Indian Army hosts inaugural edition of multilateral military Exercise PRAGATI at the Foreign Training Node, Umroi, Meghalaya from 18-31 May 2026 — PRAGATI = Partnership of Regional Armies for Growth and Transformation in the Indian Ocean Region; 11 friendly foreign countries participating; invitations were extended to 15 countries (Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Seychelles, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam); aims = strengthen defence cooperation + enhance interoperability + build mutual trust; aligns with India's Neighbourhood First + Act East + SAGAR / MAHASAGAR doctrines; CoAS = General Upendra Dwivedi.
भारतीय सेना ने 18-31 मई 2026 को Foreign Training Node, Umroi, मेघालय में बहुपक्षीय सैन्य अभ्यास PRAGATI का उद्घाटन संस्करण आयोजित किया — PRAGATI = Partnership of Regional Armies for Growth and Transformation in the Indian Ocean Region; 11 मित्र देश भाग ले रहे हैं; 15 देशों को आमंत्रण भेजा गया था (Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Seychelles, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam); उद्देश्य = रक्षा सहयोग + अंतर-संचालनीयता + पारस्परिक विश्वास; भारत के पड़ोसी प्रथम + एक्ट ईस्ट + SAGAR / MAHASAGAR सिद्धांतों के अनुरूप; CoAS = जनरल Upendra Dwivedi।
Why in News
The Indian Army is hosting the inaugural edition of multilateral military Exercise PRAGATI at the Foreign Training Node, Umroi, Meghalaya from 18-31 May 2026 — a new flagship of India's defence diplomacy in the Indo-Pacific.
PRAGATI is an acronym for Partnership of Regional Armies for Growth and Transformation in the Indian Ocean Region. The exercise was announced by ADG PI Indian Army on 28 April 2026.
Participating nations:
- 11 friendly foreign countries are participating in the inaugural edition
- Invitations were extended to 15 countries: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Seychelles, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam
- The 15-country invitee list spans the Indian Ocean Region's South Asian, Southeast Asian, and ASEAN partners
Stated objectives:
- Strengthen defence cooperation between participating regional armies
- Enhance interoperability among diverse military forces
- Build mutual trust and a shared commitment to regional stability
- Symbolise collective security, regional stability, and collaborative growth
Strategic significance:
- First-ever multilateral platform of this scale hosted by India for IOR partner armies
- Anchored at the Foreign Training Node at Umroi — built specifically for hosting foreign military training
- Signals a new chapter in India's neighbourhood-first defence diplomacy
- Aligns with the SAGAR doctrine (March 2015) and the updated MAHASAGAR (2025) framework
- Reinforces India's Act East policy and Indo-Pacific outreach
- Coincides with the US-Israel war on Iran and Strait of Hormuz disruptions, giving the exercise added geopolitical timing
About the Foreign Training Node, Umroi:
- Located in Ri Bhoi district, Meghalaya
- Specialised facility under the Indian Army's Eastern Command for hosting foreign military delegations
- Earlier hosted the final planning conference of Exercise PRAGATI for delegates from extended-neighbourhood countries
- Infrastructure designed for joint tactical manoeuvres + collaborative planning
At a Glance
- Exercise
- Multilateral military Exercise PRAGATI — inaugural edition
- PRAGATI full form
- Partnership of Regional Armies for Growth and Transformation in the Indian Ocean Region
- Host
- Indian Army
- Venue
- Foreign Training Node, Umroi, Meghalaya (Ri Bhoi district)
- Dates
- 18-31 May 2026
- Announcement date
- 28 April 2026 by ADG PI Indian Army
- Participating countries
- 11 friendly foreign countries
- Invitations extended to
- 15 countries — Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Seychelles, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam
- Stated objectives
- Strengthen defence cooperation; enhance interoperability; build mutual trust; collective security
- Doctrinal alignment
- Neighbourhood First + Act East + SAGAR / MAHASAGAR + Indo-Pacific outreach
- CoAS
- General Upendra Dwivedi
The Indian Army is hosting the inaugural edition of multilateral military Exercise PRAGATI at the Foreign Training Node, Umroi, Meghalaya from 18-31 May 2026.
PRAGATI stands for Partnership of Regional Armies for Growth and Transformation in the Indian Ocean Region. The announcement was made on 28 April 2026 by the Additional Directorate General of Public Information (ADG PI), Indian Army.
