In a historic move not seen since 1971, the Indian government has announced a massive civil defence drill across 259 locations nationwide on May 7, amid heightened tensions with Pakistan following the deadly April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has directed all participating states and Union Territories to prepare for the full-scale mock exercise aimed at testing civilian response in the event of a national emergency, including hostile air raids and blackouts.
Coordinated Response to Escalating Regional Threats
The drill has been prompted by escalating hostilities between India and Pakistan, particularly after Pakistan conducted back-to-back missile tests under “Exercise INDUS.” With threats of retaliation and countermeasures looming, India’s top leadership, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has been holding high-level meetings with defence and intelligence officials. PM Modi has vowed that the perpetrators of the Pahalgam attack will be hunted down and punished “beyond their imagination,” leading to a proactive push to assess the nation’s internal readiness.
On May 5, Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan chaired a crucial meeting to coordinate this unprecedented civil defence operation. Attended by Chief Secretaries and Civil Defence Chiefs, the meeting focused on assessing the readiness of 244 designated Civil Defence Districts notified in 2010. Many of these are in strategic border states such as Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir, Rajasthan, West Bengal, and the Northeastern region. Over 100 locations have been marked as highly sensitive, given their proximity to national borders and history of conflict escalation.
What the Drill Will Involve for Citizens
Citizens across participating regions can expect a simulation of air raid scenarios, temporary blackouts, and potential suspension of mobile signals. Public sirens, evacuation protocols, and traffic diversions may also occur during the exercise. Local administrations have been empowered to determine the exact timing and scope of activities in their districts. Rehearsals have already begun in areas like Srinagar’s Dal Lake and parts of Uttar Pradesh, including Lucknow.
The government is urging citizens to be vigilant but not alarmed. Households are advised to keep torches, candles, emergency medical kits, and some cash handy, in case of temporary electronic and communication disruptions. Authorities emphasized that the drill is not indicative of immediate conflict but is designed to simulate a multi-hazard emergency environment to strengthen readiness.
Mobilizing Volunteers and Testing Infrastructure
The nationwide drill will see participation from a wide array of agencies, including civil defence wardens, home guards, National Cadet Corps (NCC), National Service Scheme (NSS), Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS), and student volunteers from schools and colleges. These groups will assist in crowd management, public announcements, and emergency simulations.
One of the main objectives is to test the responsiveness of district control rooms and the functionality of shadow control systems, especially in districts where infrastructure may be outdated or require urgent upgrades. Many of these control points were originally set up in the 1960s and are now undergoing a major review.
Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and other metropolitan hubs are also part of the exercise, and their inclusion highlights the importance of preparing not just border areas but also critical urban centres for potential emergencies.
The MHA reaffirmed that this is a precautionary measure to prepare the nation for modern and evolving threats and should be viewed as an opportunity to build public awareness, coordination, and resilience.
For the full list of categorized Civil Defence Districts, click here
