New Delhi:The Indian Army on Wednesday launched the multinational military exercise PRAGATI 2026 at the Umroi Military Station in Meghalaya, bringing together troops from India and 12 partner nations for joint counter terror and warfare training.
Held in the rugged jungle and semi mountainous terrain near Shillong, the exercise is aimed at improving coordination, interoperability and intelligence sharing among participating armies during complex security operations. The drill comes as India continues to strengthen its strategic presence and defence partnerships across the Indo Pacific and South Asian regions.
The countries participating alongside India are Bhutan, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Seychelles, Sri Lanka and Vietnam.
The Umroi Military Station was selected because its dense forests, hilly terrain and counter insurgency training infrastructure closely resemble real world operational environments faced during anti terror missions and jungle warfare. The exercise also reflects India’s broader effort to integrate the Northeast into its strategic outreach under the Act East Policy.
Under PRAGATI 2026, participating troops are expected to conduct a series of tactical drills including hostage rescue simulations, building clearing operations, heliborne troop insertions, combat casualty evacuation and intelligence coordination exercises. Reports indicate the exercise will conclude with a large scale validation mission designed to test planning, endurance and multinational coordination under simulated combat conditions.
Beyond military training, the exercise carries strong diplomatic and geopolitical significance. India is using such engagements to deepen defence cooperation with neighbouring and ASEAN countries while projecting itself as a key regional security partner.
The exercise is also expected to showcase indigenous defence technologies under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, including Indian made surveillance systems, communication equipment and tactical platforms. Through initiatives like PRAGATI 2026, India continues to expand its role in regional security cooperation, military diplomacy and strategic engagement across the Indo Pacific.
