India-Japan: Dharma Guardian

• 26 Feb 2024

Why in News?

Recently, the fifth edition of joint military exercise ‘Dharma Guardian’ between Indian and Japanese land forces commenced at the Mahajan Field Firing Ranges in Rajasthan.

Key Points

• The two-week drill is an annual exercise conducted alternatively in India and Japan.
  • The Japanese contingent is being represented by troops from the 34^th Infantry Regiment and the Indian Army is being represented by a battalion from the Rajputana Rifles.
• The aim of the exercise is to foster military cooperation and enhance combined capabilities to execute joint operations in semi-urban environments under the United Nations Charter.
• The event would focus on a high degree of physical fitness, joint planning, joint tactical drills and basics of special arms skills.

The Rajputana Rifles

• It is the oldest rifle regiment of the Indian Army.
• It was originally a part of the British Indian Army, when six previously existing regiments were amalgamated to form six battalions of the 6^th Rajputana Rifles.
• In 1945, the numeral designation was dropped from the title and in 1947 the regiment was transferred to the newly independent Indian Army.
• Since independence, the regiment has been involved in a number of conflicts against Pakistan, as well as contributing to the Custodian Force (India) in Korea under the aegis of the United Nations in 1953–54 and to the UN Mission to the Congo in 1962.

Charter of the United Nations

• The Charter of the UN is the founding document of the UN. It was signed on 26^th June 1945, in San Francisco and came into force on 24^th October 1945.
• The UN can take action on a wide variety of issues due to its unique international character and the powers vested in its Charter, which is considered an international treaty.
  • As such, the UN Charter is an instrument of international law, and UN Member States are bound by it.
• The International Court of Justice (ICJ), the primary judicial body of the United Nations (UN), operates by its Statute, annexed to the UN Charter as an integral part.