First Military Field Training Exercise for the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi Sectoral Technological and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) nations, named MILEX-18, is being conducted at Aundh Military Station, Pune, Maharashtra.
The aim of the exercise is to familiarise the BIMSTEC Nations’ forces in planning and conduct of counter terrorist operations in a semi-urban setting.
Indo-Mongolia joint exercise Nomadic Elephant-2018 is being conducted at Mongolian Armed Forces (MAF) Five Hills Training Area, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
The Nomadic Elephant exercise is an annual, bilateral exercise, held since 2006, and is designed to strengthen the partnership between Indian Army and Mongolian Armed Forces.
The aim of exercise is to improve tactical and technical skills in joint counter insurgency and counter terrorist operations in rural and urban scenarios.
Gatka
‘Gatka’ is a traditional martial art form associated with the Sikh gurus.
It was earlier confined to gurudwaras, nagar kirtans and akharas, but now it finds presence in the sports category after the formation of the Gatka Federation of India (GFI) in 2008. Gatka is now played by trained Gatka players at the national level.
Gatka is believed to have originated when the sixth Sikh Guru Hargobind adopted ‘Kirpan’ for self defense during the Mughal era, and tenth Guru Gobind Singh made it compulsory for everyone to use the weapons for self defense.
Malignant Catarrhal Fever (MCF)
Malignant Catarrhal Fever (MCF), a rare and deadly livestock disease has resurfaced in Karnataka affecting cattle belonging to dairy farmers. It was first spotted in the State 10 years ago.
MCF, an infectious viral disease, originated in South Africa. It has neither a cure nor a vaccination that can prevent its spread.
