The "Sagarmatha Friendship" joint military exercise is conducted between which two countries?

Introduction / Context:
Joint military exercises between countries are important for defence cooperation and are common topics in competitive exams. Each exercise often has a distinctive name that reflects geography, friendship, or a shared objective. “Sagarmatha Friendship” is the name of a bilateral military exercise, and this question asks you to identify the two participating countries.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The exercise name is “Sagarmatha Friendship”.
• Sagarmatha is another name for Mount Everest, which lies on the border of Nepal and the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.
• The options pair different countries: Pakistan and China, Nepal and India, India and China, and China and Nepal.
• We assume the question refers to the first “Sagarmatha Friendship” exercise held in recent years.

Concept / Approach:
Sagarmatha is the Nepali name for Mount Everest. The joint military exercise “Sagarmatha Friendship” was conducted between China and Nepal, symbolising cooperation between the two countries that share proximity to the Himalayan region. Recognising that the name directly references Nepali terminology and that China is the neighbouring major power helps you determine the correct pair.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Focus on the keyword “Sagarmatha” and recall that it is the Nepali name for Mount Everest. Step 2: Because the name is Nepali, one participant must be Nepal. Step 3: Recall news that the Sagarmatha Friendship joint exercise was held between Nepal and China, not Nepal and India. Step 4: Check the options and choose “China and Nepal” as the correct pair.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify this by grouping joint exercises in your notes: for example, “Surya Kiran” for India and Nepal, “Hand in Hand” for India and China, and “Sagarmatha Friendship” for China and Nepal. This pattern confirms that Sagarmatha Friendship does not involve India.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Pakistan and China: These countries conduct joint drills, but not under the name Sagarmatha Friendship.
• Nepal and India: Their main joint exercise is called “Surya Kiran”, not Sagarmatha Friendship.
• India and China: Their joint anti terror exercise is known as “Hand in Hand”.

Common Pitfalls:
A common error is to assume that any exercise with a Himalayan or Sanskrit style name must involve India. Another trap is to confuse Sagarmatha Friendship with Surya Kiran because both involve Nepal. Clear mapping of exercise names to country pairs in your revision notes helps you avoid these mistakes.

Final Answer:
The “Sagarmatha Friendship” joint military exercise is conducted between China and Nepal.