Foreign Military Sales (FMS) Program (U.S.)
The U.S. Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program is a government-to-government mechanism for selling defence equipment and services, administered by DSCA, used ...
U.S. notifies sale of support services for India’s Apache helicopters, M777A2 howitzers
The U.S. has formally notified the proposed sale of sustainment support services and related equipment for India's Apache helicopters and M777A2 Ultra-Light Howitzers, valued at $482.2 million, under its Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program. This move aims to strengthen the U.S.-Indian strategic relationship and enhance India's defence capabilities, contributing to stability in the Indo-Pacific and South Asia regions.
Syllabus mapping
Mains syllabus topics
Indian Culture Art Architecture
Modern Indian History
Indian Society Diversity
Globalization Indian Society
Social Empowerment Communalism
Prelims takeaways
- The U.S. Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program is a key mechanism for defense cooperation between the U.S. and India.
- India procures advanced military equipment such as M777A2 Howitzers and Apache helicopters from the U.S.
- Defense deals strengthen the U.S.-India strategic partnership, particularly in the context of Indo-Pacific security and regional stability.
- M777A2 Ultra-Light Howitzers are used for artillery capabilities, especially in mountainous terrain, while AH-64E Apache attack helicopters are for precision strike and battlefield support.
Elimination traps
- Confusing the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program with direct commercial sales.
- Misidentifying the specific military equipment (e.g., M777A2 vs. other howitzers, Apache vs. other helicopters) or their primary uses.
- Assuming these sales significantly alter the basic military balance in the region, as the article states they would not.
Static concepts
- Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program
- Strategic partnerships in international relations
- Role of defense deals in bilateral relations
- Types of military equipment (howitzers, attack helicopters)
- Indo-Pacific region's strategic importance
Probable question areas
Question areas
- Which of the following statements regarding India's defense procurement from the U.S. is/are correct?
Question areas
- Consider the following pairs [Military Equipment] - [Country of Origin/Primary Use].
Question areas
- What is the significance of the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program in U.S.-India defense relations?
UPSC concepts in this story
Durable syllabus ideas for revision — not article memory.
India-U.S. Strategic Partnership and Defence Cooperation
The India-U.S. strategic partnership is characterized by growing defence cooperation, including significant arms sales and support services, aimed at bolster...
Previous year Prelims questions on overlapping themes and topics.
The Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany visited India in January, 2026. Which of the following is/are **not** correct in terms of outcomes of this visit ?
1. Signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the All India Institute of Ayurveda and the University of Hamburg
2. Signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on Youth Hockey Development between Hockey India and the German Hockey Federation
3. Establishment of a bilateral dialogue mechanism on the Indo-Pacific
4. Opening of an Honorary Consul of Germany in Lucknow
Select the answer using the code given below :
Explanation
Correct answer
B. 1 and 4
Statement 1 is Incorrect: During the visit, an MoU was signed to strengthen cooperation in traditional medicine between Gujarat Ayurveda University and German institutions. (An earlier MoU in late 2025 was agreed upon between the All India Institute of Ayurveda and Charité Universitätsmedizin in Berlin, not the University of Hamburg). Statement 2 is Correct: A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Youth Hockey Development was officially signed between Hockey India and the German Hockey Federation. Statement 3 is Correct: The two nations announced the establishment of a new bilateral dialogue mechanism on the Indo-Pacific, alongside a Track 1.5 Foreign Policy and Security Dialogue. Statement 4 is Incorrect: Following the Chancellor's focus on Gujarat, Germany announced the appointment of an Honorary Consul in Ahmedabad to foster closer cooperation in the western region, rather than in Lucknow. Since the question asks for the statements that are not correct, statements 1 and 4 fit the criteria. Therefore, the correct option is B.
International Relations
Current Affairs
Geopolitics & International Conflicts
Consider the following statements regarding the India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS):
1. The summit held in 2015 marked the third edition of the IAFS.
2. The IAFS mechanism was instituted under the leadership of Jawaharlal Nehru in 1951.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation
Correct answer
A. 1 only
Statement 1 is correct: The Third India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS-III) was hosted in New Delhi in October 2015. The first and second summits were held in 2008 (New Delhi) and 2011 (Addis Ababa), respectively, making the 2015 event the third edition. Statement 2 is incorrect: The India-Africa Forum Summit was institutionalized in 2008 to serve as the official platform for African-Indian relations. While Jawaharlal Nehru was a pioneer of Afro-Asian solidarity (e.g., the Asian Relations Conference of 1947), the IAFS is a distinct 21st-century initiative and was not established in 1951.
