The multinational military exercise PRAGATI 2026 commenced on Tuesday at the Umroi Military Station in Meghalaya with the participation of armed forces contingents from 12 friendly nations across the Indian Ocean Region and Southeast Asia.
The participating countries include Bhutan, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Seychelles, Sri Lanka and Vietnam. The contingents received a traditional welcome from the Indian Army upon their arrival, reflecting India’s cultural heritage and hospitality.
PRAGATI, which stands for Partnership of Regional Armies for Growth and Transformation in the Indian Ocean Region, is being conducted to promote friendship, equality and mutual respect among participating nations. The exercise aims to strengthen military-to-military cooperation, facilitate professional exchanges and enhance coordination in joint operations.
The opening ceremony was attended by senior military officials and dignitaries. Addressing the gathering, Major General Sunil Sheoran, Additional Director General of Infantry of the Indian Army, welcomed the participating contingents and stressed the importance of collective engagement in tackling emerging security challenges.
He urged all participants to interact with openness and mutual respect while learning from each other’s operational experiences and military practices. He also said the diverse strengths and perspectives brought by each participating country would contribute to achieving the collective goals of the exercise.
The two-week exercise will primarily focus on counter-terrorism operations in semi-mountainous and jungle terrain. The training programme includes joint planning exercises, tactical drills and coordinated field operations aimed at improving adaptability, endurance and operational efficiency among troops.
Officials said special emphasis would be placed on discipline, physical fitness and coordination while operating under challenging conditions.
As part of the exercise, Indian defence and technology companies will also showcase indigenous military equipment and innovations developed under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. The event is expected to serve as a platform for knowledge-sharing and highlight India’s growing defence manufacturing and technological capabilities.
According to defence officials, Exercise PRAGATI 2026 is expected to further deepen professional ties among regional armies and contribute towards a common approach to shared security challenges in the region.