India and the EU carried out their first joint naval exercise

Current Context: India and the European Union (EU) conducted their maiden naval exercise in the Gulf of Guinea off the west African coast on October 24, 2023.

• The exercise involved Indian Navy’s INS Sumedha, an offshore patrol vessel, and naval ships of three EU member states—Italian ship ITS Foscari, French ship FS Ventôse and Spanish ship Tornado.
• The exercise was based on the scenario of a maritime security operation and included a series of tactical manoeuvres, flying exercises, boarding exercise, and transfer of personnel between ships.
• The exercise was aimed at boosting maritime security cooperation, enhancing interoperability, and demonstrating the shared commitment to a free, open, inclusive and rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific region.
• It followed the third meeting of the EU-India Maritime Security Dialogue that took place on October 5, 2023, in Brussels.

Question:

Q.1 What was the name of the Indian Navy ship that participated in the exercise?
a. INS Vikramaditya
b. INS Sumedha
c. INS Shivalik
d. INS Talwar