MULTILATERAL EXERCISE PRAGATI 2026 CONCLUDES AT UMROI, MEGHALAYA

The maiden edition of Multilateral Exercise PRAGATI 2026, conducted at Umroi Military Station, Meghalaya, concluded with a 72-hour validation exercise, showcasing the interoperability, mutual trust, and collective resolve of the participating armed forces to address common security challenges. The event was attended by six Vice Chiefs and over 40 senior military officials from the 13 participating friendly foreign countries. Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth, Vice Chief of the Army Staff, hosted the dignitaries from all participating countries.

PRAGATI, which stands for Partnership of Regional Armies for Growth and Transformation in the Indian Ocean Region, brought together more than 400 troops from India, Bhutan, Cambodia, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Indonesia and Laos. The exercise was conducted in the spirit of equality, friendship and mutual respect, providing a common platform for regional partners to exchange experiences, share best practices and strengthen military-to-military cooperation.

As part of the exercise, the Indian Army, in collaboration with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), organised a defence equipment display for the participating partner nations. The Army Design Bureau of the Indian Army and FICCI facilitated the exhibition of cutting-edge indigenous defence equipment and niche technologies developed by the Indian defence industry, while the Indian Army showcased select new-generation equipment currently in service

On the sidelines of the exercise, the Vice Chief of the Army Staff held constructive bilateral meetings with representatives of participating countries to further defence cooperation. These interactions enhanced mutual understanding and strengthened military-to-military relations among the participating armies.(UPDATED ON 30TH MAY 2026)