Where was the 17th edition of the Nomadic Elephant defense joint military drill between India and Mongolia held in 2025?

Correct option is B

The correct answer is (b) Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Explanation:

• The 17th edition of the Joint Military Exercise Nomadic Elephant was conducted in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia in 2025.
• Nomadic Elephant is an annual bilateral training exercise between the Indian Army and the Mongolian Armed Forces.
• The primary focus of the exercise is to enhance interoperability and exchange best practices in counter-terrorism operations under a United Nations mandate.
• The 2025 edition involved tactical drills, including room intervention, sniping, and disaster relief operations in mountainous terrain.
• The Indian contingent usually consists of personnel from the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry or other infantry regiments.

• India and Mongolia share a Strategic Partnership, and the Nomadic Elephant exercise has been a key pillar of their defense cooperation since 2004.
• The 16th edition (2024) of this exercise was hosted by India at the Foreign Training Node in Umroi, Meghalaya.

• New Delhi serves as the diplomatic hub but is not a venue for field-level combat exercises like Nomadic Elephant.

• Rajasthan frequently hosts other exercises like Al-Najaf (with Oman) or Mahajan Field Firing Range drills, but not this specific edition.

• Kharkhorin is an ancient capital of the Mongol Empire; while significant culturally, it was not the designated site for the 2025 drill.