Description

Why In News?

The inaugural 13-nation multilateral land-based military drill, Exercise PRAGATI 2026, commenced at Umroi Military Station in Meghalaya.

About EXERCISE PRAGATI 2026

Full Form: PRAGATI stands for Partnership of Regional Armies for Growth and Transformation in the Indian Ocean Region.
Host: The Indian Army (HQ Eastern Command and the Army Design Bureau) hosts this inaugural multilateral field-training exercise.
Location: Umroi Military Station in Meghalaya.
Schedule: The exercise runs for two weeks from May 18 to May 31, 2026.
Participants: 13 nations participate, bringing together land forces from India and 12 partner nations: Bhutan, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam.

Operational Focus & Objectives

Combat Training: Soldiers execute counter-terrorism operations adapted for semi-mountainous and jungle terrain.
Disaster Management: Forces conduct Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) to prepare for regional cyclones, earthquakes, and floods.
Interoperability: Armies align their communication systems, execute joint planning, and establish mechanisms to share intelligence.
Modern Warfare: Troops integrate advanced tools, including cyber technologies and AI-enabled battlefield management systems.

Strategic Significance

Defence Diplomacy Shift: India expands traditional maritime focus in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) to include robust land-based military cooperation.
Foreign Policy Alignment: The initiative reinforces India's Neighbourhood First policy, Act East Policy, and the SAGAR Doctrine.
Geographic Importance: By hosting the event in Meghalaya, India highlights Northeast India as a strategic bridge connecting South Asia with Southeast Asia.
Regional Leadership: India positions itself as a reliable regional security provider to counter shared threats like insurgency, cross-border terrorism, and natural disasters.

Source: ECONOMICTIMES

Attempt Daily Quiz

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. With reference to 'Exercise PRAGATI 2026', consider the following statements:

It is a bilateral military exercise conducted between India and the member states of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA).
The inaugural edition of the exercise is being hosted at the Foreign Training Node in Umroi, Meghalaya.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A) 1 only

B) 2 only

C) Both 1 and 2

D) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: B

Explanation:

Statement 1 is incorrect: Exercise PRAGATI 2026 is a multilateral military initiative hosted by the Indian Army. It stands for 'Partnership of Regional Armies for Growth and Transformation in the Indian Ocean Region', and it is not conducted under the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA).

Statement 2 is correct: The inaugural edition of the exercise is indeed being hosted by the Indian Army at the Foreign Training Node in Umroi, Meghalaya. The exercise brings together troops and delegations from India and 12 partner nations (including Bhutan, Cambodia, Malaysia, and Vietnam) to focus on counter-terrorism and jungle warfare operations.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

It is an inaugural multilateral field-training exercise hosted by the Indian Army that brings together land forces from India and 12 partner nations to focus on counter-terrorism and interoperability.

It is being held at the specialized high-altitude and jungle warfare training facility at Umroi Military Station in Meghalaya.

The 13 participating nations include India, Bhutan, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam.