Joint HADR Exercise 2026/ Exercise Sahayata Setu

About Joint HADR Exercise 2026/ Exercise Sahayata Setu

• The Joint HADR Exercise 2026 is an annual joint exercise that brings together the three Indian armed services, disaster management agencies and international partners to strengthen coordination and improve disaster response.
• Other Name: The 2026 edition of the Annual Joint HADR Exercise is known as Exercise Sahayata Setu.
• Aim: It aims to improve inter-agency coordination, operational interoperability and international disaster response.
• Origin:
  • First Edition: The first edition was conducted in 2015.
  • Rotational Organisation: Since 2016, the Indian Army, Indian Navy and Indian Air Force have conducted the exercise on a rotational basis.

About 2026 Edition

• Host: The 2026 edition will be hosted at Air Force Station, Jamnagar, in Gujarat.
• Schedule: The three-day exercise will take place from November 17 to 19, 2026.
• Command: The 2026 edition will be conducted under the South Western Air Command.
• Participants:
  • Indian Agencies: The 2026 edition will involve the Indian Army, Indian Navy, Indian Air Force, Indian Coast Guard, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs) and other agencies.
  • International Participants: Friendly foreign countries, including Sri Lanka, Nepal, Indonesia, Malaysia and Bangladesh, will also participate in this edition.
• Key Features of Annual Joint HADR Exercise 2026
  • Participants will discuss the roles and responsibilities of different agencies and the standard operating procedures (SOPs) to be followed during disaster response.
  • Participating agencies will demonstrate their disaster response capabilities and assess the air assets and other resources available for relief operations.
  • The Indian Air Force’s Rapid Action Medical Team will demonstrate how military medical units can provide medical assistance during emergencies.
  • The exercise will include a seminar to develop a common understanding among participating agencies about their roles and coordination during disaster response.