MOSCOW, September 21. /TASS/. Russia and India will hold a joint military exercise codenamed Indra-2016 at a proving ground in the Primorye Territory on September 23 - October 2, the press-service of the Eastern Military District has said.

"Russia’s Eastern Military District and India’s Armed Forces will create a joint group for an operation to identify, block and eliminate hypothetical groups of terrorists and illegal armed groups. Aviation and artillery units will be involved," the Eastern Military District’s spokesman, Vladimir Matveyev, said.

Participating in the exercise will be up to 500 troops on both sides and up to 50 pieces of military equipment, a group of drones and also attack and army aviation.

Originally the exercise was scheduled for late August-early September. Later, a source close to the Indian Defense Ministry told TASS the drills have postponed till a later date - late September-early October.

Russia and India have conducted the Indra exercise every year since 2003.