Bold Kurukshetra 2025 to be Hosted in Jodhpur: Strengthening India- Singapore Defence Ties

Joint military exercise The Bold Kurukshetra 2025 will be the 14 th edition of the India- Singapore Joint Military Exercise, which started on 27 July 2025 in Jodhpur. It comprises 42 Singapore Armoured Regiment and Mechanised Infantry Regiment of the Indian Army. The drill includes a wargame in the shape of a tabletop exercise and a computer-based wargame used to legitimise processes pertaining to mechanised combat. The operational cooperation is expressed by a symbolic transferring of the regimental flag. It will further enhance bilateral defence cooperation and intertwinement under UN mandate.

Context:

• Occasion: Annual bilateral military training exercise of India and Singapore.

• Location: Jodhpur, India (27 July 2025 4 August 2025).

• Importance: Enhancement of the tactical and strategic collaboration in the Indo-Pacific area.

Key Points

Characteristics of Bold Kurukshetra 2025:

Participating Units:

• 4 Siking Armoured Regiment 4 Singapore Armoured Brigade

• Regiment of mechanised infantry, Indian Army

Command Leadership:

• Indian front headed by Colonel Arjun Ganapathi

  • Lt. Colonel Khiew Zhi Yoong who led Singaporean side

  • Brigadier Pritam (India) and Colonel Wong Zeng Yu (Singapore) were the Chief Guests.

• Type of exercise:

  • Computer and tabletop warfighter tactical war game simulations

  • Indian Army display of equipment

  • Emphasis on UN-like coordination In peacekeeping style

• Ceremonial Highlight:

  • Transfer of Regimental Flag by Singapore side to Indian contingent

India- Singapore Defence Relations

Established Ties:

• Since the 1990s Defence cooperation; formalised under the Defence Cooperation Agreement (2003)

• Refreshed and upgraded in 2023, 2015

Important cooperation pillars:

• Combined military trainings and exercises

• Coordination of Maritime security

• Access in Changi Naval Base to Indian Navy Port

• Publication of White Shipping information

Other Bilateral exercises:

• Naval Exercise SIMBEX

• Agni Warrior (Exercise Artillery)

• Joint Working Group on Defence conferences

Geostrategic Indo-Pacific relevance:

• Singapore as a Central Hub Of the Southeast Asian Region Singapore and the Act East Policy of India Singapore is a strategic partner of great importance in India and will play a vital role in its Act East Policy.

• India: Net security provider Indian Ocean Region; Preserving rules based international order.

• Interoperability Training: This is vital to deal with crisis in the region, disaster relief and UN peacekeeping.

Conclusion

Exercise Bold Kurukshetra 2025 is a representation of increasing strategic alignment between India and Singapore. It signifies the preoccupation of India concerning collective military preparedness, regional engagements and UN peacekeeping operations. The exercises are one step towards enhancing India and a move to capacity building of multilateral security cooperation.