PRAGATI 2026 Military Exercise Begins in Meghalaya

PRAGATI 2026, a multinational military exercise, began in Meghalaya on 20 May 2026. The two-week exercise is being held at Umroi Military Station near Shillong and involves armed forces personnel from 13 countries.

Participating Countries

India is hosting 12 partner nations in PRAGATI 2026. The participating countries are Bhutan, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, the Philippines, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam.

Exercise Focus and Terrain

PRAGATI 2026 focuses on joint counter-terrorism operations in jungle and semi-mountainous terrain. The exercise includes training for coordinated action in difficult terrain conditions that are common in parts of the North-East region of India.

Military Cooperation and Interoperability

The exercise is designed to improve interoperability among participating armed forces. It also covers professional cooperation and a shared regional approach to counter-terrorism among the participating militaries.

Defence Manufacturing and Atmanirbhar Bharat

The exercise includes an exhibition of indigenous military equipment and innovations by Indian defence manufacturers and technology firms. The exhibition is linked to the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, which promotes domestic production in strategic sectors.

Important Facts for Exams

• Umroi Military Station is located near Shillong in Meghalaya.
• Meghalaya is one of the eight states in North-East India.
• Counter-terrorism exercises often include jungle warfare and semi-mountainous terrain training.
• Atmanirbhar Bharat is a Government of India initiative associated with self-reliance in manufacturing.

Regional Defence Exercises

Multinational military exercises in India are often used for joint training, standard operating procedures, and coordination among partner countries. Such exercises are a regular feature of defence diplomacy in the Indo-Pacific region.