PRAGATI 2026: India's first multilateral army exercise concludes in Meghalaya
Synopsis
India quietly launched a new multilateral military platform — PRAGATI 2026 — pulling together 400-plus troops from 13 nations at a jungle terrain station in Meghalaya. With bilateral engagements at Vice Chief level and a live defence expo alongside the drills, this inaugural exercise is less a training event and more a strategic signal in the Indian Ocean Region.
Key Takeaways
PRAGATI 2026 concluded on 30 May 2026 at Umroi Military Station , Meghalaya — the first edition of this multilateral exercise.
More than 400 military personnel from 13 nations participated, including India, Bhutan, Vietnam, Philippines, and Sri Lanka.
The 72-hour validation exercise focused on counter-terrorism operations in semi-mountainous and jungle terrain.
Six Vice Chiefs and over 40 senior military officials attended the closing ceremony.
Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth , Vice Chief of the Army Staff, conducted bilateral defence cooperation talks with visiting dignitaries.
A defence exhibition co-organised with FICCI and the Army Design Bureau showcased indigenous military technologies under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
The maiden edition of multilateral military exercise PRAGATI 2026 concluded on Saturday, 30 May at Umroi Military Station in Meghalaya, wrapping up a 72-hour validation exercise designed to sharpen interoperability, build mutual trust, and strengthen collective preparedness across the Indo-Pacific region. The exercise, officials said, marks a significant milestone in India's regional defence diplomacy.
Participating Nations and Scale
The exercise brought together more than 400 military personnel from 13 countries — India, Bhutan, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam — under the banner of Partnership of Regional Armies for Growth and Transformation in the Indian Ocean Region (PRAGATI). The closing ceremony was attended by six Vice Chiefs and more than 40 senior military officials from the participating nations.
Key Training Activities
Conducted across semi-mountainous and jungle terrain, the exercise centred on counter-terrorism operations. Troops from all participating countries trained in mixed teams, undertaking activities including rock craft, ambush and counter-ambush drills, slithering, jungle lane shooting, room and bus intervention exercises, improvised explosive device (IED) detection, and casualty evacuation operations. Officials noted that the camaraderie and soldierly bonding displayed by participants under challenging field conditions was a standout feature of the exercise.
High-Level Bilateral Engagements
Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth, Vice Chief of the Army Staff, hosted the visiting dignitaries and conducted bilateral interactions aimed at deepening defence cooperation and military-to-military ties among regional partners. Such engagements at the Vice Chief level signal the strategic weight India has assigned to this new multilateral platform.
Defence Exhibition and Atmanirbhar Bharat Push
Alongside the field exercise, the Indian Army, in collaboration with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and the Army Design Bureau, organised a defence equipment exhibition showcasing indigenous technologies and next-generation military systems. The exhibition underlined India's expanding capabilities in defence design, development, and manufacturing under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, while actively promoting collaboration and export opportunities in the defence sector.
Significance for the Indo-Pacific
Officials described PRAGATI 2026 as laying a strong foundation for future editions of the exercise, with the long-term objective of ensuring peace, security, and prosperity across the Indo-Pacific region. This comes amid growing strategic competition in the Indian Ocean Region, where India has been steadily deepening defence ties with ASEAN and Indian Ocean littoral states. The exercise is expected to become a recurring annual platform, with the next edition's host yet to be announced.
Point of View
Something it has not had before. The 13-nation composition, spanning ASEAN, South Asia, and the Indian Ocean littorals, mirrors India's Act East and SAGAR doctrines in operational form. What is notable is the pairing of live counter-terrorism drills with a defence export exhibition: India is simultaneously training partners and pitching its indigenous industry to them. The real test will be whether PRAGATI gains traction as an annual fixture or fades like several earlier regional initiatives. The Vice Chief-level attendance from six nations suggests political buy-in exists — but sustaining it will require India to demonstrate tangible capability transfer, not just goodwill.
NationPress
15 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Exercise PRAGATI 2026?
PRAGATI 2026 is the inaugural edition of a multilateral military exercise hosted by India at Umroi Military Station in Meghalaya, bringing together over 400 troops from 13 nations for a 72-hour counter-terrorism validation drill. The exercise operates under the banner of Partnership of Regional Armies for Growth and Transformation in the Indian Ocean Region.
Which countries participated in PRAGATI 2026?
Thirteen countries participated: India, Bhutan, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam. The exercise is focused on building defence cooperation among Indian Ocean Region and Indo-Pacific nations.
What training activities were conducted during PRAGATI 2026?
Troops trained in mixed multinational teams on counter-terrorism tasks including rock craft, ambush and counter-ambush drills, slithering, jungle lane shooting, room and bus intervention, IED detection, and casualty evacuation — all conducted in semi-mountainous and jungle terrain.
What was the significance of the defence exhibition held alongside the exercise?
The Indian Army, FICCI, and the Army Design Bureau co-organised a defence equipment exhibition showcasing indigenous technologies and next-generation systems under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. It was aimed at promoting India's defence manufacturing capabilities and exploring export and collaboration opportunities with partner nations.
Who represented India at the closing ceremony of PRAGATI 2026?
Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth, Vice Chief of the Army Staff, hosted the closing ceremony and conducted bilateral interactions with visiting dignitaries. Six Vice Chiefs and more than 40 senior military officials from participating nations attended the event.
