17th India-Mongolia Joint Military Exercise NOMADIC ELEPHANT

From 31st May to 13th June 2025, Indian Army personnel went to Ulaanbaatar for the Nomadic Elephant, the 17th India-Mongolia Joint Military Exercise that was held there. The event held every year in turn by India and Mongolia helps improve their armies’ ability to work together by training in semi-conventional operations under a UN mandate. The exercise has members from the Arunachal Scouts and Mongolian Special Forces participating and features many types of tactical exercises as well as cyber warfare.

Context:

• Participating in the 17th Nomadic Elephant Exercise, four types of Indian Army formations will join the exercise in Mongolia along with the Mongolian Military.

• It promotes cooperation and skills in operating together in hilly and semi-urban areas.

Details:

Objective for this Exercise:

• Improve the ability of Indian and Mongolian teams to collaborate as part of joint tasks.

• Carry out missions in scenarios of semi-conventional warfare under UN orders.

Main Activities for Training:

• The platoon-level Field Training Exercise (FTX).

• Endurance training, close-range shooting, dealing with rooms, working in small teams and rock training.

• Use of Cyber Warfare to make operations more complicated.

Participants:

• Most of the Indian group was made up of soldiers from the Arunachal Scouts (45 personnel).

• Mongolian forces feature about 150 Special Forces members.

Significance:

• Helps advance defence cooperation between India and Mongolia, leading to more regional stability and safety.

• Helps connect military experts and enables cultural sharing.

• Shows the two countries trusting and cooperating with one another.

Other military exercise participated by India and Mongolia together

• Khaan Quest:

  • Kind of exercise: Worldwide peacekeeping operation.

  • Mongolia, India, the United States and several others networking here.

  • Five Hills Training Area, near the capital of Mongolia.

  • Ways to improve peacekeeping and better collaborate with different countries. 

• Vostok 2022:

  • Type: Russian military exercise which involved a large number of troops.

  • Among them are: Russia, India, Mongolia, China and a number of other countries.

  • The incident took place in the Russian Eastern Military District.

  • Attention: Joining of powers by nations for carrying out joint operations.

Conclusion:

India and Mongolia are strengthening their defence ties through exercise NOMADIC ELEPHANT which supports regional peace and stability. It helps with working jointly, promotes shared connectivity and shows India supports teaming up on security in Asia. Such training helps India confirm its position as a responsible player in regional defense working with fellow partners.

UPSC Prelims Practice Question

With regard to the joint India-Mongolia military exercise Nomadic Elephant, look at these statements:

1. Every year, the exercise is organized in India.

2. It mainly prepares forces for carrying out semi-conventional missions according to a United Nations mandate.

3. The Scouts from Arunachal and Mongolian Special Forces were part of the 2025 competition.

4. In this training, teams only build up their strength and shoot with tactics; there is no involvement in cyber warfare.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

A) 2 and 3 only
B) 1 and 4 only
C) 1, 2 and 3 only
D) 2, 3 and 4 only