International Relations
Geopolitics & International Conflicts
In the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation, an initiative of six countries, which of the following is/are not participant/ participants?
1. Bangladesh
2. Cambodia
3. China
4. Myanmar
5. Thailand
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Explanation
Correct answer
C. 1 and 3 only
All 6 participants of the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation are member countries bordering the basins of the Mekong and Ganga rivers, aiming to collaborate on various initiatives. These countries are: - India - Cambodia - Laos - Myanmar - Thailand - Vietnam Hence, China & Bangladesh are not part of the Mekong-Ganga Corporation.
International Relations
Geopolitics & International Conflicts
Recently, India signed a deal known as ‘Action Plan for Prioritization and Implementation of Cooperation Areas in the Nuclear Field’ with which of the following countries?
Explanation
Correct answer
B. Russia
* India signed the ‘Action Plan for Prioritization and Implementation of Cooperation Areas in the Nuclear Field’ with Russia. * India and Russia have a long-standing strategic partnership in the field of civil nuclear cooperation. * The agreement aims to enhance collaboration in areas such as nuclear fuel cycle management, nuclear power projects, and research in nuclear science and technology. * Russia has been a key partner in India's nuclear energy sector, particularly through Rosatom, which has been involved in building Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP) in Tamil Nadu. * Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States have also engaged in nuclear cooperation with India but were not part of this specific agreement.
International Relations
Current Affairs
Geopolitics & International Conflicts
Which of the following statements about 'Exercise Mitra Shakti-2023' are correct?
1. This was a joint military exercise between India and Bangladesh.
2. It commenced in Aundh (Pune).
3. Joint response during counter-terrorism operations was a goal of this operation.
4. Indian Air Force was a part of this exercise.
Select the answer using the code given below :
Explanation
Correct answer
D. 2, 3 and 4
* Statement 1 is incorrect: Exercise MITRA SHAKTI-2023 was a joint military exercise between India and Sri Lanka. * Statement 2 is correct: The ninth edition of Joint Military exercise “Exercise MITRA SHAKTI-2023” commenced in Aundh (Pune). * Statement 3 is correct: The Scope of the exercise includes synergizing joint responses during counter-terrorist operations. * Statement 4 is correct: 15 personnel from Indian Air Force and five personnel from Sri Lankan Air Force participated in the exercise.
International Relations
Current Affairs
Geopolitics & International Conflicts
The term "two-state solution" is sometimes mentioned in the news in the context of the affairs of -
Explanation
Correct answer
B. Israel
The Two-State Solution is used in the context of the Israel-Palestine issue. It envisages an independent State of Palestine alongside the State of Israel west of the Jordan River.
International Relations
Current Affairs
Geopolitics & International Conflicts
Which one of the following pairs is **not** correctly matched ?
(Indian Army Corps) : (Headquarters)
Explanation
Correct answer
D. 33 Corps : Srinagar
Option A is correctly matched: The 3 Corps (Spear Corps) is headquartered at Rangapahar Military Station in Dimapur, Nagaland. It operates under the Eastern Command and handles counter-insurgency and border defense in the Northeast. Option B is correctly matched: The 4 Corps (Gajraj Corps) is headquartered in Tezpur, Assam. It operates under the Eastern Command and is primarily responsible for defending the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Arunachal Pradesh. Option C is correctly matched: The 14 Corps (Fire and Fury Corps) is headquartered in Leh, Ladakh. It operates under the Northern Command and guards the Kargil-Leh frontiers with China and Pakistan, as well as the Siachen Glacier. Option D is incorrectly matched: The 33 Corps (Trishakti Corps) is headquartered in Sukna (near Siliguri), West Bengal, and not in Srinagar. It operates under the Eastern Command and is responsible for the Sikkim sector and the strategically vital Siliguri Corridor. The Indian Army corps headquartered in Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir, is the 15 Corps (Chinar Corps). Therefore, the correct option is D.
Current Affairs
International Relations
Geopolitics & International Conflicts
Which of the following is not a member of ‘Gulf Cooperation Council’?
Explanation
Correct answer
A. Iran
The Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, originally (and still colloquially) known as the Gulf Cooperation Council, is a regional intergovernmental political and economic union consisting of all Arab states of the Persian Gulf except Iran. Its member states are Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. The Charter of the Gulf Cooperation Council was signed on 25 May 1981, formally establishing the institution. Hence, option A is the correct answer.
