Study OAS ·
PRAGATI 2026
What's the News?
- The Indian Army has launched PRAGATI 2026, a two-week multinational military exercise at Umroi Military Station, Meghalaya.
- Armed forces from 12 friendly nations—Bhutan, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam—are participating alongside India.
- The exercise focuses on counter-terrorism operations in semi-mountainous and jungle terrain, aiming to enhance interoperability, intelligence sharing, and joint operational coordination among regional partners.
- PRAGATI stands for Partnership of Regional Armies for Growth and Transformation in the Indian Ocean Region, reflecting India's commitment to collaborative security frameworks.
Exercise Framework & Operational Focus
- Nodal Agency: Indian Army, under the Ministry of Defence.
- Venue: Umroi Military Station, near Shillong, Meghalaya—a strategic location offering realistic jungle and semi-mountainous training terrain.
- Core Objectives:
- Strengthen military-to-military cooperation and professional exchange among participating nations.
- Develop common operational concepts for multinational counter-terrorism missions.
- Institutionalise mechanisms for best-practice sharing and joint intelligence management.
- Build trust and camaraderie through joint training and cultural interaction.
- Training Components:
- Joint Planning Exercises: Scenario-based mission planning for complex counter-terrorism operations.
- Tactical Drills: Small-unit tactics, ambush/counter-ambush, and cordon-and-search operations.
- Field Operations: Coordinated patrols, heliborne insertions, and night operations in challenging terrain.
- Soft Skills Emphasis: Physical fitness, discipline, and cross-cultural team coordination.
Additional Info
- Historical Background:
- India regularly hosts multinational exercises: Mitra Shakti (Sri Lanka), Surya Kiran (Nepal), Ex Ekuverin (Maldives), and CORPAT (maritime patrols with Southeast Asian nations).
- Umroi Cantonment: Established in the 1970s; strategically located near India's eastern border for rapid deployment and training.
- Related Initiatives & Organisations:
- Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA): Promotes regional cooperation on maritime security, trade, and disaster management.
- Quad Defence Cooperation: India's participation in quadrilateral security dialogue with US, Japan, Australia complements sub-regional exercises like PRAGATI.
- Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO): Supports indigenous equipment showcased during the exercise (e.g., UAVs, communication systems, personal gear).
- Constitutional & Policy Linkages:
- Supports Article 51 (Directive Principle: promote international peace and security) and Article 246 (Union List: defence and foreign affairs).
- Aligns with National Security Strategy emphasis on technology-enabled, network-centric warfare and regional partnerships.
- Advances SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).