Multilateral Exercise Partnership Of Regional Armies For Growth And Transformation In The Indian Ocean Region (PRAGATI) 2026: Strengthening India's MAHASAGAR Vision

Policy Update

Ameya Satam

Introduction:

The vision of MAHASAGAR stands for “Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions”, and it was established in March 2025 by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (Saha, 2026). The vision focuses on the ideas of trade for development, capacity building for sustainable growth, mutual security for a shared future, and expanding cooperation in technology through sharing, giving concessional loans, and grants (Saha, 2026).

As the main focus is on the growth and security across the regions, recently carried out ‘Multilateral Exercise PRAGATI 2026,’ invited 12 partner nations to the Umroi Military Station in Meghalaya from 18 to 31 May to participate in this exercise, which included the nations – Bhutan, Cambodia, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Laos (Press Information Bureau, 2026). A total of 13 nations, including India, participated in this exercise.

PRAGATI denotes Partnership of Regional Armies for Growth and Transformation in the Indian Ocean Region. By assembling a diverse 13-nation coalition, India is positioning itself as the central security anchor and primary net security provider in the sub-Himalayan and Southeast Asian corridors. To develop professional and personal affinity, opportunities for cultural exchange and informal interaction were encouraged during the exercise, which would deepen the understanding between the regional partners. The exercise was concentrated on counter-terrorism operations in the semi-mountainous and jungle areas.

Multilateral Military Exercise & its Purpose:

In the exercise, demonstrations and practices for countering terrorism were given in the difficult semi-mountainous and jungle terrain along with lectures. Special skills were taught to use weapons effectively. Activities like rock craft, ambush and counter-ambush drills, slithering, jungle lane shooting, room and bus intervention, IED detection, casualty evacuation and other specialized skills were part of the training in this exercise (Press Information Bureau, 2026). AK-203 and Sniper shooting competitions were also arranged as part of the training, which helps the soldiers to sharpen their shooting skills in such difficult terrain (Sharma, 2026).

With the purpose of bettering the adaptability, calmness, and tactical ability of all the participating troops, the joint planning exercises, tactical drills and coordinated operations were conducted. Real combat conditions were simulated during the modern counterinsurgency operations. In the bus intervention exercises, the troops were trained to rescue the hostages in such close-combat situations.

Training for close-combat situations will benefit countries like Myanmar, the Philippines, etc., as they face terrorism and kidnapping-like situations more frequently. The skills required for counter-terrorism operations are strengthened due to such training. Martial arts training during this exercise prepared the troops with close-combat techniques and self-defence drills (Sharma, 2026). During the training, all the teams of the participating countries were mixed to strengthen mutual trust, capacity building, and teamwork. These training conditions and common militaristic determination have acted as an effort to create ties between the military forces of the regional partner nations. Incorporating structured, informal and cultural touchpoints serves an institutional purpose: it builds foundational tactical-level trust, mitigating historical diplomatic frictions through soft military diplomacy.

These all military trainings during the exercise prepared the armies of all the nations which participated in this exercise to conduct military operations efficiently. These all trainings were focused on what the problems are usually faced by the armies in their countries on regular basis. Various countries have jungles & mountainous regions in their geography but they are not located on the border where the army keeps regularly patrolling, so for those countries where they don’t need to guard the mountainous and jungle region have also got training through this exercise for exceptional situations in the future.

Display of Defence Equipment & its Possible Outcomes in the Future:

More interestingly, the Indian Army, in partnership with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) had organized a defence equipment display during the exercise. UAVs and counter-UAV systems, surveillance and smart monitoring, secure communications, armament and ammunition, autonomous and robotic systems, AI-enabled defence solutions, electronic warfare, cyber defence, and medical survivability equipment were displayed (Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry, 2026).

ISR and loitering munition drones, swarm technologies, anti-drone systems, artillery guns, air defence platforms, multi-barrel rocket launch systems, robotic mules, unmanned ground and maritime vehicles, thermal and night-vision devices, precision ammunition, simulators, and ruggedised cyber-hardened platforms were the equipment with special potential that were showcased during the exercise (Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry, 2026). This created an opportunity for the participating countries to see the advanced defence equipment & technologies made by India.

While India also got a chance to showcase its defence equipment & technologies, which are of an advanced level. This strategic display may prove to be a deal breaker for defence exports in the future which may help to tighten India’s influence in the Indo-Pacific region. India produces cheaper, reliable and high-tech defence equipment and technologies. Moreover, it will also support the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat.

The Army Design Bureau of the Indian Army and FICCI moderated the display, which comprised cutting-edge indigenous defence equipment and specialized technologies developed by the Indian defence industry. The select new-generation equipment that is presently used in service was also displayed by the Indian Army. Such displays can also motivate other countries to collaborate with India for defence production, industry engagement and knowledge exchange.

