India, Mongolia begin annual joint military drill in Uttarakhand
Credit PIB
India and Mongolia have begun the 18th edition of the annual joint military exercise ‘Nomadic Elephant’ in Uttarakhand’s Pithoragarh district on Monday.
The annual platoon-level exercise, conducted alternately in India and Mongolia, is scheduled from 21 Sept to 03 Oct 2026.
The Indian Army and the Mongolian Armed Forces are represented by 45 personnel each, the Defence Ministry said.
The last edition of the drill was held at Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, in May - June 2025.
The exercise aims to enhance the joint military capability of both sides to undertake counter-insurgency operations in semi-urban and mountainous terrain under the United Nations Mandate.
The joint training will focus on tactical-level operations, exchange of best practices, refinement of operational drills and enhancement of interoperability between the two armies, the MoD said.
The training curriculum will include cordon and search operations, room intervention drills, special heliborne operations, cyber security training and employment of drones and counter-drone systems, among other activities.
These drills will provide troops of both Armies an opportunity to train together in realistic operational scenarios and strengthen their ability to operate jointly.
The exercise will further enhance defence cooperation between India and Mongolia and reinforce the longstanding bonds of friendship and mutual trust between the two friendly nations, the MoD statement added.
