Pariksha SaathiSIMBEX-2026: 33rd India-Singapore maritime exercise opens at Visakhapatnam, runs 21 to 26 October
The 33rd edition of the Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX-2026) opened at Visakhapatnam on 21 October 2026 and runs until 26 October. Republic of Singapore Navy ship RSS Supreme arrived for the exercise, and the opening ceremony was held on board INS Nilgiri and INS Kamorta. SIMBEX began in 1994 as Exercise Lion King. The Harbour Phase, 21 to 23 October, covers professional interactions, Subject Matter Expert Exchanges and cross-deck visits; the Sea Phase, 24 to 26 October in the Bay of Bengal, includes anti-submarine, anti-surface and anti-air warfare drills and tactical manoeuvres.
Drafted with AI assistance from the official PIB release linked above and checked against it by a second AI pass. Not line-edited by a human.
Learning context
The 32nd edition, SIMBEX-25, was held in Singapore: INS Satpura arrived there to take part, and the Republic of Singapore Navy ships RSN Vigilant and RSN Supreme joined the exercise. PIB described the exercise as in line with India's vision of 'MAHASAGAR' and the Act East Policy. Its Sea Phase planned air defence exercises, cross-deck helicopter operations, precision targeting, and Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS) operations.
Reference: PIB, Ministry of Defence, 'INS Satpura arrives in Singapore for SIMBEX-25', 30 July 2025
Check yourself: which Indian Navy ship went to Singapore for SIMBEX-25, and which two policy frames did PIB link the exercise to?
INS Satpura; the 'MAHASAGAR' vision and the Act East Policy.
Revision task: from this release, note the edition number, the venue and dates of both phases, the Singapore Navy ship and the exercise's original name; from the note, the ship and venue of SIMBEX-25.
Test yourself
SIMBEX, the India-Singapore maritime exercise whose 33rd edition began at Visakhapatnam on 21 October 2026, started in 1994 under which name?
Show the answer
Answer: Exercise Lion King
SIMBEX began in 1994 as Exercise Lion King. Malabar involves the navies of India, the US, Japan and Australia, Varuna is India's exercise with France, and Samudra Shakti is India's exercise with Indonesia.
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