Participation:
- 11 friendly foreign countries are participating in the inaugural edition
- Invitations were extended to 15 countries: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Seychelles, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam
Strategic objectives:
- Strengthen defence cooperation between participating regional armies
- Enhance interoperability among diverse military forces
- Build mutual trust and shared commitment to regional stability
- Promote collective security, regional stability, and collaborative growth
About the Foreign Training Node, Umroi:
- Located in Ri Bhoi district, Meghalaya
- Built specifically for hosting foreign military delegations
- Operates under the Indian Army's Eastern Command (HQ: Kolkata)
- Earlier hosted the final planning conference of Exercise PRAGATI
- Designed for joint tactical manoeuvres + collaborative planning + operational synergy
Doctrinal context:
- SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) — announced by PM Modi at Mauritius on 12 March 2015; India's maritime doctrine for the Indian Ocean Region
- MAHASAGAR (2025) — updated SAGAR framework expanding to comprehensive Indo-Pacific maritime architecture
- Neighbourhood First Policy — diplomatic framework prioritising South Asian neighbours
- Act East Policy — extension of Look East policy (1991) under PM Modi
- Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) — announced at East Asia Summit Bangkok, November 2019
- Quad + I2U2 + AUKUS-adjacent Indo-Pacific architecture
India's existing multilateral exercises (illustrative):
- Malabar — naval exercise between India, US, Japan, Australia (Quad-aligned)
- MILAN — multilateral naval exercise hosted by Indian Navy biennially at Visakhapatnam
- TROPEX — Theatre-Level Readiness Operational Exercise by Indian Navy
- Yudh Abhyas — bilateral with US Army
- Indra — bilateral with Russia (Army + Navy + Air Force)
- Garuda Shakti — bilateral with Indonesia (Special Forces)
- Vajra Prahar — bilateral with US Special Forces
- Maitree — bilateral with Thailand
- Mitra Shakti — bilateral with Sri Lanka
- Surya Kiran — bilateral with Nepal
- Cobra Warrior — multilateral air exercise (UK-hosted)
- Tarang Shakti — Indian Air Force multilateral (debut 2024)
- PRAGATI (2026) — first multilateral army exercise of this scale and scope hosted by India for IOR partners
About Indian Army Eastern Command:
- HQ at Fort William, Kolkata
- Responsible for eastern theatre operations including Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, North-East frontier
- Three corps: III Corps (Dimapur), IV Corps (Tezpur), XXXIII Corps (Sukna)
- Foreign Training Node at Umroi falls under Eastern Command jurisdiction
About IOR (Indian Ocean Region):
- Spans the world's 3rd-largest ocean (~70.6 million sq km)
- Carries ~40% of world's offshore oil production
- ~80% of global maritime oil trade transits the IOR
- Critical chokepoints: Strait of Hormuz, Bab el-Mandeb, Strait of Malacca, Cape of Good Hope
- Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) — 23-member regional organisation; HQ Mauritius
- Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) — convened by Indian Navy biennially
Why the Umroi venue is significant:
- Northeast positioning — signals India's commitment to integrating NE into national defence-diplomacy architecture
- Strategic geography — Meghalaya borders Bangladesh; close to Bhutan, Nepal, Bangladesh corridor
- Logistics infrastructure — Foreign Training Node specifically designed for foreign delegations
- Capacity building — exposes NE to high-level multilateral military engagement
- Bridges Northeast to Indo-Pacific architecture — physical connection between AAR (Asian Architecture for the Region) and Indo-Pacific frameworks
Wider geopolitical timing:
- Coincides with UAE's exit from OPEC (1 May 2026)
- US-Israel war on Iran and Strait of Hormuz disruptions
- China's expanding presence in IOR via String of Pearls and Belt and Road Initiative
- 2017 Doklam standoff at Sikkim-Bhutan-China tri-junction remains in strategic memory
- Need for IOR partners to coordinate on maritime security, HADR, anti-piracy
