NEWS: A 13-nation military exercise, named PRAGATI 2026, has started at: Umroi Military Station, Meghalaya--> India is hosting the exercise.

Main Objective of PRAGATI 2026

The exercise aims to:

·         Provide a common platform for participating armies

·         Improve: Professional military exchange

·         Cooperation among armies

·         Military-to-military ties

Importance of the Exercise

Strengthening Regional Cooperation

•        Enhances defence cooperation among Asian and Indian Ocean countries.

Better Military Coordination

•        Helps armies learn: Joint operations, Coordination techniques, Best military practices

Strategic Importance for India

•        Strengthens India’s role in: Regional security, Defence diplomacy

Northeast India’s Importance

• Meghalaya becomes important for: Strategic military engagement, Regional defence cooperation

·         Umroi Military Station: Located in: Meghalaya

·         Important military base in Northeast India.

Significance 

PRAGATI 2026 reflects:

•        India’s growing defence partnerships

•        Military diplomacy in Indo-Pacific and neighbourhood region

•        India’s strategic engagement with Southeast Asia under: Act East Policy