Exercise Pragati 2026: Indian Army’s First Multilateral IOR Drill
Why in the news
The Indian Army will hold the first Exercise Pragati at the Foreign Training Node, Umroi, Meghalaya, from May 18 to 31, 2026. It moves from one-on-one drills toward a group-style engagement with regional armies.
Key facts
- Full form: Partnership of Regional Armies for Growth and Transformation, with the Indian Ocean Region as its theatre.
- Host: Indian Army, Eastern Command; a multilateral exercise plus defence industry expo.
- Invitees: 15 countries from ASEAN and the IOR; 11 confirmed.
- Approach: a consortium of nations standardising tactical procedures and communication across the IOR.
Participants
| Group | Countries |
|---|---|
| South Asia | Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Maldives |
| ASEAN | Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Philippines |
| IOR | Seychelles |
Focus areas
- CICT: joint counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations in semi-urban and jungle terrain.
- HADR: coordinated rapid response to natural disasters.
- Collective security: piracy, transnational crime and regional instability.
- Expo (May 30-31): Made in India systems showing Aatmanirbhar Bharat, including UAV and counter-UAV tech, software-defined radios and robotic mules.
Significance
- The IOR is the lifeline of global trade; leading the partnership reinforces India’s role as a Net Security Provider.
- The expo works as defence diplomacy and promotes exports to ASEAN and neighbours.
Exam angle
- Venue: Foreign Training Node, Umroi, Meghalaya.
- Terms: interoperability, HADR, CICT, FFC.