CHAUBATTIA, October 10 — The Indian Army and the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) on Saturday concluded the seventh edition of their flagship bilateral military exercise 'Dharma Guardian 2026' at the Foreign Training Node in Chaubattia, Uttarakhand.
The fortnight-long high-intensity tactical engagement featured contingent representation from a battalion of the Indian Army's Kumaon Regiment alongside troops from the 34th Infantry Regiment of the JGSDF. The joint drills executed integrated operations under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, simulating counter-terrorist clearing operations, hostile hostage rescue in semi-urban environments, counter-unmanned aerial systems (C-UAS) kinetic interdictions, and alpine warfare maneuvers.
The Ministry of Defence observed that the regular conduct of Exercise Dharma Guardian operationalizes the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership, underpinned by the reciprocal Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA/MLSA) executed in 2020. The tactical convergence strengthens mutual capability in preserving freedom of navigation and maritime-continental security balance across the Indo-Pacific theater.
Bilateral defense pacts between India and Japan (Exercise Dharma Guardian for Army, JIMEX for Navy, Veer Guardian for Air Force, and Shinyuu Maitri for transport aviation), the Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA), Quad security coordination mechanisms, and Indo-Pacific geopolitical balances are central themes across UPSC Civil Services (GS-II: Bilateral Relations; GS-III: Security Challenges) and military service examinations (CDS, NDA, AFCAT).