Exercise Agni Pariksha: Strengthening Army–ITBP Combat Synergy in High-Altitude Terrain

Why in News ?

The Indian Army and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) recently conducted a joint exercise named Agni Pariksha in Arunachal Pradesh to enhance inter-force combat coordination, operational integration, and preparedness in high-altitude and border-area scenarios.

Background: Need for Jointness in Border Security Operations

India’s northern and northeastern borders, particularly along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), demand seamless coordination between the Indian Army, which is responsible for external defence, and central armed police forces such as the ITBP, which play a critical role in border guarding and internal security.

Modern security challenges require:

• Integrated command and control,
• Interoperable tactics and communication, and
• A shared understanding of battlefield procedures across forces.

Exercise Agni Pariksha reflects India’s evolving doctrine of jointness and integration, aimed at improving operational effectiveness in complex and dynamic combat environments.

What is Exercise Agni Pariksha ?

Exercise Agni Pariksha is a joint training exercise involving personnel from the:

• Indian Army, and
• Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP).

It is a first-of-its-kind initiative focused on enhancing inter-force combat synergy, particularly by exposing non-artillery personnel to artillery operations and firepower integration.

Location and Terrain

• Location: Arunachal Pradesh
• Operational Environment: High-altitude, mountainous terrain with challenging weather and logistics conditions.

This setting closely mirrors real-world operational conditions along India’s northeastern borders, making the exercise highly relevant for preparedness and capability development.

Objectives of the Exercise

The primary objectives of Exercise Agni Pariksha were to:

• Familiarise non-artillery personnel with:
  • Artillery procedures,
  • Fire control processes,
  • Coordination mechanisms, and
  • Execution of firing missions.
• Improve understanding of:
  • Firepower integration in joint operations,
  • Battlefield coordination between infantry, artillery, and paramilitary forces.
• Enhance:
  • Operational interoperability, and
  • Combat readiness in dynamic and high-intensity scenarios.

Operational Significance

The exercise holds strategic and operational importance by:

• Strengthening Army–ITBP coordination in border areas.
• Improving joint response capability to emerging security threats.
• Enhancing situational awareness and communication across forces.
• Contributing to a layered security architecture along sensitive frontiers.
• Supporting India’s broader goal of defence modernisation and integrated operations.

Way Forward: Deepening Inter-Force Integration

To build on the gains from Exercise Agni Pariksha, India should:

• Institutionalise regular joint training between the Army and central armed police forces.
• Expand exercises to include:
  • Air force and intelligence agencies for multi-domain integration.
• Enhance joint command structures and communication networks.
• Invest in simulation-based training for complex, high-altitude, and multi-force operations.
• Align such exercises with India’s evolving doctrine of theatre commands and integrated defence planning.

These steps will strengthen India’s preparedness to respond effectively to both conventional and asymmetric threats along its borders.