Exercise Mountain Guardian 2026: India and UAE armies train together
05-10-2026 · English
Topics: Defence · 5 October 2026 Current Affairs (UPSC / TNPSC / SSC / RRB)
News
The Indian Army and the UAE Land Forces began the joint exercise 'Mountain Guardian 2026' on 5 October 2026 at the Foreign Training Node, Chaubatia, near Ranikhet, Almora district, Uttarakhand. It runs until 18 October 2026.
Key facts
| Troops | 92 personnel in all; India: a Bhairav Battalion; UAE: a Mountain Infantry Battalion |
| Women | Women officers and soldiers of both armies take part |
| Focus | Mountain warfare and joint action in sub-conventional operations |
| Training | Drone operations, surveillance grids, rock climbing, obstacle and endurance drills, firing, a final field exercise |
| Edition | Reports call it the third edition of the India–UAE army exercise (earlier editions were held as Desert Cyclone; the first, in January 2024, was at Mahajan, Rajasthan) |
Background
- Bhairav battalions are new light commando units the Indian Army began raising in 2025.
- Other India–UAE exercises: Desert Knight (Air Force, with France), Zayed Talwar (Navy), and Desert Flag (multinational air exercise hosted by the UAE).
- India and the UAE signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in February 2022, India's first such deal in the region; they have been Comprehensive Strategic Partners since 2017.
- UAE: federation of 7 emirates, capital Abu Dhabi; formed in 1971.
Tamil Nadu link: The Madras Regiment (HQ Wellington, Nilgiris) is the oldest infantry regiment of the Indian Army (from 1758). The Defence Services Staff College is also at Wellington, and the Officers Training Academy is in Chennai.
Source: Greater Kashmir (5 Oct 2026); IANS (5 Oct 2026)
Join our UPSC classroom or online batch: UPSC coaching in Coimbatore · Fees · Call 99941 46662.
📝 Test yourself on this day's news – free quiz
Quiz – 5 October 2026 (Part 1: Q 1–35)
Quiz – 5 October 2026 (Part 2: Q 36–70)
Share with friends & study groups
Link to this page from your website / blog (HTML code)
More news from the same day
› Pushpavanam Kuppusamy appointed Chairperson of the Iyal Isai Nataka Manram
› Goa international Silambam meet: Gudiyatham students win 24 gold medals
› Loans up to ₹5 crore for women entrepreneurs: Tamil Nadu issues guidelines
› UCIL begins its Diamond Jubilee (60th) year at Jaduguda
› Kuno National Park: female cheetah gives birth to 5 cubs
› PM Awas Yojana – Urban awards for Tamil Nadu and Puducherry
› Indian Telecom Services Yearly Performance Indicators 2025-26
› Three High Court Chief Justices appointed Supreme Court judges
All current affairs →
TNPSC Achievers
-
P. VISALACHI
TNPSC TNPSC
