UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — EXERCISE TARANG SHAKTI 2026: “POWER IN PARTNERSHIP”
Q1. With reference to Exercise Tarang Shakti 2026 and other air exercises of the Indian Air Force, consider the following statements:
1. Tarang Shakti 2026 is the second edition of the IAF-hosted multilateral air exercise, the inaugural edition having been held in 2024.
2. Unlike Tarang Shakti, Vayu Shakti is an IAF firepower demonstration, and its 2026 edition was witnessed by the President of India at the Pokhran Firing Range.
3. 'Power in Partnership' is the theme of Vayu Shakti-2026, the exercise conducted at the Pokhran Firing Range.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- Tarang Shakti 2026 is the second edition of the IAF-hosted multilateral air exercise, the inaugural edition having been held in 2024.
- Unlike Tarang Shakti, Vayu Shakti is an IAF firepower demonstration, and its 2026 edition was witnessed by the President of India at the Pokhran Firing Range.
- 'Power in Partnership' is the theme of Vayu Shakti-2026, the exercise conducted at the Pokhran Firing Range.
- A. 1 only
- B. 1 and 2 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q2. Exercise Tarang Shakti 2026, underway at Jodhpur with seven Friendly Foreign Countries, is hosted by which one of the following?
- A. Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff, which coordinates tri-service joint exercises
- B. The Indian Air Force, with a Jodhpur station as host base
- C. The Indian Navy, which hosts the multilateral exercise MILAN
- D. The Defence Research and Development Organisation under the Ministry of Defence
Q3. Consider the following statements regarding participation in Exercise Tarang Shakti 2026:
1. Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are among the participating Friendly Foreign Countries.
2. Every Friendly Foreign Country present at the exercise is participating with its own aircraft; none attends merely as an observer.
3. The United Arab Emirates is among the participating Friendly Foreign Countries.
4. The participating Friendly Foreign Countries are exclusively members of the Quad grouping.
Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?
- Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are among the participating Friendly Foreign Countries.
- Every Friendly Foreign Country present at the exercise is participating with its own aircraft; none attends merely as an observer.
- The United Arab Emirates is among the participating Friendly Foreign Countries.
- The participating Friendly Foreign Countries are exclusively members of the Quad grouping.
- A. 2 only
- B. 4 only
- C. 2 and 4
- D. 1, 3 and 4
Q4. Consider the following statements about the foreign contingents at Exercise Tarang Shakti 2026:
1. The F-16 and the F-35 Lightning II both feature among the foreign aircraft at the exercise.
2. Like Exercise Pitch Black 2026, which drew air forces of over 20 nations, Tarang Shakti 2026 has more than ten participating Friendly Foreign Countries flying assets.
3. Beyond fighters, the foreign line-up includes air-to-air refuelling-capable platforms such as the MRTT and the KC-30A.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- The F-16 and the F-35 Lightning II both feature among the foreign aircraft at the exercise.
- Like Exercise Pitch Black 2026, which drew air forces of over 20 nations, Tarang Shakti 2026 has more than ten participating Friendly Foreign Countries flying assets.
- Beyond fighters, the foreign line-up includes air-to-air refuelling-capable platforms such as the MRTT and the KC-30A.
- A. 1 only
- B. 1 and 3 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q5. Comparing the inaugural (2024) and second (2026) editions of Exercise Tarang Shakti, consider the following statements:
1. The United Kingdom, which took part in the 2024 edition, is among the seven participating Friendly Foreign Countries in 2026.
2. The 2024 edition was conducted in two phases at Sulur and Jodhpur, whereas the 2026 edition is held at Air Force Station Jodhpur.
3. France took part in both the 2024 and the 2026 editions.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- The United Kingdom, which took part in the 2024 edition, is among the seven participating Friendly Foreign Countries in 2026.
- The 2024 edition was conducted in two phases at Sulur and Jodhpur, whereas the 2026 edition is held at Air Force Station Jodhpur.
- France took part in both the 2024 and the 2026 editions.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q6. With reference to the events held alongside Exercise Tarang Shakti 2024, consider the following statements:
1. The symposium organised by the IAF had as its theme a collaborative approach to maritime domain awareness for enhancing regional security.
2. The Indian Defence Aviation Exposition hosted at Jodhpur in 2024 was the second edition of the exposition.
3. The symposium drew more than 50 delegates representing 27 nations.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- The symposium organised by the IAF had as its theme a collaborative approach to maritime domain awareness for enhancing regional security.
- The Indian Defence Aviation Exposition hosted at Jodhpur in 2024 was the second edition of the exposition.
- The symposium drew more than 50 delegates representing 27 nations.
- A. 1 only
- B. 1 and 2 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q7. Which one of the following correctly describes the Indian Defence Aviation Exposition-II (IDAX-24)?
- A. Hosted by the Indian Air Force on the sidelines of Tarang Shakti 2024; inaugurated by the Raksha Mantri
- B. Hosted by the Indian Air Force on the sidelines of Vayu Shakti-24; inaugurated by the Raksha Mantri
- C. Hosted by the DRDO on the sidelines of Tarang Shakti 2024; inaugurated by the Raksha Mantri
- D. Hosted by the Department of Defence Production alongside Tarang Shakti 2024; inaugurated by the Air Chief
Q8. Consider the following pairs of air exercises and the foreign air force with which the Indian Air Force conducted them:
1. Garuda — French Air and Space Force
2. Eastern Bridge — Royal Air Force of Oman
3. Cope India — Royal Australian Air Force
4. Desert Knight-21 — French Air and Space Force
Which of the pairs given above are correctly identified?
- Garuda — French Air and Space Force
- Eastern Bridge — Royal Air Force of Oman
- Cope India — Royal Australian Air Force
- Desert Knight-21 — French Air and Space Force
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 1, 2 and 4
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 3 and 4 only
Q9. Consider the following statements about air exercises involving the Indian Air Force:
1. Desert Flag is a multilateral air exercise hosted in the UAE, in which the IAF first participated fielding Su-30MKI aircraft.
2. Cope India 2023, the IAF–USAF exercise, was conducted at Air Force Stations Jodhpur and Sulur.
3. Following Pitch Black 2026, the IAF contingent deployed to Subang in Malaysia for Exercise Udara Shakti 2026.
4. At Pitch Black 2026, hosted by the Royal Australian Air Force, the IAF deployed Rafale aircraft alongside air forces of over 20 nations.
Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?
- Desert Flag is a multilateral air exercise hosted in the UAE, in which the IAF first participated fielding Su-30MKI aircraft.
- Cope India 2023, the IAF–USAF exercise, was conducted at Air Force Stations Jodhpur and Sulur.
- Following Pitch Black 2026, the IAF contingent deployed to Subang in Malaysia for Exercise Udara Shakti 2026.
- At Pitch Black 2026, hosted by the Royal Australian Air Force, the IAF deployed Rafale aircraft alongside air forces of over 20 nations.
- A. 2 only
- B. 1 and 2
- C. 2 and 4
- D. 3 and 4
Q10. The Eurofighter Typhoon, a twin-engine multirole fighter, was developed jointly by aerospace firms of which one of the following groups of countries?
- A. Germany, France, the United Kingdom and Spain
- B. France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands
- C. Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy and Spain
- D. The United Kingdom, Italy, Sweden and Spain