India‑Seychelles Joint Military Exercise LAMITIYE‑2026 The 11th edition of the LAMITIYE‑2026 is being held at the Seychelles Defence Academy from 10 to 22 March 2026 . For the first time, the drill involves all three Indian services – tri‑services – alongside the Seychelles Defence Forces . The exercise focuses on improving interoperability in sub‑conventional operations in semi‑urban settings, especially under the framework of UN peacekeeping missions . Key Developments First tri‑service edition integrating Army, Navy and Air Force personnel with the SDF . Counter‑terrorism case study by Indian Army officers covering planning, intelligence‑based targeting and inter‑agency coordination. Urban and semi‑urban cordon and search drills, including crowd‑management techniques. Close‑quarter battle (CQB) and room‑intervention drills, plus a simulated hijacked‑bus hostage scenario. Sessions on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief , highlighting helicopter‑based casualty evacuation, supply delivery and aerial reconnaissance. Discussions on the use of artificial intelligence in disaster management and tactical combat casualty care. Maritime security exposure through the Seychelles Coast Guard’s VBSS procedures. Important Facts The exercise combines theoretical discussions with practical drills, covering: Operational planning for counter‑terrorism in complex terrain. Techniques for area domination, systematic search, and civilian safety. Coordinated tactical entry and assault under simulated combat conditions. Helicopter roles in HADR missions. Emerging technologies such as AI for rapid decision‑making. Maritime interdiction tactics to secure the Indian Ocean Region. UPSC Relevance Understanding this exercise helps aspirants in multiple GS papers: GS‑2 (Polity & International Relations) : Illustrates India’s defence diplomacy, bilateral security cooperation, and the strategic importance of the Indian Ocean Region. GS‑3 (Security & Disaster Management) : Provides a case study of joint counter‑terrorism, HADR operations, and the integration of AI in disaster response. GS‑4 (Ethics & Integrity) : Highlights inter‑agency coordination and the ethical dimension of protecting civilians during security operations. Way Forward Continued joint exercises can deepen operational compatibility, foster sharing of best practices in HADR , and strengthen maritime security against piracy, trafficking and other non‑traditional threats. Institutionalising AI‑driven decision‑support tools and expanding tri‑service drills to include cyber‑domains could further enhance India’s strategic posture in the Indian Ocean.