The multilateral military exercise PRAGATI 2026 commenced today at Umroi Military Station, Meghalaya, with participation from 12 friendly nations — Bhutan, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Seychelles, Sri Lanka and Vietnam.
The participating contingents were accorded a warm and traditional welcome by the Indian Army upon their arrival, reflecting India’s rich cultural heritage and hospitality.
PRAGATI, which stands for 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. The exercise aims to provide a common platform for participating armies to engage in professional exchanges, learn from each other’s operational experiences and strengthen military-to-military relations.
The opening ceremony was attended by senior military officials and dignitaries. Addressing the participants, Major General Sunil Sheoran, Additional Director General of Infantry, Indian Army, welcomed all contingents and highlighted the importance of collective engagement in addressing contemporary security challenges.
He encouraged all participating nations to interact with openness, mutual respect and a willingness to learn from one another’s experiences. He also stated that the strengths and perspectives brought by each nation would contribute significantly towards achieving the collective objectives of the exercise.
The key objectives of the exercise include enabling seamless coordination among participating countries during joint operations, identifying common areas of cooperation, sharing expertise and establishing institutional mechanisms for the exchange of best practices developed through individual experiences.
The exercise also seeks to strengthen defence ties and camaraderie through joint training and cultural exchange, while evolving common concepts for intelligence management and information sharing in a multinational operational environment.
The two-week exercise will focus on counter-terrorism operations in semi-mountainous and jungle terrain. The training programme includes joint planning exercises, tactical-level drills and coordinated operations aimed at enhancing adaptability, endurance and tactical proficiency of participating troops.
Special emphasis will be laid on physical fitness, discipline and operational coordination while functioning in challenging conditions.
As part of the exercise, Indian technology and defence companies will showcase indigenous equipment and innovations under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. The exhibition will provide a platform for knowledge exchange and highlight India’s growing capabilities in defence production, innovation and self-reliance.
Exercise PRAGATI 2026 is expected to further strengthen military cooperation among participating nations, deepen professional relationships and contribute towards a shared regional approach to common security challenges in the Indian Ocean Region.
