best describes Exercise MILAN?
- A. A biennial multilateral naval exercise hosted by the Indian Navy
- B. A bilateral naval exercise conducted annually between India and the United States
- C. An annual joint tri-services amphibious exercise of India's armed forces
- D. A biennial coast-guard-led humanitarian assistance and disaster relief drill
Q3. With reference to the history of Exercise MILAN, consider the following statements:
1. It was first held in 1995.
2. Its founding participants included Indonesia, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Thailand.
3. Its early editions were hosted under the Andaman & Nicobar Command at Port Blair.
4. It shifted to Visakhapatnam under the Eastern Naval Command from the 2018 edition.
Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?
- It was first held in 1995.
- Its founding participants included Indonesia, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Thailand.
- Its early editions were hosted under the Andaman & Nicobar Command at Port Blair.
- It shifted to Visakhapatnam under the Eastern Naval Command from the 2018 edition.
- A. 1 only
- B. 4 only
- C. 2 and 3
- D. 1 and 4
Q4. With reference to the evolution of Exercise MILAN, consider the following statements:
1. Its founding participation comprised four navies besides that of India.
2. Its original venue was Kochi.
3. It is conducted biennially.
4. The 2022 edition marked its shift to the Eastern Naval Command.
Which of the statements given above are correctly identified?
- Its founding participation comprised four navies besides that of India.
- Its original venue was Kochi.
- It is conducted biennially.
- The 2022 edition marked its shift to the Eastern Naval Command.
- A. 1, 2 and 3
- B. 1, 3 and 4
- C. 2 and 4
- D. 1 and 3 only
Q5. Comparing MILAN 2026 with its predecessor MILAN 2022, consider the following statements:
1. MILAN 2026 saw 74 countries participate, a rise from the 39 nations represented at MILAN 2022.
2. Both MILAN 2022 and MILAN 2026 were hosted at Visakhapatnam.
3. MILAN 2026 was the first edition to be hosted under the Andaman & Nicobar Command.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- MILAN 2026 saw 74 countries participate, a rise from the 39 nations represented at MILAN 2022.
- Both MILAN 2022 and MILAN 2026 were hosted at Visakhapatnam.
- MILAN 2026 was the first edition to be hosted under the Andaman & Nicobar Command.
- A. 1 only
- B. 1 and 2 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q6. The closing ceremony of MILAN 2026 was held onboard which platform — India's first indigenous aircraft carrier?
- A. INS Vikrant
- B. INS Vikramaditya
- C. INS Viraat
- D. INS Vishal
Q7. In the military-maritime domain, India's MAHASAGAR vision is operationalised through multilateral exercises such as MILAN, which are conducted by which of the following?
- A. The Indian Navy
- B. The Indian Coast Guard
- C. The Ministry of External Affairs
- D. The Indian Army
Q8. With reference to India's MAHASAGAR maritime vision, consider the following statements:
1. MAHASAGAR stands for 'Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions'.
2. It was articulated by the Prime Minister in 2025.
3. It is a successor to the SAGAR vision first articulated in 2015.
4. SAGAR stands for 'Sagarmala Approach for Growth and Revenue'.
Which of the statements given above are correctly identified?
- MAHASAGAR stands for 'Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions'.
- It was articulated by the Prime Minister in 2025.
- It is a successor to the SAGAR vision first articulated in 2015.
- SAGAR stands for 'Sagarmala Approach for Growth and Revenue'.
- A. 1, 2 and 3
- B. 1 and 4
- C. 2, 3 and 4
- D. 1, 3 and 4
Q9. The MILAN Village at Visakhapatnam was organised in February 2026 by the Indian Navy, which functions under which Union Ministry?
- A. Ministry of Defence
- B. Ministry of External Affairs
- C. Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
- D. Ministry of Home Affairs
Q10. With reference to the MILAN Village of MILAN 2026, consider the following statements:
1. It was a curated experience zone for visiting delegates.
2. It promoted social and cultural exchange beyond the professional drills.
3. It brought together personnel from over 70 countries.
4. It was set up under the Andaman & Nicobar Command.
Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?
- It was a curated experience zone for visiting delegates.
- It promoted social and cultural exchange beyond the professional drills.
- It brought together personnel from over 70 countries.
- It was set up under the Andaman & Nicobar Command.
- A. 1 only
- B. 4 only
- C. 3 and 4
- D. 1 and 2
Q11. The International Fleet Review (IFR), one of the events held at Visakhapatnam in February 2026, is best described as which of the following?
- A. A ceremonial assembly and review of warships by a designated reviewing authority (the Head of State)
- B. A live-fire combat exercise conducted against a simulated adversary fleet
- C. An international naval shipbuilding and defence-equipment exposition
- D. A joint anti-piracy patrol of the Indian Ocean by littoral navies
Q12. Which one of the following correctly describes the Eastern Naval Command (ENC)?
- A. An operational command headquartered at Visakhapatnam, responsible for the Bay of Bengal and the eastern seaboard
- B. The Indian Navy's sole training command, based at Kochi
- C. The command headquartered at Mumbai overseeing the Arabian Sea
- D. The only operational command of the Indian Navy