India, Sri Lanka & Maldives Hold ‘DOSTI 17’ Coast Guard Drill

Current Context: The 17th edition of trilateral Coast Guard exercise ‘DOSTI-17’ was held in Malé, Maldives. It took place from 17–19 January 2026.

• Participants included the Indian Coast Guard (ICG), Sri Lanka Coast Guard (SLCG), and Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) Coast Guard.
• The exercise focused on search-and-rescue operations, marine pollution response, and tackling illegal activities at sea.
• Joint drills like Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure (VBSS) were conducted to enhance interoperability.
• It strengthened information sharing and professional exchanges among the three nations.
• Strategically, it reinforced maritime security cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), supporting India’s Neighbourhood First policy.

Question:

Q.1 Which forces participated in the trilateral Coast Guard exercise DOSTI-17?
a) India, Bangladesh, Maldives
b) India, Sri Lanka, Maldives
c) India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka
d) India, Seychelles, Maldives

Answer: b) DOSTI is a trilateral exercise involving India, Sri Lanka, and Maldives.