Multilateral Exercise PRAGATI 2026 Concludes With High Operational Synergy at Umroi in Meghalaya
NEW DELHI, May 30 — The inaugural edition of the multilateral military exercise PRAGATI 2026 reached a successful conclusion at the Umroi Military Station in Meghalaya following a rigorous 72-hour validation phase. Standing for the Partnership of Regional Armies for Growth and Transformation in the Indian Ocean Region, the comprehensive drills brought together over 400 troops from 13 nations, including India, Bhutan, Cambodia, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, the Philippines, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Laos.
Hosted by Vice Chief of the Army Staff Dhiraj Seth, the closing event drew high-profile attendance from six vice chiefs and more than 40 senior military officials representing the participating friendly foreign nations, all focusing on enhancing interoperability, mutual trust, and collective readiness to tackle shared security vulnerabilities in the region.The core objective of the exercise centered on executing sophisticated counter-terrorism operations across demanding semi-mountainous and dense jungle terrains.
Participants advanced through a structured curriculum of classroom lectures, tactical demonstrations, and hands-on skill practices before executing the final 72-hour simulation, which successfully consolidated their training outcomes. The joint drills encompassed a diverse range of tactical maneuvers, including specialized rock craft, ambush and counter-ambush tactics, helicopter slithering, jungle lane shooting, bus and room intervention drills, improvised explosive device detection, and rapid casualty evacuation protocols.
By integrating personnel into mixed international teams, the exercise successfully fostered deep camaraderie, bolstered capacity building, and reinforced a unified soldierly spirit amid challenging field conditions.A major highlight of the event was a dedicated defense equipment exhibition organized by the Indian Army in collaboration with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry. Facilitated by the Army Design Bureau and FICCI, the display served as a premium platform to showcase cutting-edge indigenous military hardware and niche technologies developed by domestic manufacturers under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, alongside new-generation equipment currently utilized by the Indian armed forces.
This commercial and technological showcase aimed to boost India’s defense exports by encouraging deeper industry collaboration and knowledge exchange with partner nations. On the sidelines of the main drills, Dhiraj Seth held several strategic bilateral meetings with visiting foreign delegates, establishing a firm collaborative foundation for future editions of Exercise PRAGATI and ensuring long-term peace, security, and prosperity across the Indian Ocean Region.