Knowledge Booster: Operation Brahma and Other Indian Rescue/Evacuation Operations

Subject: International Relations, Government Schemes
Relevance: India’s role in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) is growing. Knowing about key operations helps illustrate India’s capabilities and foreign policy objectives.

Why in the News?

• India launched ‘Operation Brahma’ to deliver 15 tonnes of relief materials to Myanmar after a powerful earthquake.

Key Takeaways:

1. Operation Brahma (2025):

   • Purpose: Humanitarian assistance to Myanmar after a significant earthquake.

   • Materials Provided: Tents, blankets, food, water purifiers, medicines, and a search and rescue team and a medical team.

   • Delivery Method: C130J aircraft to Yangon.

2. Operation Ajay (2023):

   • Purpose: Repatriation of Indian citizens from Israel and Palestine during the Israel-Hamas conflict.

3. Operation Kaveri (2023):

   • Purpose: Evacuation of Indian nationals from Sudan during the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

   • Assets Used: IAF’s C130J Super Hercules and C17 Globemaster aircraft, naval ships INS Sumedha and INS Tarkash.

   • Evacuation Point: From various parts of Sudan to Port Sudan, then back to India.

   • Number of Indians Evacuated: Over 3,800.

4. Operation Ganga (2022):

   • Purpose: Evacuation of Indian citizens stranded in Ukraine during the Russia-Ukraine war.

   • Methods: 90 flights, including 14 Indian Air Force flights; 24×7 control centers set up to assist evacuation through border crossings with Hungary, Poland, Romania, and the Slovak Republic.

5. Operation Devi Shakti (2021):

   • Purpose: Evacuation of Indian citizens and Afghan partners from Kabul after the Taliban takeover.

6. Vande Bharat Mission (2020):

   • Purpose: Bringing home thousands of Indian nationals stranded abroad due to the coronavirus lockdown.

   • Included naval component: Operation Samudra Setu (Sea Bridge)

7. Operation Raahat (2015):

   • Purpose: Evacuation of Indians and foreign citizens from conflict-hit Yemen.

   • Context: Saudi Arabia’s intervention in Yemen.

   • Assets Used: Indian armed forces, Air India.

   • Evacuated: Over 4,500 Indians and at least 900 foreign nationals from 41 countries.

8. Operation Maitri (2015):

   • Purpose: Assistance to Nepal after a massive earthquake.

   • Activities: Evacuation of stranded Indians, rescue of foreign nationals, and provision of humanitarian relief.

   • Assets Used: Indian Air Force.

   • Rescued: Over 2,200 people from critical zones.

9. Operation Safe Homecoming (2011):

   • Purpose: Evacuation of Indians from Libya.

   • Methods: Air and sea-based evacuation.

   • Evacuated: Around 15,000 Indians.

10. Operation Sukoon (2006):

    • Purpose: Evacuation of Indian, Sri Lankan, and Nepalese citizens from Lebanon during the 2006 Lebanon War (Israel-Hezbollah conflict).

    • Evacuated: 2,280 people (1,764 Indians, 112 Sri Lankans, 64 Nepalese, and seven Nepalese nationals with Indian spouses).

11. Kuwait Airlift (1990):

    • Purpose: Evacuation of Indians from Kuwait after the Iraqi invasion.

    • Scale: One of the biggest such operations ever organized by India.

    • Evacuated: At least 175,000 Indians.

    • Assets Used: Air India and civil aircraft.

    • Guinness Book of World Records: Recognized Air India for the largest number of people evacuated by a civilian airliner.