Exercise Nomadic Elephant (18th): India–Mongolia, at Pithoragarh
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The 18th edition of the India-Mongolia joint military exercise NOMADIC ELEPHANT began on 21 September 2026 at the Foreign Training Node, Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand, and runs to 3 October. It is an annual platoon-level exercise held in India and Mongolia by turns. Each side sends 45 personnel to train for counter-insurgency in semi-urban and mountainous terrain.
- Edition
- 18th
- Dates
- 21 Sep to 3 Oct 2026
- Venue
- Foreign Training Node, Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand
- Troops
- 45 each side
- Level
- platoon
- Last edition
- Ulaanbaatar, May to June 2025
Exercise Nomadic Elephant: what happened?
India and Mongolia hold this exercise every year, one year in each country. It trains troops for counter-insurgency under a United Nations mandate.
- 18th edition of the India–Mongolia exercise NOMADIC ELEPHANT began at the Foreign Training Node, Pithoragarh (Uttarakhand), 21 Sep–3 Oct [PIB].
- 45 personnel each; focus on counter-insurgency in semi-urban and mountainous terrain under a UN mandate [PIB].
What do the troops practise?
- Cordon and search operations and room intervention drills.
- Special heliborne operations.
- Cyber security training.
- Use of drones and counter-drone systems.
What can Prelims ask on Exercise Nomadic Elephant?
- NOMADIC ELEPHANT: India-Mongolia army exercise.
- 2026 venue: Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand; 18th edition.
- Focus: counter-insurgency under a UN mandate.
How to use this in Mains
- As per PIB (2026-09-21): 18th edition of the India–Mongolia exercise NOMADIC ELEPHANT began at the Foreign Training Node, Pithoragarh (Uttarakhand), 21 Sep–3 Oct.
- Exercise–partner matching is a Prelims staple.
Quotable data point45 personnel each; focus on counter-insurgency in semi-urban and mountainous terrain under a UN mandate.
PIB: Ministry of Defence: Exercise Nomadic Elephant commences at Pithoragarh, 21 Sep 2026
Exam angle
Prelims: Nomadic Elephant = Mongolia.
Practice MCQs
Original practice questions (not PYQs).
Exercise NOMADIC ELEPHANT is held between India and
Answer (a) & explanation
PIB, 21 Sep 2026.
Questions students ask about this
What is Exercise Nomadic Elephant?
An annual platoon-level joint military exercise between India and Mongolia.
Where was the 2026 edition held?
At the Foreign Training Node, Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand.
What is its focus?
Counter-insurgency operations in semi-urban and mountainous terrain under a UN mandate.
Keep studying
Official source: PIB: Ministry of Defence: Exercise Nomadic Elephant commences at Pithoragarh, 21 Sep 2026
facts from cited sources only; faculty review pending