CAPF AC 2025 Q9: Defence & Security – Armed Forces & Operations
Arrange the following military operations undertaken by India against Pakistan in correct chronological order :
1. Operation Cactus Lily
2. Operation Riddle
3. Operation Meghdoot
4. Operation Safed Sagar
Select the answer using the code given below.
- (a) 1-2-3-4
- (b) 2-1-3-4
- (c) 4-1-2-3
- (d) 4-2-1-3
Answer: (b) 2-1-3-4
Explanation
Order of India's operations against Pakistan
How to think: fix the year of each operation, then put them in order.
| Operation | War or event | Year |
|---|---|---|
| 2. Operation Riddle | Indo-Pakistani War, Punjab sector (11 Corps offensive) | 1965 |
| 1. Operation Cactus Lily | Indo-Pakistani War | 1971 |
| 3. Operation Meghdoot | Capture of the Siachen Glacier | 1984 |
| 4. Operation Safed Sagar | Indian Air Force in the Kargil conflict | 1999 |
The order is 2 → 1 → 3 → 4.
Bank key corrected: the stored key was (d) 4-2-1-3, which puts the 1999 Kargil operation first; the correct option is (b).
Answer: (b) 2-1-3-4.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Operation Riddle (1965) comes before Cactus Lily (1971).
- (b) CORRECT. Riddle (1965), Cactus Lily (1971), Meghdoot (1984), Safed Sagar (1999).
- (c) Incorrect. Safed Sagar (1999) is the last of the four, not the first.
- (d) Incorrect. Safed Sagar (1999) cannot come before 1965 and 1971.
Key point
Operation Riddle 1965 (11 Corps, Punjab); Cactus Lily 1971; Meghdoot April 1984 (Siachen); Safed Sagar 1999 (IAF in Kargil, May-July 1999).
Remember
Riddle 1965, Cactus Lily 1971, Meghdoot 1984, Safed Sagar 1999.
Common mistakes
- Thinking Safed Sagar came before the 1971 war because Kargil is better known.
- Confusing Meghdoot (1984 Siachen) with the Kargil operations of 1999.
- Mixing up the two wars (1965 and 1971).
Exam tip
Educated guess: Kargil (1999) is the most recent war of the four, so Safed Sagar must be last. That removes (c) and (d).
Sources
- S. N. Prasad and U. P. Thapliyal, The India-Pakistan War of 1965: A History (History Division, Ministry of Defence)
- Indian Air Force, Operation Safed Sagar (Kargil 1999) official account