INAUGURAL INDIA–MYANMAR BILATERAL TRI-SERVICES HADR EXERCISE ‘RAHAT MITRA’ CONCLUDES AT CHENNAI

Why in News

The inaugural India–Myanmar Exercise RAHAT MITRA, held on 5–6 November 2026, concluded in Chennai.

Prelims Pointers

• HADR means Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief.

• RAHAT MITRA is a bilateral tri-services exercise involving India and Myanmar.

1. India’s Army, Navy and Air Force participated.

2. Its focus was coordinated disaster response and operational interoperability.

• A Table-Top Exercise (TTX) used a severe cyclone scenario to examine coordinated response procedures.

• Demonstrations covered obstacle clearance, bridge laying, medical triage, flood relief, maritime search and rescue, and casualty evacuation.

• INS Sukanya demonstrated shipborne disaster-relief capabilities. 

• INS Bitra and a Chetak helicopter supported search-and-rescue demonstrations.

Prelims Traps

• “A tabletop exercise requires every response activity to be physically deployed.” This is incorrect. It uses simulated scenarios and discussion to examine response plans.

• “Medical triage prioritises patients solely by their order of arrival.” This is incorrect. It considers clinical urgency and available treatment resources.