The multinational military exercise PRAGATI 2026 commenced at Umroi Military Station in Meghalaya with participation from 12 friendly nations — Bhutan, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Seychelles, Sri Lanka and Vietnam.
The participating contingents received a traditional welcome by the Indian Army, reflecting India’s cultural heritage and spirit of military camaraderie.
PRAGATI — Partnership of Regional Armies for Growth and Transformation in the Indian Ocean Region — is being conducted in the spirit of equality, friendship, and mutual respect, with the aim of strengthening regional military cooperation and interoperability.
The opening ceremony was attended by senior military officials and dignitaries. Addressing the participants, Major General Sunil Sheoran, Additional Director General of Infantry, highlighted the importance of collective engagement in addressing evolving security challenges and encouraged all contingents to share experiences and best practices openly.
The exercise aims to enhance coordination among participating armies during joint operations, strengthen defence ties through professional exchanges and cultural interaction, and develop common mechanisms for intelligence sharing and multinational operational planning.
The two-week exercise will focus on counter-terrorism operations in semi-mountainous and jungle terrain. Training activities include joint planning exercises, tactical drills, and coordinated field operations aimed at improving endurance, adaptability, and tactical proficiency in challenging operational environments.
As part of the exercise, Indian defence technology and manufacturing companies will also showcase indigenous military equipment and innovations under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, highlighting India’s growing defence production and self-reliance capabilities.
Exercise PRAGATI 2026 is expected to further strengthen military-to-military cooperation, deepen professional ties among participating nations, and contribute towards a coordinated regional approach to common security challenges in the Indian Ocean Region.
