PANEX-21 Exercise: Pune hosted PANEX-21 Military Exercise

Table of Contents

PANEX-21: Relevance for UPSC Exam

GS Paper 2: International Relations- India and its neighbourhood- relations.
GS Paper 3: Disaster Management- Disaster and disaster management.

Recently, the Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Exercise PANEX-21 were held at Pune from 20-22 Dec 2021.
COVID-19 Pandemic and PANEX-21: in the backdrop of a Covid pandemic, Participants also held discussions on various aspects related to challenges faced, envisaged contingencies and Mitigation measures in the conduct of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations.
- PANEX-21 also involved the equipment capability demonstration by the Indian Industries in tackling any future pandemic-like situations.

About: PANEX-21 is a multi-national Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief exercise held among BIMSTEC Countries.
Objective: PANEX-21 aims to build regional cooperation among BIMSTEC Member countries in responding to various natural disasters.
Participation: PANEX-21 exercise witnessed participation from the senior officials from BIMSTEC countries, government officials and subject matter experts as speakers.
- BIMSTEC Countries- Bhutan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, India and Thailand.
- BIMSTEC Full Form: Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation.

The participants of the exercise will be divided into eight syndicates. One syndicate from the participating countries and two from India.
It will analyze the capabilities of member states in responding to natural disasters. The countries will share their best practices.
The exercise will review the procedures of preparedness and response. It will then recommend the evolution of organized structure.
During the exercise, the countries will discuss military–to–military cooperation protocol.

Countering Natural Disasters: Due to climate change and associated issues, the Bay of Bengal region has witnessed many cyclones and disturbances in the recent past like Cyclone Amphan and Jawad.
- PANEX-21 exercise will help India and other bordering countries prepare well and manage these disasters effectively.
PANEX-21 promotes regional cooperation which will also help in effectively managing COVID-like pandemics in the future and minimize the human and material loss in the region.