PIB Summary- 10th October, 2021 | PIB (Press Information Bureau) Summary - UPSC PDF Download

Exercise Malabar 2021

Context:

About Ex Malabar 2021:

• The Indian Navy (IN) would be participating in the Second Phase of Multilateral Maritime Exercise Malabar along with the Japan Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF), Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and the United States Navy (USN).
• This is being conducted in the Bay of Bengal.
• The first phase of Ex Malabar 2021 was conducted in the Philippines Sea in August 2021.
• The Indian Navy’s participation includes INS Ranvijay, INS Satpura, P8I Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft and a Submarine.
• The Second Phase of the exercise would build upon the synergy, coordination and inter-operability developed during the First Phase of the exercise and would focus on advanced surface and anti-submarine warfare exercises, seamanship evolutions and weapon firings.

Malabar Exercise 2021 started in two phases:

1. The first phase of the exercise Malabar 2021, held in the Philippines Sea, ran between 26th and 29th August 2021. 
2. The dates of the second phase, held in the Bay of Bengal, of the Malabar 2021 Exercise are 12th October to 15th October. 

What is Malabar Exercise?

Malabar Exercise started off in 1992 as a bilateral naval exercise between Indian and US navies. In 2015, Japan joined the exercise Malabar, making it a trilateral naval exercise. In 2020, the Australian Navy had joined the Malabar Exercise, making it a quadrilateral naval exercise. Earlier, Australia joined the exercise in 2007.

Salient points about Malabar Exercise

• It is a trilateral naval exercise. But due to the participation of Australia in 2020 & 2021, it has become a quadrilateral exercise. 
• It takes place annually in the Indian Ocean and Pacific Oceans alternatively.
• The first Malabar Exercise in the Bay of Bengal took place in 2007.
• Singapore and Australia have been non-permanent members previously.
• This exercise includes a diverse range of activities such as fighter combat operations and maritime interdiction operations.
• The aim of the Malabar Exercise of India, US, Japan and Australia is to coordinate for free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific.

Malabar Exercise 2021: Key Points

• The first phase of the exercise Malabar 2021 is conducted in the Philippine Sea. The second phase is being held in the Bay of Bengal.
• It is the 25th edition of the Malabar Exercise.
• Malabar 2021 has been hosted by the US Navy and the first phase of the exercise will be used as an opportunity for the four Indo-Pacific navies to operate together and strengthen their skills in combined maritime operations, anti-submarine warfare operations, air warfare operations, live-fire gunnery events, replenishments-at-sea, cross-deck flight operations, and maritime interdiction operations
• In 2021 Exercise Malabar, the Indian Navy participated using:
  (i) INS Ranvijay
  (ii) INS Satpura
  (iii) P8I Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft
  (iv) Submarine
  (v) INS Shivalik (F 47)
  (vi) INS Kadmatt (P 29)
• This year, the exercise includes Naval Special Warfare forces during phase 1 to address irregular maritime threats and enhance integration with traditional naval forces.
• The ships/aircrafts deployed by the US, Japan and Australian Navies in the Malabar 2021 are mentioned in the table below:
  

Participation of Australia in Malabar Exercise 2021

• The inclusion of Australia in the Malabar Exercise was discussed upon in October 2020 Foreign Ministers’ Meet of QUAD.
• In 2017, Australia requested the observer status in the Malabar Exercise.

Malabar 2020: India, US, Japan & Australia’s Joint Maritime Exercise

Malabar Naval Exercise 2019: India, US, Japanese Navy Warships,  Submarine, Aircraft’s Participation

Malabar Naval Exercise (2018): Indian Navy Participation

In 2018, the annual Malabar Exercise was held from 7^th to 16^th June 2018. It was conducted off the Guam coast in the Philippine Sea. This was the first time that the exercise was being held in US territory. The exercise was focused on at-sea and onshore training, maritime patrol, aircraft carrier operations, visit, board, reconnaissance operations, search and seizure operations, and professional exchanges.

From the Indian Navy, the following Warships and Aircrafts Participated:

• INS Sahyadri – Stealth frigate
• INS Shakti – Fleet tanker
• INS Kamorta
• Poseidon P-8l aircraft participated in the exercise.

List of Naval Exercises: Indian Navy & Other Navies

The below table gives details on Joint Maritime Exercises conducted by the Indian Navy.

World Mental Health Day

Context:
October 10 is observed as World Mental Health Day across the globe every year.

About World Mental Health Day:

• This day is meant to raise awareness on mental health issues and garner support on initiatives related to mental health and well-being.
• The theme for the World Mental Health Day 2021 is ‘mental health in an unequal world.’
• The most common mental health disorders are depressive disorders, anxiety disorders and substance abuse. About 50 million individuals in India suffer from depressive disorders and an equal number of people suffer from anxiety disorders.

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Delhi Hockey Weekend League

• Delhi Hockey Weekend League launched.
• The Delhi Hockey Weekend League is organised by the Sports Authority of India (SAI) in association with the Delhi Hockey Federation.
• It will have a total of 36 teams competing for the trophy and more teams can also participate in later stages.

Shooting Junior World Championships

• Indian shooters topped the Junior World Championships with 40 medals including 16 Gold medals.

World Wrestling Championship 2021

• Anshu Malik won the silver medal and Sarita Mor bronze at the 17^th World Wrestling Championship held in Oslo, Norway.
• Anshu Malik is the first Indian woman to win a silver at the event.