भारतीय सेना ने 18-31 मई 2026 को Foreign Training Node, Umroi, मेघालय में बहुपक्षीय सैन्य अभ्यास PRAGATI का उद्घाटन संस्करण आयोजित किया।
PRAGATI = Partnership of Regional Armies for Growth and Transformation in the Indian Ocean Region। घोषणा 28 अप्रैल 2026 को ADG PI भारतीय सेना द्वारा।
भागीदारी:
- 11 मित्र देश भाग ले रहे हैं
- 15 देशों को आमंत्रण: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Seychelles, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, एवं Vietnam
रणनीतिक उद्देश्य:
- रक्षा सहयोग को मज़बूत करना
- अंतर-संचालनीयता बढ़ाना
- पारस्परिक विश्वास बनाना
- सामूहिक सुरक्षा एवं क्षेत्रीय स्थिरता को बढ़ावा
Foreign Training Node, Umroi के बारे में:
- Ri Bhoi ज़िला, मेघालय में स्थित
- विदेशी सैन्य प्रतिनिधिमंडलों के मेज़बानी के लिए विशेष रूप से निर्मित
- भारतीय सेना के पूर्वी कमान के तहत
सैद्धांतिक संदर्भ:
- SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) = 12 मार्च 2015 PM मोदी द्वारा मॉरीशस में घोषित
- MAHASAGAR (2025) = SAGAR का अद्यतन ढाँचा
- पड़ोसी प्रथम नीति
- एक्ट ईस्ट नीति (Look East 1991 का विस्तार)
- Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) = नवंबर 2019 बैंकॉक
भारत के मौजूदा बहुपक्षीय अभ्यास:
- Malabar = नौसेना (Quad)
- MILAN = बहुपक्षीय नौसेना (विशाखापत्तनम)
- Yudh Abhyas = US Army (द्विपक्षीय)
- Indra = रूस (द्विपक्षीय)
- MILAN = नौसेना (बहुपक्षीय)
- Tarang Shakti = वायु सेना बहुपक्षीय (2024 शुरू)
- PRAGATI (2026) = सेना का पहला बहुपक्षीय अभ्यास IOR भागीदारों के लिए
- 1India (host)Foreign Training Node, Umroi, Meghalaya
- 2BangladeshSouth Asian neighbour; Sampriti exercise partner
- 3BhutanStrategic Himalayan partner
- 4CambodiaASEAN partner
- 5IndonesiaASEAN; Garuda Shakti SF partner
- 6LaosASEAN partner
- 7MalaysiaASEAN partner
- 8MaldivesIOR island state
- 9MyanmarLand + maritime neighbour
- 10NepalSurya Kiran exercise partner
- 11PhilippinesASEAN; Indo-Pacific partner
- 12SeychellesIOR island state
- 13SingaporeStrategic ASEAN partner
- 14Sri LankaMitra Shakti exercise partner
- 15ThailandMaitree exercise partner
- 16VietnamIndo-Pacific partner; Comprehensive Strategic Partnership
| Exercise | Service | Scope | First held |
|---|---|---|---|
| PRAGATI | Indian Army | 11 IOR partners; multilateral; FTN Umroi | May 2026 (inaugural) |
| Malabar | Indian Navy | US, Japan, Australia (Quad-aligned) | 1992 (US-India bilateral) |
| MILAN | Indian Navy | Multilateral naval at Visakhapatnam | 1995 (biennial) |
| Tarang Shakti | Indian Air Force | Multilateral air exercise | 2024 (debut) |
| IONS Symposium | Indian Navy | 30+ IOR navies; biennial | 2008 |
| Yudh Abhyas | Indian Army | Bilateral with US Army | 2004 |
| Indra | Tri-services | Bilateral with Russia | 2003 |
Static GK
- •Exercise PRAGATI 2026: Multilateral military exercise hosted by Indian Army at Foreign Training Node, Umroi, Meghalaya from 18-31 May 2026; PRAGATI = Partnership of Regional Armies for Growth and Transformation in the Indian Ocean Region; 11 friendly foreign countries participating; invitations extended to 15 countries
- •PRAGATI invitee list (15 countries): Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Seychelles, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam
- •Foreign Training Node, Umroi: Specialised Indian Army facility in Ri Bhoi district of Meghalaya for hosting foreign military delegations; under Eastern Command jurisdiction; designed for joint tactical manoeuvres + collaborative planning
- •Indian Army Eastern Command: HQ at Fort William, Kolkata; responsible for eastern theatre including Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, NE frontier; three corps — III Corps (Dimapur), IV Corps (Tezpur), XXXIII Corps (Sukna)
- •Chief of Army Staff (CoAS): General Upendra Dwivedi (current); 30th Chief of Army Staff; took office 30 June 2024; predecessor Manoj Pande; alma mater Sainik School Rewa
- •SAGAR doctrine: Security and Growth for All in the Region; announced by PM Modi at Port Louis, Mauritius on 12 March 2015 during Indian Ocean Outreach; foundational maritime doctrine for India's Indian Ocean Region engagement
- •MAHASAGAR doctrine (2025): Updated SAGAR framework launched 2025; expands India's maritime vision from Indian Ocean Region to comprehensive Indo-Pacific architecture; integrates with Quad, I2U2, IPOI