Introducing AK-203 to the regional partners through competitions is a strategic move, as India and Russia jointly produce AK-203. If the armies of the regional partner countries of India like this weapon or find it suitable for their operations, then it may also create opportunities for exports. But the issue is that India and Russia, who collaboratively made defence equipment & technologies, have a low chance of attracting the defence export market in the Indo-Pacific, as many countries are scared of getting targeted through sanctions by the US.

The countries that have good relations with China won’t get attracted to India-made defence equipment & technologies to maintain their good relations, while the countries that have good relations with the US won’t be interested in buying due to the fear.A remarkable achievement of this exercise was that there were more than 400 troops from the 13 countries that attended this exercise (Press Information Bureau, 2026). Other than exercise, Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth, Vice Chief of the Army Staff conducted productive bilateral meetings with the representatives of the participating partner countries to promote defence cooperation. These bilateral meetings were meaningful as they can build foundations for India to conduct more military exercises, which would benefit India’s MAHASAGAR mission and vision.

End of the Multilateral Exercise:

In the end, the event of a 72-hour validation exercise was organized to display the interoperability, mutual trust, and shared commitment of the participating armed forces to discuss the constant security challenges. This event can be remarked as one of the most important events in this exercise, as 6 Vice Chiefs and over 40 senior military officials from the 13 participating regional partners showed their presence, and the Vice Chief of the Army Staff himself was also present (Press Information Bureau, 2026).

Like-minded nations got an opportunity to meet with each other with the purpose of having a peaceful, prosperous and secure region. The Multilateral Exercise PRAGATI 2026 may give fruitful results in India’s MAHASAGAR mission, as it is just beginning or a foundational base for India to interact with other like-minded nations.

China’s Dominance as a Challenge in the Indo-Pacific:

China’s dominance in the Indo-Pacific through its economic cooperation initiatives is the real challenge, where India is lagging behind in taking efforts. In defence cooperation, India has largely made progress in recent years, but economic cooperation is the field where India seriously needs to swiftly take action. China’s strategic investments in countries like Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, etc., are a challenge to India’s influence in the region, as China is building infrastructure and using the resources of these countries’ areas.

Through China’s investments, the surrounding countries of India have become vulnerable to China’s debt trap policy. China is giving those countries the required infrastructure, job opportunities, fiscal revenues and export capacity through these investments, while India has been left far behind in this if compared to China. China is benefiting through these investments as it strengthens its own influence, and it also gets the opportunity to use the other country’s land to acquire resources and for dual-use purposes like trading and using for naval operations.

The electric vehicle (EV) Industry of Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia has received investments from China, which can decide the future of India’s influence in the region, as this industry is one of the emerging industries. China already dominates the green industry in the Southeast Asia region by around 80% (Zero Carbon Analytics, 2024).

While India has also been supporting ASEAN in various initiatives under the ASEAN-India Green Fund but still very limited in comparison to China. India will have to invest more in the green industries of the ASEAN countries to compete with China in the region. Defence cooperation is not enough to keep the region safe and secure; economic cooperation is as important as defence cooperation in the present.

The domination in the AI and emerging technologies sector is also important to grow influence as they are an upcoming need for the future of every country. Because if these countries start getting totally reliant on China for investments and technological growth, then it would create a situation where these countries will have to become reliant on China for a long time if any other country doesn’t try to compete against China in quality and costs. Such situations can make them vulnerable to the Chinese debt trap policy.

Previously, it has been observed how China has taken over Sri Lanka’s Hambantota port on lease for 99 years. China is also focusing on increasing arms exports in the Indo-Pacific region, especially in countries like Thailand, Myanmar, and Bangladesh, which is creating a regional sphere of influence.

Policy Recommendations:

Form a MAHASAGAR Development Fund: Transform the MAHASAGAR vision from a pure security architecture into a joint development model. This requires offering substantial state wealth toward building renewable energy infrastructure and digital public goods across ASEAN and IOR nations to directly secure countries from Chinese debt-trap vulnerabilities.
Aid the Multilateral Coalition: India should include other major countries like South Korea, Japan, etc., in such exercises. India should try to invite more nations to the upcoming multilateral exercises.
Expand the Domain Matrix: India should conduct multilateral air force and naval exercises.
Enact Joint Hardware Familiarization: India should give opportunities to the armies of other partner countries to practice with the new India-made defence equipment & technologies during such exercises.
Safeguard Joint Ventures from Sanctions Risks: India should prepare an obvious geopolitical safeguarding strategy for defence equipment or technology systems of Russian origin(like the AK-203). This comprises offering of strong legal, financial and secondary sanction guarantees to the buyer countries which are stuck in the U.S.-China-Russia diplomatic crossfire.

