The maiden edition of Exercise PRAGATI 2026 — the Partnership of Regional Armies for Growth and Transformation in IOR — concluded at Umroi, Meghalaya on 30 May 2026, with senior military leaders from participating nations reaffirming a collective commitment to peace, stability, and security across the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). The two-week multilateral exercise brought together over 400 troops from 12 Friendly Foreign Countries under the Indian Army's leadership.

Closing Ceremony and Senior Leadership

Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth, Vice Chief of the Army Staff (VCOAS), along with Vice Chiefs and senior military officials from all participating nations, attended the final validation exercise and closing ceremony. The event marked the successful culmination of what the Indian Army described as a landmark multinational engagement, underscoring the strategic significance of the inaugural edition.

Participating Nations and Scope

The exercise drew contingents from Bhutan, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, the Philippines, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam. The broad participation reflects India's deepening military diplomacy across South Asia and Southeast Asia, and aligns with New Delhi's Act East and SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) frameworks.

Focus: Counter-Terrorism and Jungle Terrain Operations

Operationally, PRAGATI concentrated on counter-terrorism operations in semi-mountainous and jungle terrain — a terrain profile directly relevant to Meghalaya and the wider northeastern theatre. Major Susmitha S. Variar, an officer from the Indian Army's Corps of Engineers, told reporters that participants conducted counter-IED drills, room intervention drills, MVCP (Motor Vehicle Check Post) drills, and simulated counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations. 'We trained in tactical environments where key engineering tasks were carried out, and best practices were shared between contingents,' she said.

Indigenous Defence Showcase

Participating nations were also treated to a demonstration of India's indigenous defence industry capabilities. The showcase highlighted advances in domestic military technology and underscored India's push under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative to develop self-reliant, future-ready military solutions. This signals India's intent to position itself not just as a security partner but also as a defence manufacturing hub for the region.

Strategic Significance

PRAGATI's inaugural edition is notably timed against a backdrop of heightened maritime competition in the Indian Ocean, where China's naval footprint has expanded considerably. By convening 12 regional armies for joint drills focused on interoperability and strategic coordination, India is consolidating its role as the preferred security partner for IOR littoral states. The exercise also reinforced camaraderie and operational synergy — two prerequisites for effective coalition responses to shared threats. All eyes will now be on whether PRAGATI becomes an annual fixture and whether its scope expands to include maritime and air components in future editions.