Umroi, Meghalaya – The picturesque hills of Meghalaya are buzzing with activity as the Indian Army prepares to host the inaugural edition of Exercise PRAGATI 2026, a major multinational military drill aimed at strengthening regional defence cooperation and interoperability.
Scheduled to take place at the Joint Training Node (also known as the Foreign Training Node) in Umroi, Ri Bhoi district, the exercise will run from May 20 to 31, 2026. Foreign contingents from participating nations are expected to begin arriving as early as May 18.
What is Exercise PRAGATI?
PRAGATI stands for Partnership of Regional Armies for Growth and Transformation in the Indian Ocean Region. The maiden edition brings together military contingents from approximately 12 friendly nations, primarily from Southeast Asia, South Asia, and the Indian Ocean Region. The participating countries include Bhutan, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam.
This initiative reflects India’s proactive defence diplomacy and its commitment under the Act East Policy. By choosing Meghalaya’s strategic location in India’s Northeast — a natural bridge to Southeast Asia — the exercise underscores the region’s growing importance in India’s foreign and security policy.
Focus Areas and Objectives
The two-week programme will emphasise practical training in:
- Counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations
- Sub-conventional warfare
- Jungle warfare tactics suited to Northeast India’s terrain
- Interoperability drills and joint tactical procedures
A key highlight will be a 72-hour validation exercise to test the skills and coordination developed during the training phase. The exercise is designed to foster professional military exchanges, mutual learning, and collective preparedness in a spirit of equality, friendship, and mutual respect.
Beyond tactical training, PRAGATI aims to build trust among regional armies and enhance collective capacity to address shared security challenges, including regional stability and maritime security in the broader Indo-Pacific context.
Significance for Regional Cooperation
This is one of the largest multilateral military exercises hosted by the Indian Army on home soil. It sends a strong signal of India’s role as a net security provider in the Indian Ocean Region and its desire to deepen military-to-military ties with like-minded partners.
An Industry Exposition is also planned on the sidelines (May 30–31) to showcase Indian defence manufacturing capabilities to the visiting delegations, further promoting Atmanirbhar Bharat in the defence sector.
As preparations reach their final stages, the people of Meghalaya and the Indian Army are ready to welcome international partners to this high-profile event. Exercise PRAGATI 2026 is expected to not only boost defence cooperation but also highlight the cultural and natural beauty of the region on a global stage.
The exercise reaffirms the Indian Army’s vision of collaborative growth, shared security, and a rules-based regional order.
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