Way Forward:

This multilateral PRAGATI exercise is the stepping stone for India to create an image of a reliable partner, as well as to prove it in the future by organizing more such multilateral exercises. In future, India can also organize cybersecurity exercises on a multilateral level where the troops can be trained to counter the cyber attacks carried out by other countries. India can increase its arms export opportunities in the Indo-Pacific region by regularly displaying the India-made advanced defence technologies while organizing more such defence cooperation activities.

Along with this, India needs to focus on how to strengthen economic cooperation with these regional partner countries. India should try to penetrate into the green industries of these countries through investments, where it can contribute by building infrastructure to produce devices or machineries which are dependent on renewable energy sources. It can also invest in exploring renewable energy sources in these countries.

As MAHASAGAR vision stands for ‘Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions’, if all the above-mentioned areas where India needs to take efforts on are fulfilled in the near future then, India’s MAHASAGAR vision can succeed in its purpose of Security and Growth as well. India’s MAHASAGAR strategy cannot succeed as a pure security architecture; it must act as a holistic development model to prevent further debt-trap vulnerabilities in the region.

References:

Press Information Bureau. (2026, May 30). Multilateral Exercise PRAGATI 2026 concludes at Umroi, Meghalaya (Release ID: 2266978). Ministry of Defence, Government of India. https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseDetail.aspx?PRID=2266978&reg=6&lang=1
Sharma, V. P. (2026, May 22). 400 soldiers, 12 nations, one mission: Exercise PRAGATI 2026 is in full swing in Meghalaya. WION. https://www.wionews.com/photos/400-soldiers-12-nations-one-mission-exercise-pragati-2026-is-in-full-swing-in-meghalaya-in-pics-1779694783554
DD News Desk. (2026, May 25). Multinational military exercise PRAGATI 2026 underway in Meghalaya. DD News. https://ddnews.gov.in/en/multinational-military-exercise-pragati-2026-underway-in-meghalaya/
Times of India Digital. (2026, May 25). Inside Exercise PRAGATI 2026: 13 nations train together in Meghalaya. The Times of India. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/defence/inside-exercise-pragati-2026-13-nations-train-together-in-meghalaya/photostory/131301497.cms
NH Digital. (2026, May 20). 13-nation military exercise begins in Meghalaya, focus on counter-terror operations. National Herald. https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/national/13-nation-military-exercise-begins-in-meghalaya-focus-on-counter-terror-operations
Bernama. (2026, June 1). Malaysia joins inaugural PRAGATI 2026 military exercise in India. The Star. https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2026/06/01/malaysia-joins-inaugural-pragati-2026-military-exercise-in-india
Nizam, F. (2026, June 1). Malaysian troops complete multinational military exercise in India. New Straits Times. https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2026/06/1453104/malaysian-troops-complete-multinational-military-exercise-india
Saha, R. (2026, February 13). MAHASAGAR: India’s global maritime vision explained — and where does Australia fit. United States Studies Centre, University of Sydney. https://www.ussc.edu.au/mahasagar-indias-global-maritime-vision-explained-and-where-does-australia-fit
Singh, R. (2025, July 18). Inside India’s plan to locally make 600,000 AK-203 rifles in Amethi by 2030. Business Standard. https://www.business-standard.com/external-affairs-defence-security/news/irrpl-to-finish-ak-203-rifle-delivery-early-targets-exports-by-2030-125071701286_1.html
Bhatt, P. (2025, November 21). SAGAR to MAHASAGAR: India’s maritime security achievements and way forward. South Asian Voices. https://southasianvoices.org/sec-f-in-r-mahasagar-india-11-21-2025/
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Poon, S. C., & Lim, G. (2026, February 24). China’s investment surge is forcing Southeast Asia to rethink industrial policy. ThinkChina. https://www.thinkchina.sg/economy/chinas-investment-surge-forcing-southeast-asia-rethink-industrial-policy
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About the Contributor

Ameya Satam is a Research & Editorial Intern at IMPRI specializing in International Relations and Strategic Studies. He completed his post-graduation in International Relations at Sikkim University, focusing on Indo-Pacific geopolitics and India–US cooperation, and is dedicated to analyzing regional security frameworks to inform evidence-based policy discourse.

Acknowledgement

I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to Ms.Sneha Sharma, Ms.Paridhi Passi and IMPRI India for their guidance and support.

Reviewers

Ms.Sneha Sharma and Ms.Paridhi Passi

Disclaimer

All views expressed in the article belong solely to the author and not necessarily to the organization.