Dharma Guardian Exercise

Edition: 7th annual joint military exercise ‘Dharma Guardian’
Location: Chaubattia, Uttarakhand, India
Date: 25 February 2026
Participating Units:
Indian Army: Ladakh Scouts
Japan Ground Self‑Defense Force (JGSDF): 32nd Infantry Regiment
Primary Objective: Strengthen military collaboration and develop combined capabilities for joint operations in a semi‑urban environment.
Key Tactical Activities:
Establishment of a Temporary Operating Base (TOB)
Development of an Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) grid
Mobile Vehicle Check Posts
Cordon‑and‑Search Operations
Heliborne Operations and House‑Intervention Drills
Strategic Significance: Enhances interoperability, showcases use of modern technology, and reinforces the India‑Japan defence partnership.
Related India‑Japan Exercises: JIMEX (maritime), Veer Guardian (air), Shinyuu Maitri (air), Sahyog Kaijin (coast guard), Malabar (quadrilateral).

The exercise is part of a broader India‑Japan strategic partnership that has accelerated post‑2014, driven by shared concerns over maritime security and a free‑and‑open Indo‑Pacific.
Conducted alternately in India and Japan, it reflects mutual trust and the willingness to operate together in varied terrains, from high‑altitude to semi‑urban settings.

Strategic Autonomy: Deepening defence cooperation with Japan reduces India's reliance on a single partner and diversifies its security architecture.
Capability Building: Exposure to Japanese ISR and urban‑warfare doctrines augments the Indian Army’s operational readiness, especially for counter‑insurgency and disaster‑relief scenarios.
Regional Balance: Joint exercises signal to China and other regional actors a cohesive Indo‑Japanese front, contributing to deterrence and stability.

Article 253 of the Constitution empowers the Union to enter into treaties and agreements with foreign states, under which defence cooperation agreements are framed.
Defence Procurement Policy (DPP) 2020 encourages joint development and technology transfer, aligning with exercises that facilitate interoperability.