The Indian Army's Southern Command conducted Exercise Agni Varsha 2026 at the Pokhran Field Firing Range in Jaisalmer district, Rajasthan on February 24, 2026 — an integrated fire and manoeuvre exercise designed to validate the operational preparedness and coordinated combat capabilities of the armed forces in desert terrain.

The exercise employed a sophisticated multi-domain force composition including T-90 Bhishma tanks, K-9 Vajra self-propelled howitzers, Bofors FH-77B artillery, rocket platforms, indigenous Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH-WSI), AH-64E Apache attack helicopters, precision strike rockets, surveillance and strike drones, and counter-drone technology. The exercise demonstrated network-enabled command and control systems in a realistic operational environment simulating modern high-intensity desert warfare.

Exercise Agni Varsha was witnessed by defence journalists from 25 countries, underlining India's intent to signal its military readiness and indigenous capability development to the international community. The exercise highlights three key priorities: technology assimilation in combat operations, self-reliance under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat defence initiative, and integration of all arms in network-centric desert warfare.

The Pokhran Field Firing Range, already historically significant as the site of India's nuclear tests (Smiling Buddha 1974 and Operation Shakti 1998), serves as the primary arena for India's largest-scale military exercises. For RPSC RAS aspirants, Pokhran and the Southern Command's desert operations are a recurring Rajasthan-specific topic in defence and geography.