Rampur Hounds: Indigenous Military Dogs & Yudh Abhyas 2026

Subject: GS 03: Environment

Context: The indigenous Rampur Hounds participated alongside U.S. and Indian troops in specialised tactical drills during Yudh Abhyas 2026.

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About Rampur Hounds

• The Rampur Hound is an indigenous Indian sighthound breed associated with the erstwhile princely state of Rampur in Uttar Pradesh.
• Origin: The breed was developed under the Nawabs of Rampur, reportedly through crossing Afghan Hounds (Tazi) with English Greyhounds for hunting purposes.
• Key Features
  • Physical Ability: They possess a lean, athletic build, long legs, high endurance and exceptional running speed.
  • Adaptability: Their adaptation to Indian climatic conditions makes them suitable for specialised military deployment.
  • Military Utility: Their agility, stamina, vision and tracking abilities support tactical operations in demanding environments.
• Roles of Canines in the Army
  • Counter-Terrorism and Room Intervention: Military dogs can lead building-clearance and room-intervention operations, helping locate hidden threats in confined or barricaded spaces.
  • Explosive Detection and Tracking: Their highly developed sense of smell enables detection of IEDs, mines and explosives, while also supporting tracking of infiltrating personnel.
• The Border Security Force (BSF) inducted the Rampur Hound and Mudhol Hound dog breeds in 2025

Mudhol Hound

• The Mudhol Hound, also known as the Caravan Hound, is an indigenous Indian sighthound known for exceptional speed, stamina and surveillance abilities.
• Historical Development: The breed was revived and selectively bred in the early 20th century by Shrimant Rajesaheb Malojirao Ghorpade, ruler of the erstwhile Mudhol State.
• Geographical Origin: The breed originates from Mudhol Taluk in Bagalkot district, Karnataka, and is historically associated with sighthounds brought from Middle Eastern and Central Asian regions.
• First Indian Breed in Army: Mudhol Hound was the first Indian breed to be trained at the Remount and Veterinary Corps (RVC) training centre of the Indian Army in Meerut in February 2016.

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About Yudh Abhyas 2026

• Yudh Abhyas is an annual bilateral military exercise between the Indian Army and U.S. Army, aimed at enhancing interoperability and tactical cooperation.
  • The exercise began in 2004 and has evolved from peacekeeping-oriented training into complex drills involving multi-domain operations and hybrid warfare.
• The 22nd edition of Yudh Abhyas was conducted from 9–28 September 2026, involving around 1,200 troops, 600 from each country.
• Venue: For the first time, the exercise follows a dual-theatre format at:
  • Auli Foreign Training Node, Uttarakhand: High-altitude mountainous terrain near the LAC.
  • Mahajan Field Firing Range, Rajasthan: Arid desert terrain near the Pakistan border.
• Key Features
  • Drone and Counter-Drone Warfare: The U.S. Army has deployed the MLIDS (Mobile Low, Slow, Small Unmanned Aircraft Integrated Defeat System) in India for counter-drone training.
  • Specialised Task Forces: The 11th Airborne Division and 3rd Multi-Domain Task Force are participating alongside Indian formations to practise specialised operations and long-range precision fires.
  • Military Canine Integration: Indian and U.S. personnel conducted tactical drills involving military dogs, including room intervention and rappelling.
    • Four Army Canines Rampur Hounds Victor and Rowdy, Belgian Malinois Zac and Labrador Retriever Rice are participating in the excercise.

News Source: The Hindu

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