Source: TOI
Context: The first flight under Operation Sindhu carrying 110 Indian students evacuated from Iran amid the escalating Iran-Israel conflict landed safely in New Delhi.
About Operation Sindhu:
- What it is?
- Operation Sindhu is a government-led evacuation mission to safely bring back Indian nationals trapped in conflict-affected regions of Iran.
- Launched By:
- Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India
- Supported by Indian Embassies in Iran and Armenia
- Objectives:
- To ensure the safe evacuation of Indian citizens, especially students, from war-affected regions of Iran.
- To coordinate safe passage via Armenia due to volatile conditions inside Iran.
- Key Features:
- Evacuation Route: From northern Iran to Yerevan, Armenia to New Delhi.
- Priority: Continuous monitoring by Indian Embassy and active coordination with host governments.
- Control Room: 24/7 MEA Control Room established in New Delhi for assistance.
Major Air Evacuation Missions by India:
| Mission Name | Aim |
| Vande Bharat Mission | Evacuation of Indians stranded abroad during COVID-19 (2020) |
| Operation Devi Shakti | Evacuation from Afghanistan after Taliban takeover (2021) |
| Operation Ganga | Evacuation of Indians from Ukraine war zones (2022) |
| Operation Kaveri | Rescue of Indian citizens from Sudan conflict (2023) |
| Operation Ajay | Return of Indians from Israel during conflict (2023) |
| Operation Sindhu | Ongoing evacuation from war-hit Iran (2025) |
