In December 2017, India and Oman conducted the 11th edition of their bilateral naval exercise off the coast near Muscat. What was the name given to this maritime exercise?

Introduction / Context:
Naval exercises are a key component of defence cooperation between countries. India conducts several bilateral naval exercises with different partners, each with a specific name. With Oman, the series of maritime exercises is known by an Arabic inspired title. Remembering the correct pairing of exercise names and partner countries is a common requirement in defence and current affairs questions.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question refers to the 11th edition of a bilateral naval exercise.
• The exercise took place in December 2017 near Muscat, indicating Oman as the partner.
• We need to identify the name of this maritime exercise.

Concept / Approach:
The bilateral naval exercise between India and Oman is called Naseem-Al-Bahr, which can be translated roughly as "Sea Breeze". It is a recurring exercise series that enhances interoperability and mutual understanding between the navies of the two countries. Other names like Varuna are associated with different partner nations, and the remaining options are distractors not recognised as formal exercise names in this context.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Connect the location Muscat with Oman as India's naval partner.Step 2: Recall that the India Oman naval exercise series is named Naseem-Al-Bahr.Step 3: Recognise that Varuna is the name of the India France naval exercise, so it cannot be used here.Step 4: Note that names like Dariyadili, Johaal-Noor and Mohobbaten are not standard titles for this exercise.Step 5: Select the option that clearly mentions Naseem-Al-Bahr as the India Oman naval exercise.

Verification / Alternative check:
For verification, it helps to recall a few common pairings: Malabar is an India United States Japan naval exercise, Varuna is for India France and SIMBEX is for India Singapore. For Oman, Naseem-Al-Bahr is the recognised name. If you keep these key combinations in mind, you can quickly rule out incorrect options in exam questions.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Dariyadili: This name does not correspond to the standard India Oman naval exercise series and is used here only as a distractor.
Johaal-Noor: Not an established name for any major India Oman naval exercise in defence current affairs.
Mohobbaten: This is a generic sounding term and is not used to designate the bilateral naval exercise between India and Oman.
Varuna: This is the name of the India France naval exercise, not the one conducted with Oman.

Common Pitfalls:
Because many naval exercises have foreign language names, students may confuse the titles between different partner countries. To avoid this, make a small table linking exercises to partners, such as Malabar with the United States and Japan, Varuna with France, SIMBEX with Singapore and Naseem-Al-Bahr with Oman. Regular revision of these pairs will minimise mistakes during the exam.

Final Answer:
The 11th bilateral naval exercise between India and Oman near Muscat in December 2017 was named Naseem-Al-Bahr, the India Oman naval exercise.