Rahat Mitra: First India-Myanmar Tri-Services HADR Exercise Begins

India and Myanmar have launched a new joint drill focused on disaster response. Exercise 'Rahat Mitra', the first bilateral tri-services Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) exercise between the two neighbours, opened at Chennai on 5 November 2026. It is scheduled over two days, 5 and 6 November 2026, and the Ministry of Defence shared details on 6 November.

Theme and aim

The exercise carries the theme 'Together for Humanity, Stronger through Partnership'. Its stated purpose is to build trust between the two defence establishments, deepen bilateral cooperation and improve coordination when their forces have to work side by side.

Who is taking part

More than 300 personnel from the army, navy and air force of both countries are involved. Because it is the inaugural edition, the drill is meant as a platform for professional exchanges and for sharing experience gained in past relief work. A key goal is interoperability, the ability of two forces to plan and act together smoothly during HADR operations. The Indian Navy is coordinating the exercise on the Indian side.

Policy link

The Ministry of Defence links the drill to two strands of India's outlook in its region:

• Neighbourhood First, India's policy of giving priority to relations with countries on its borders.
• MAHASAGAR, which stands for Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions, India's strategic vision for its wider maritime neighbourhood.

Both countries also see the exercise as a sign of their joint resolve to keep peace and stability and to deliver help to people in times of crisis.

Quick facts table

Exam angle

Do not confuse this drill with other HADR exercises of the same week. Tiger Triumph was an India-US exercise that ended at Visakhapatnam, while Rahat Mitra is India's first such tri-services exercise with Myanmar, held at Chennai. Learn the name, the partner country, the venue, the theme and the number of personnel.