International Relations
Geopolitics & International Conflicts
India is a member of which of the following?
1. Asia-Pacific economic corporation.
2. Association of South-East Asian Nations.
3. East Asia Summit
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Explanation
Correct answer
B. 3 only
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC): India is not a member of APEC. Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN): India is not a member of ASEAN, but it is a part of ASEAN6. East Asia Summit: India is a member of the East Asia Summit. Therefore, out of the given options, India is only a member of the East Asia Summit.
International Relations
Geopolitics & International Conflicts
India is one of the founding members of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), a multimodal transportation corridor, which will connect
Explanation
Correct answer
A. India to Central Asia to Europe via Iran
The International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) is a multimodal transport network aimed at boosting trade between India, Central Asia, Russia, and Europe, using a combination of sea, rail, and road routes via Iran. The corridor connects Mumbai → Bandar Abbas (Iran) → Azerbaijan → Russia → Europe, with access to Central Asia.
International Relations
Geopolitics & International Conflicts
Previous year Mains questions mapped to overlapping GS syllabus topics.
Does tribal development in India centre around two axes, those of displacement and of rehabilitation? Give your opinion.
Salient features of Indian Society and Diversity
Women, population, poverty, urbanization and development
View Mains PYQ
Achieving sustainable growth with emphasis on environmental protection could come into conflict with poor people’s needs in a country like India – Comment.
Salient features of Indian Society and Diversity
Women, population, poverty, urbanization and development
View Mains PYQ
How do you account for the growing fast food industries given that there are increased health concerns in modern society? Illustrate your answer with the Indian experience.
Salient features of Indian Society and Diversity
Women, population, poverty, urbanization and development
Effects of globalization on Indian society
View Mains PYQ
Mahatma Jotirao Phule’s writings and efforts of social reforms touched issues of almost all subaltern classes. Discuss.
Modern Indian history (mid-18th century to present)
Salient features of Indian Society and Diversity
Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism and secularism
View Mains PYQ
Do you think that globalization results in only an aggressive consumer culture? Justify your answer.
Effects of globalization on Indian society
View Mains PYQ
The ethos of civil service in India stand for the combination of professionalism with nationalistic consciousness – Elucidate.
Salient features of Indian Society and Diversity
View Mains PYQ
The recent U.S. notification regarding the sale of sustainment support services to India for its Apache helicopters and M777A2 howitzers was administered under which of the following programs/agencies?
Explanation
The article states, 'The Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), which administers the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme of the U.S., issued the arms sales notification...'
Consider the following statements regarding the defence equipment mentioned in the article: 1. M777A2 Ultra-Light Howitzers are primarily used by the Indian Army to bolster artillery capabilities in mountainous terrain. 2. AH-64E Apache attack helicopters are regarded as among the world's most advanced combat helicopters for precision strike missions. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation
The article mentions, 'India inducted the M777A2 Ultra-Light Howitzers... to bolster its artillery capabilities, particularly in mountainous terrain.' It also states, 'The Indian Army also operates AH-64E Apache attack helicopters, regarded as among the world's most advanced combat helicopters, for precision strike and battlefield support missions.' Both statements are correct.
According to the article, the proposed U.S. sale of defence support services to India is intended to achieve which of the following objectives? 1. Strengthen the U.S.-Indian strategic relationship. 2. Enhance India's defence capabilities. 3. Contribute to stability in the Indo-Pacific and South Asia regions. 4. Significantly alter the basic military balance in the region. Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Explanation
The article states that the sale aims to 'strengthen the U.S.-Indian strategic relationship and enhance India's defence capabilities, contributing to stability in the Indo-Pacific and South Asia regions.' However, it explicitly mentions, 'The proposed sales would not alter the basic military balance in the region.' Therefore, statements 1, 2, and 3 are correct, while statement 4 is incorrect.
The recent U.S. notification for sustainment support services for India's Apache helicopters and M777A2 howitzers underscores the growing strategic convergence between the two nations. Discuss the significance of such defence deals for India's defence preparedness and its role in ensuring regional stability, particularly in the Indo-Pacific.
Introduce the context of India-US defence ties, elaborate on how such deals enhance India's capabilities, and analyze their geopolitical implications for regional stability.
The Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program is a key route for India's defence procurements from the U.S. Examine how such programs contribute to India's military modernization while also considering their potential implications for India's strategic autonomy and diversification of defence sources.
Define FMS, highlight its benefits for India's military modernization, and critically analyze the implications for strategic autonomy and the need for diversification.