India and Fiji Hold Second Defence Joint Working Group Meet
The second India-Fiji Bilateral Joint Working Group on defence met in New Delhi on 28 September 2026 and agreed to widen training and maritime cooperation.

Why in News
On 28 September 2026 the second India-Fiji Bilateral Joint Working Group meeting on defence was held in New Delhi, co-chaired by Joint Secretary Amitabh Prasad and Fiji's Permanent Secretary for Defence Mason Smith.
The second India-Fiji Bilateral Joint Working Group (JWG) on defence met in New Delhi on 28 September 2026. The two sides reviewed a wide span of subjects and agreed to keep up regular engagement so that the defence partnership deepens further.
Who led the two delegations
| Side | Co-chair |
|---|---|
| India | Amitabh Prasad, Joint Secretary (International Cooperation), Ministry of Defence |
| Fiji | Mason Smith, Permanent Secretary for Defence and Veterans Affairs |
On the sidelines of the meeting, Mason Smith also called on Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh. That conversation turned on strengthening bilateral defence and maritime cooperation, including scope for greater work together in the defence industry.
What the two sides discussed
The agenda covered military training and capacity building, engagement between the respective services, maritime security, cyber training, collaboration in the defence industry, and closer institutional links between the armed forces of the two countries. India restated the importance it attaches to Fiji and to the Pacific Island Countries within its vision of a free, open, inclusive and secure Indo-Pacific. Both delegations recorded their satisfaction at the growth of bilateral defence engagement.
A visit to Kochi
To carry the training cooperation forward, the Fijian delegation is to travel to Kochi on 29 and 30 September 2026. It will inspect facilities of the Southern Naval Command with the object of formalising advanced naval training cooperation and professional aviation training modules, which is expected to lift technical proficiency and operational synergy between the two maritime forces.
Wreath-laying and the industry visit
Before the official talks opened, Mason Smith paid tribute to India's fallen soldiers at the National War Memorial in New Delhi. The delegation then went to DPSU Bhavan at the World Trade Centre in the capital, where it was briefed on India's indigenous defence manufacturing capability. The briefing highlighted progress under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative, with exhibition displays and advanced augmented reality and virtual reality simulation facilities that reproduce real battlefield conditions.
The background
India and Fiji share close and friendly relations resting on historical, cultural and people-to-people ties. The meeting was used to consolidate the existing defence partnership and to identify fresh areas where the two countries can work together.
Important Facts
| Meeting | Second India-Fiji Bilateral Joint Working Group on defence |
|---|---|
| Venue and date | New Delhi, 28 September 2026 |
| Indian co-chair | Amitabh Prasad, Joint Secretary (International Cooperation), Ministry of Defence |
| Fijian co-chair | Mason Smith, Permanent Secretary for Defence and Veterans Affairs |
| Defence Secretary of India | Rajesh Kumar Singh |
| Follow-up visit | Kochi on 29 and 30 September 2026, Southern Naval Command |
| Sites visited | National War Memorial and DPSU Bhavan, World Trade Centre, New Delhi |
| Stated vision | Free, open, inclusive and secure Indo-Pacific |
Exam Point of View
Remember that this was the second India-Fiji Bilateral Joint Working Group on defence, held at New Delhi, the two co-chairs and their designations, the Indian Defence Secretary who was called on, the planned visit to the Southern Naval Command at Kochi on 29 and 30 September 2026, and India's stated vision of a free, open, inclusive and secure Indo-Pacific in which Fiji and the Pacific Island Countries figure.
Practice Questions
The second India-Fiji Bilateral Joint Working Group meeting on defence was held in which city?
- A.Suva
- B.New Delhi
- C.Kochi
- D.Port Blair
Show answer
Correct answer: B. New Delhi
Explanation
The correct answer is New Delhi. The second meeting of the bilateral Joint Working Group between India and Fiji was held in the Indian capital on 28 September 2026, where the two sides went through military training and capacity building, service-to-service engagement, maritime security, cyber training and collaboration in the defence industry. Option A names the capital of Fiji, which did not host this round. Option C is wrong as the venue of the meeting, although Kochi does appear in the story, because the Fijian delegation is to travel there on 29 and 30 September to inspect facilities of the Southern Naval Command. Option D is wrong because Port Blair was not connected with this engagement. Candidates should note the edition number as well, since a question may ask whether this was the first or the second meeting of the group.
Which naval command will the visiting Fijian delegation inspect during its trip to Kochi?
- A.Western Naval Command
- B.Eastern Naval Command
- C.Southern Naval Command
- D.Andaman and Nicobar Command
Show answer
Correct answer: C. Southern Naval Command
Explanation
The correct answer is the Southern Naval Command. As part of the effort to widen specialised military training cooperation, the delegation from Fiji is scheduled to be in Kochi on 29 and 30 September 2026 and will inspect facilities there, with the aim of formalising advanced naval training cooperation and professional aviation training modules. The visit is expected to raise technical proficiency and operational synergy between the two maritime forces. Options A, B and D name other commands of the Indian armed forces, none of which was mentioned in this context. A useful habit for aspirants is to attach each naval command to its headquarters city, because questions often test that pairing directly, and here the pairing of Kochi with the Southern Naval Command is the fact being examined.
Who co-chaired the meeting from the Indian side?
- A.The Defence Secretary
- B.The Chief of the Naval Staff
- C.Amitabh Prasad, Joint Secretary (International Cooperation)
- D.The Foreign Secretary
Show answer
Correct answer: C. Amitabh Prasad, Joint Secretary (International Cooperation)
Explanation
The correct answer is Amitabh Prasad, Joint Secretary (International Cooperation) in the Ministry of Defence. He co-chaired the second Joint Working Group meeting along with Mason Smith, the Permanent Secretary for Defence and Veterans Affairs of Fiji. Option A is a tempting choice because Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh did meet the Fijian official, but that was a separate call on the sidelines and not the chairing of the group. Option B is wrong because the Chief of the Naval Staff was not named in this engagement, even though maritime cooperation was on the agenda. Option D is wrong because the Foreign Secretary had no part in this defence meeting. The distinction between chairing a working group and receiving a visitor on the sidelines is exactly the kind of detail a careful question will test.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where was the second India-Fiji Bilateral Joint Working Group meeting held?
In New Delhi, on 28 September 2026. The two sides discussed military training, maritime security, cyber training and defence industry collaboration, among other subjects.
Who co-chaired the meeting?
Amitabh Prasad, Joint Secretary (International Cooperation) in India's Ministry of Defence, and Mason Smith, Permanent Secretary for Defence and Veterans Affairs of Fiji.
Why is the Fijian delegation visiting Kochi?
To inspect facilities of the Southern Naval Command on 29 and 30 September 2026 and to formalise advanced naval training cooperation and professional aviation training modules.
Sources
- Second India-Fiji Bilateral Joint Working Group Meeting Held in New Delhi (opens in a new tab) — Press Information Bureau
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