Context: Recently, the 16thedition of India-Mongolia Joint Military Exercise NOMADIC ELEPHANT commenced today, at Foreign Training Node, Umroi (Meghalaya). The Exercise is scheduled to be conducted from 03rd to 16th July 2024.

About Exercise 'Nomadic Elephant'

• Exercise Nomadic Elephant is a bilateral military exercise between India and Mongolia. It aims to enhance interoperability and mutual understanding between the two nations’ armed forces, focusing on counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations under the United Nations mandate.

• Aim: The aim of the Exercise is to enhance joint military capability of both sides to undertake counter insurgency operations in a Sub Conventional scenario under Chapter VII of the United Nations Mandate. The exercise will focus on operations in the semi-urban and mountainous terrain.

Nomadic Elephant 2024

• Countries Involved: India and Mongolia.

• Type of Exercise: Bilateral Military Exercise.

• Date and Location: It would commence from 03 -16 July 2024 at Umroi, Meghalaya.

• Participants: Indian contingent comprising of 45 personnel is being represented by a Battalion of SIKKIM SCOUTS along with personnel from other arms and services. The Mongolian contingent is being represented by personnel from 150 Quick Reaction Force Battalion of the Mangolian Army.

• Primary Theme: Counter-terrorism operations in mountainous terrain under United Nations mandate

Primary Focus

• Counter-insurgency operations.

• Counter-terrorism operations.

• Enhance interoperability between the armed forces of the two countries.

• Frequency: Annual (conducted almost every year).

Objectives

• Strengthen Military Cooperation: Enhance the defense relations between India and Mongolia by sharing knowledge and experiences in military tactics and strategies.

• Joint Training: Conduct joint training in counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations.

• Interoperability: Improve the ability of the two forces to operate together in UN peacekeeping missions.

?Focus Areas

• i) Operations in semi-urban and mountainous terrain.

• ii)  Sharing best practices in tactics, techniques, and procedures for joint operations.

• iii) Developing inter-operability, camaraderie, and bonhomie between the two armies.

• iv) Augmenting defence cooperation and bilateral relations.

Significance of the exercise

• i) It is an annual training event alternating between India and Mongolia.

• ii) It enhances defence cooperation and bilateral relations.

• iii) It promotes interoperability and shared military strategies.