Why in News?
Exercise PRAGATI 2026, a multinational military exercise hosted by India, was conducted at Umroi Military Station, Meghalaya, involving participation from 13 nations (including India). It is the maiden edition of the exercise aimed at strengthening military cooperation and interoperability among regional armies.
Key Highlights
- PRAGATI stands for “Partnership of Regional Armies for Growth and Transformation in the Indian Ocean Region.”
- Hosted at Umroi Military Station, Meghalaya by the Indian Army.
- Participating countries included Bhutan, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and India.
- Focus areas included:
- Counter-terrorism operations
- Jungle and semi-mountain warfare
- Joint tactical drills
- Casualty evacuation and rapid response operations
- The exercise concluded with a 72-hour validation mission to test interoperability and combat readiness.
Significance
- Strategic Importance: Strengthens India’s defence diplomacy in the Indo-Pacific region.
- Military Cooperation: Enhances interoperability and coordination among partner nations.
- Meghalaya’s Importance: Showcases Meghalaya, particularly Umroi, as a strategic defence training hub.
- Regional Security: Promotes peace, trust, and collaborative security in the Indian Ocean Region.
Practice Questions for MPSC
Q1. Exercise PRAGATI 2026 was conducted at which of the following locations?
A. Pokhran, Rajasthan
B. Umroi, Meghalaya
C. Port Blair, Andaman & Nicobar Islands
D. Tezpur, Assam
Answer: B
Explanation: Exercise PRAGATI 2026 was hosted at Umroi Military Station in Meghalaya.
Q2. With reference to Exercise PRAGATI 2026, consider the following statements:
- It is a multinational military exercise hosted by India.
- The exercise focuses on jungle warfare and counter-terrorism operations.
- It is conducted exclusively among SAARC countries.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: A
Explanation: Statements 1 and 2 are correct. The exercise included countries beyond SAARC, such as Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines.
Mains Practice Question (10 Marks)
“Multinational military exercises play an important role in strengthening regional security and defence diplomacy.” Discuss with reference to Exercise PRAGATI 2026.