‘Nomadic Elephant-2026’ Commences in Pithoragarh

On September 21, 2026, the 18th edition of the joint military exercise ‘Nomadic Elephant-2026’ between India and Mongolia commenced at the Foreign Training Node in Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand. The exercise will run until October 3, 2026.

Key Facts

18th Edition: Nomadic Elephant is an annual platoon-level military exercise held alternately between India and Mongolia.
Military Participation: 45 personnel each from the Indian Army and the Mongolian Armed Forces are participating in the exercise.
Primary Objective: To enhance joint military capability and interoperability between both armies for counter-insurgency operations in semi-urban and mountainous terrain under a United Nations mandate.
Key Activities: Training includes Cordon and Search operations, Room Intervention drills, Special Heliborne operations, cybersecurity, and the use of drones and counter-drone systems.
Previous Edition: The 17th edition of the exercise was held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, from May 31 to June 13, 2025.
Defense Cooperation: The exercise aims to foster the exchange of best military practices, build capacity for joint operations, and strengthen India-Mongolia defense cooperation.