Difficulty: Medium
Correct Answer: Washington
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
Joint military exercises are a key part of defence cooperation between nations and are frequently asked in current affairs and general knowledge sections of competitive exams. Yudh Abhyas is a recurring joint exercise between the Indian Army and the United States Army that aims to improve interoperability, share best practices and strengthen strategic ties. The 2017 edition of Yudh Abhyas was conducted in the United States, and this question specifically asks you to identify the place where it was held in September 2017. Remembering such facts helps you in defence, international relations and contemporary events questions.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
Yudh Abhyas is conducted alternately in India and the United States. In 2017, the exercise was hosted by the United States at Joint Base Lewis McChord in Washington state. Many current affairs compilations and defence news sources recorded that this edition of the exercise involved high altitude and counter insurgency training in the American northwest. The approach to solve this question is to recall that the base is located in Washington state and then match Washington with the options provided, rather than confusing it with Indian locations like Pune or Vishakhapattnam.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Yudh Abhyas is an annual or near annual joint military exercise between the Indian Army and the United States Army.
Step 2: Remember that the 2017 edition of Yudh Abhyas was hosted by the United States, not India.
Step 3: Note from defence news that the exercise took place at Joint Base Lewis McChord, which is located in Washington state.
Step 4: Look at the options and identify that Washington is listed, while the other three places are Indian or unrelated cities.
Step 5: Select Washington as the correct answer because it matches the known host location for Yudh Abhyas 2017.
Verification / Alternative Check:
To verify, you can cross check with the pattern that Yudh Abhyas alternates between Indian and United States locations. If you remember that earlier or later editions were held in Indian training areas such as Chaubattia in Uttarakhand, it confirms that at least some editions take place abroad. Several government press releases and news articles from 2017 mention that the exercise was being conducted in Washington state, USA. Checking these sources or remembering reading them during exam preparation reinforces that Washington is the correct location for the September 2017 exercise.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Pune is an important military and training centre in India, but it did not host the 2017 edition of Yudh Abhyas. Vishakhapattnam is a significant naval base on the eastern coast of India and is associated more with maritime exercises than this specific Indo United States army drill. NewYork is a major American city, but Yudh Abhyas 2017 was not held there; it took place at a military base in Washington state. Therefore, Pune, NewYork and Vishakhapattnam do not match the actual host location in September 2017 and are incorrect options.
Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes assume that any India related exercise mentioned in exams must have taken place in a familiar Indian city, leading them to choose Pune or Vishakhapattnam without recalling the alternation pattern between India and the United States. Another pitfall is confusing Washington state with Washington DC, or carelessly ignoring that the question refers to September 2017, which is a specific year. To avoid such mistakes, maintain a small table of major joint exercises, their partner countries and recent locations, and revise them regularly as part of current affairs preparation.
Final Answer:
The joint Indo United States military exercise Yudh Abhyas in September 2017 was held in Washington, so Washington is the correct option.
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