Multinational Military Exercise PRAGATI 2026 Begins in Meghalaya with Participation from 12 Nations
Guwahati, May 20:
The multinational military exercise PRAGATI 2026 officially commenced at the Umroi Military Station with the participation of armed forces contingents from 12 friendly nations across the Indo-Pacific and Indian Ocean regions.
Participating countries include Bhutan, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Seychelles, Sri Lanka and Vietnam.
The visiting contingents received a traditional welcome from the Indian Army, reflecting India’s cultural heritage and regional diplomatic outreach.
PRAGATI — short for Partnership of Regional Armies for Growth and Transformation in the Indian Ocean Region — is aimed at enhancing defence cooperation, interoperability and strategic coordination among participating nations.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by senior military officials and dignitaries. Addressing the gathering, Major General Sunil Sheoran, Additional Director General of Infantry, highlighted the growing importance of collective security cooperation in addressing emerging regional and transnational security challenges.
He emphasized the importance of mutual respect, professional learning and collaborative engagement among participating forces, stating that the diverse operational experiences and strategic perspectives brought by each country would significantly contribute to the overall objectives of the exercise.
The two-week exercise will primarily focus on counter-terrorism operations in semi-mountainous and jungle terrain, with troops participating in:
- joint operational planning,
- tactical combat drills,
- coordinated field exercises,
- endurance and adaptability training,
- intelligence-sharing simulations,
- multinational operational coordination.
The exercise also seeks to establish long-term institutional mechanisms for sharing best practices, enhancing defence diplomacy and strengthening military-to-military relations across the region.
A key highlight of PRAGATI 2026 will be the participation of Indian defence and technology firms showcasing indigenous military equipment and innovations under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. The showcase is expected to underline India’s expanding capabilities in defence manufacturing, military innovation and strategic self-reliance.
Defence analysts view the exercise as an important platform for fostering regional stability, improving interoperability among partner nations and building a coordinated response framework for common security threats in the Indian Ocean and Indo-Pacific regions.
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