New Delhi: The Indian Army is set to host military delegations from 11 friendly foreign countries for the inaugural edition of the multilateral military exercise Pragati at the Foreign Training Node in Umroi, Meghalaya, the Army announced on social media. Described as a landmark step in India’s evolving defence diplomacy, the exercise will bring together troops from across Asia, Africa, and the Indo‑Pacific to sharpen interoperability and conduct joint training in counter‑insurgency and counter‑terrorism environments.
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In a post on X, the Additional Director General, Public Information (ADG PI) – Indian Army, said: “Prepared to Prevail. The Indian Army is set to host military delegations from 11 Friendly Foreign Countries for the inaugural edition of Multilateral Military Exercise #PRAGATI at the Foreign Training Node, Umroi, Meghalaya.” The messaging underscores the Army’s intent to project readiness while framing the exercise as both a capability‑building platform and a confidence‑building measure.
Meghalaya’s terrain, with its dense forests, hilly landscape, and proximity to interstate borders, offers a realistic training ground for sub‑conventional and counter‑terror operations. Organisers expect Pragati to focus on joint drills in small‑unit tactics, intelligence‑led operations, surveillance, and civil‑military coordination, with an emphasis on “minimum‑force” and “precision” techniques. Troops from participating nations will also attend lectures and workshops on India’s doctrine, command structures, and lessons drawn from its extensive counter‑insurgency experience.
By hosting 11 partner armies under a single multilateral framework, the Indian Army is signalling a deliberate shift from bilateral to consortium‑style training engagements, which allow for standardised procedures and shared tactical lexicons across multiple partners. The choice of the Foreign Training Node at Umroi—a dedicated facility shaped to simulate real‑world operational conditions—further highlights the institutionalised nature of India’s outbound training and defence‑diplomacy agenda.
The inaugural Pragati exercise is being viewed as a marker of India’s ambition to position itself as a regional security mentor and training hub, particularly for smaller or developing armed forces seeking exposure to professionalised, democratic militaries. For the Indian Army, the event also serves as a soft‑power showcase, reinforcing partnerships even as New Delhi balances its strategic autonomy with an expanding web of security‑to‑security ties.
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