CAPF AC 2022 Q52: Current Affairs – International Conflicts & Security
- (a) Indian Air Force
- (b) Indian Army
- (c) Indian Navy
- (d) Ministry of Home Affairs
Answer: (c) Indian Navy
Explanation
Operation Sankalp
How to think: this operation is about protecting merchant ships at sea.
That is the job of the Indian Navy.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Started | June 2019 |
| By | Indian Navy |
| Where | Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf, near the Strait of Hormuz |
| Why | Attacks on oil tankers during US-Iran tension |
| Aim | Safe passage for Indian-flagged ships and a sense of security for the crews |
Why it matters: a large share of India's crude oil comes through the Strait of Hormuz.
Do not confuse: the CRPF also runs counter-insurgency work under similar names, but the well-known Operation Sankalp is the Navy's.
Answer: (c) Indian Navy.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. The Indian Air Force did not run this maritime security operation.
- (b) Incorrect. The Indian Army has no role in escorting merchant ships.
- (c) CORRECT. The Indian Navy launched Operation Sankalp in the Gulf region in 2019.
- (d) Incorrect. The Ministry of Home Affairs handles internal security, not sea lanes.
Key point
Operation Sankalp: Indian Navy, June 2019, Gulf of Oman and Persian Gulf, protection of Indian-flagged merchant ships. Other naval operations: Samudra Setu (COVID evacuation), Rahat (Yemen 2015), Sukoon (Lebanon 2006).
Remember
Operation Sankalp: Navy, Gulf, 2019, merchant ships.
Common mistakes
- Mixing up Sankalp with Samudra Setu, the Navy's COVID evacuation mission.
- Thinking the operation was about anti-piracy patrols off Somalia.
- Assigning it to the Home Ministry because of similarly named police drives.
Exam tip
Educated guess: the operation dealt with oil tankers in the Gulf. Only a navy can escort ships on the high seas.
Sources
- Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Defence — Indian Navy's Operation Sankalp in the Gulf region (June 2019)
- Indian Navy — Maritime security operations: Operation Sankalp