- •Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI): Announced by PM Modi at East Asia Summit, Bangkok, November 2019; seven pillars including maritime security, ecology, resources, capacity-building, disaster risk reduction, science and technology, and trade connectivity
- •Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA): Regional intergovernmental organisation; established 1997; 23 member states + 11 dialogue partners; secretariat in Mauritius (Cyber City Ebene); promotes maritime cooperation across the Indian Ocean Rim
- •Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS): Voluntary initiative convened by Indian Navy in 2008; biennial gathering of regional navies; provides platform for maritime cooperation in IOR; 30+ member navies
- •Major Indian bilateral and multilateral military exercises: Malabar (US, Japan, Australia — naval, Quad), MILAN (multilateral naval at Visakhapatnam), Tarang Shakti (IAF multilateral, debut 2024), Yudh Abhyas (US Army), Indra (Russia tri-services), Garuda Shakti (Indonesia SF), Maitree (Thailand), Mitra Shakti (Sri Lanka), Surya Kiran (Nepal), Hand in Hand (China — discontinued), Sampriti (Bangladesh)
- •Strait of Malacca: Critical IOR chokepoint between Malay Peninsula and Sumatra (Indonesia); ~25% of world's traded goods and ~80% of China's oil imports transit; key Indo-Pacific maritime concern
Timeline
- 1991Look East Policy launched under PM P V Narasimha Rao
- 1997IORA — Indian Ocean Rim Association established
- 2008IONS — Indian Ocean Naval Symposium initiated by Indian Navy
- 2014Look East Policy upgraded to Act East Policy under PM Modi
- 2015 (12 March)PM Modi announces SAGAR doctrine at Port Louis, Mauritius
- 2019 (November)IPOI — Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative announced at East Asia Summit, Bangkok
- 2024Tarang Shakti — first IAF multilateral exercise; CoAS Upendra Dwivedi takes office (30 June)
- 2025MAHASAGAR (updated SAGAR doctrine) launched
- 2026 (28 April)ADG PI announces inaugural Exercise PRAGATI at Umroi
- 2026 (18-31 May)Exercise PRAGATI conducted at Foreign Training Node, Umroi, Meghalaya with 11 friendly foreign countries
- →Exercise: PRAGATI — inaugural edition
- →Full form: Partnership of Regional Armies for Growth and Transformation in the Indian Ocean Region
- →Host: Indian Army
- →Venue: Foreign Training Node, Umroi, Meghalaya (Ri Bhoi district)
- →Dates: 18-31 May 2026
- →Announcement: 28 April 2026 by ADG PI Indian Army
- →Participating: 11 friendly foreign countries
- →Invited: 15 countries
- →15-invitee list: Bangladesh + Bhutan + Cambodia + Indonesia + Laos + Malaysia + Maldives + Myanmar + Nepal + Philippines + Seychelles + Singapore + Sri Lanka + Thailand + Vietnam
- →Stated objectives: defence cooperation + interoperability + mutual trust
- →SAGAR doctrine = announced 12 March 2015 by PM Modi at Mauritius
- →MAHASAGAR = updated 2025 SAGAR framework
- →IPOI (Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative) = announced November 2019 at East Asia Summit Bangkok
- →IORA = Indian Ocean Rim Association; 1997; 23 members; HQ Mauritius
- →IONS = Indian Ocean Naval Symposium; 2008 by Indian Navy
- →Eastern Command HQ = Fort William, Kolkata
- →Eastern Command corps: III (Dimapur) + IV (Tezpur) + XXXIII (Sukna)
- →CoAS: General Upendra Dwivedi (since 30 June 2024)
- →Other multilateral exercises: Malabar (Quad — US/Japan/Australia), MILAN (Vizag), Tarang Shakti (IAF, 2024)
- →Look East Policy 1991 → Act East Policy 2014
Exam Angles
Indian Army = hosts inaugural Exercise PRAGATI at Foreign Training Node, Umroi, Meghalaya from 18-31 May 2026; PRAGATI = Partnership of Regional Armies for Growth and Transformation in the Indian Ocean Region; 11 participating + 15 invited (Bangladesh + Bhutan + Cambodia + Indonesia + Laos + Malaysia + Maldives + Myanmar + Nepal + Philippines + Seychelles + Singapore + Sri Lanka + Thailand + Vietnam); aims = defence cooperation + interoperability + mutual trust + collective security; aligns with SAGAR (March 2015 Mauritius) + MAHASAGAR (2025) + Neighbourhood First + Act East + IPOI (Bangkok Nov 2019); CoAS = General Upendra Dwivedi; Eastern Command HQ Fort William Kolkata.