India launches multinational military exercise PRAGATI 2026 in Meghalaya

The Indian Army on Wednesday (May 20) began the multilateral exercise PRAGATI (Partnership of Regional Armies for Growth and Transformation in the Indian Ocean Region) 2026 at Umroi military Station in Meghalaya, bringing together contingents from 12 nations for two-week joint training programme focused on counter terrorism operations in challenging terrain.

The participating countries include Bhutan, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Seychelles, Sri Lanka and Vietnam.

The contingents received a traditional welcome from the Indian Army on arrival, showcasing India’s cultural heritage and hospitality.

Exercise PRAGATI aims to enhance military cooperation, boost interoperability and strengthen defence ties among regional partner nations in the Indian Ocean Region.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Major General Sunil Sheoran, Additional Director General of Infantry, marked the importance of collective engagement in tackling evolving security challenges. He urged participating armies to engage with openness, mutual respect and a spirit of learning from each other’s operational experiences.

According to Ministry the Defence, the exercise seeks to enhance seamless coordination among participating nations during joint operations, identify common areas of cooperation and establish mechanisms for sharing best practices and intelligence in a multinational environment.

The training module will focus on counter-terrorism operations in semi-mountainous and jungle terrain, with troops undertaking joint planning exercises, tactical drills and coordinated operations aimed at improving adaptability, endurance and combat proficiency.

Special emphasis would be placed on physical fitness, discipline and coordination while operating in difficult conditions.

As part of the exercise, Indian defence and technology firms will also showcase indigenous military equipment and innovations developed under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, highlighting the country’s growing capabilities in defence manufacturing and self-reliance.

Exercise PRAGATI 2026 is expected to deepen regional military cooperation and enhance collective security coordination among partner countries.