Context: The Indian Army is set to host military delegations to the inaugural edition of the multilateral exercise ‘Pragati’ at the Foreign Training Node in Umroi, Meghalaya.
Exercise Pragati:
- The PRAGATI (Partnership of Regional Armies for Growth and Transformation in the Indian Ocean Region) is a multilateral military exercise.
- It is the first edition of the exercise which will be held in Umroi, Meghalaya.
- Participating Countries: It includes 11 friendly countries Laos, Myanmar, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Philippines, Nepal, Maldives, Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia and Bhutan.
- Aim: It aims to strengthen defence cooperation, enhance interoperability, and build mutual trust among participating nations.
- It reflects a shared commitment to collective security and regional stability.
- Key Focus of Exercise Pragati
- It centers on counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations, emphasising joint training and defence diplomacy.
- It is part of India’s growing defence engagement with its neighbouring and Indian Ocean region nations, focusing on building capacity and shared operational capabilities.
- It will mark a shift in the Indian Army training from bilateral to consortium-style engagements.
- Besides war games, a key component of the event is a two-day industry exposition, highlighting the Indian Army’s capabilities and fostering industrial partnerships with ASEAN nations.