India-Mongolia Defence: 14th Joint Working Group Meets in Ulaanbaatar
Why in the news
India and Mongolia held the 14th meeting of their Joint Working Group (JWG) on defence cooperation in Ulaanbaatar on October 16, 2026, and recommitted to deeper defence ties and regional peace.
Key facts
- Meeting: 14th India-Mongolia Joint Working Group, Ulaanbaatar.
- Indian co-chair: Dr Ishita Ganguly Tripathi, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Defence.
- Mongolian co-chair: Brigadier General Gansukh E, Deputy State Secretary of Defence.
- Nomadic Elephant: the 18th edition of the annual platoon-level exercise, held alternately in the two countries.
- Training included small arms firing, room intervention drills and displays of Bokh (Mongolian classical wrestling).
- Separately, an Indian women’s parliamentary delegation led by MP Kumari Selja attended the World Women Parliamentarians’ Forum in Ulaanbaatar.
| Exercise Nomadic Elephant | Detail |
|---|---|
| Edition | 18th |
| Venue | Foreign Training Node, Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand |
| Dates | September 21 – October 3, 2026 |
| Troops | 45 from each side |
About India-Mongolia ties
Diplomatic relations began in 1955, and 2025 marked their 70th anniversary. The two are strategic partners, with Mongolia calling India a “third neighbour” and ties rooted in Buddhism. The relationship rests on four pillars: Dharma, Democracy, Development Partnership and Digital Development Cooperation.
Exam angle
- Nomadic Elephant is the India-Mongolia army exercise.
- Capital of Mongolia: Ulaanbaatar.
- Diplomatic ties since 1955.