Exercise Nomadic Elephant 2025: India-Mongolia drill in Ulaanbaatar
Why in the news
The 17th edition of the India-Mongolia joint military exercise Nomadic Elephant is set to start on 31 May 2025 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, and will run until 13 June.
Key facts
- Exercise: Nomadic Elephant, 17th edition, 31 May to 13 June 2025.
- Venue: Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
- India sends 45 personnel, mostly from the Arunachal Scouts battalion; Mongolia sends a 150-strong Special Forces team.
- Previous edition: Umroi, Meghalaya, in July 2024.
- First held in 2004 in Mongolia; hosting alternates between the two countries every year.
Edition snapshot
| Edition | Place | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Previous | Umroi, Meghalaya (India) | July 2024 |
| 17th | Ulaanbaatar (Mongolia) | 31 May to 13 June 2025 |
About the exercise
The drill centres on counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations under a UN mandate, sharing experience and improving coordination between the two armies. Training covers endurance, reflex shooting, room intervention and small team tactics, with cyber warfare elements for semi-conventional operations in mountain terrain. India and Mongolia also hold an annual Joint Working Group on Defence Cooperation, and India takes part in Mongolia’s Khan Quest exercise.
Exam angle
- Pair the exercise with the partner: Nomadic Elephant – Mongolia.
- Remember the 2025 venue, Ulaanbaatar, and the 2024 venue, Umroi (Meghalaya).
- Focus theme: counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency under a UN mandate.
- Do not confuse with Khan Quest, which is hosted by Mongolia.