Mock Drills Across 244 Districts Ordered Amid Rising Threats
In response to emerging geopolitical challenges and the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has issued a directive for all states and union territories to conduct extensive civil defence mock drills on May 7, 2025. These drills will be carried out in 244 categorised civil defence districts across the country to test and reinforce emergency preparedness against “new and complex threats.”
The directive, issued by the Directorate General of Fire Service, Civil Defence and Home Guards, outlines a comprehensive exercise covering crash-blackout measures, early camouflaging of vital plants and installations, and updated evacuation plans. These drills aim to simulate a potential hostile attack and prepare both authorities and civilians for coordinated response efforts.
Significantly, the operation will extend beyond urban centers, reaching the village level to ensure no area is left unprepared. According to the official communication, the exercise will also include:
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Operationalisation of air-raid warning sirens
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Functionality tests for control and shadow control rooms
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Training civilians and students on civil defence protocols
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Activation of hotline and radio-communication links with the Indian Air Force (IAF)
In Punjab’s Ferozepur Cantonment, a trial blackout was recently held to test readiness. Electricity was cut for 30 minutes, and alert hooters were sounded to initiate the mock emergency protocol. Similar activities are expected in sensitive and strategic areas across other border states, including Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, and Gujarat.
The MHA stated that such exercises are necessary, given the changing nature of threats to national security. The drills are designed not only to test administrative response but also to actively involve local communities in understanding how to protect themselves during emergencies such as air raids or sabotage.
“This exercise aims to assess and enhance the readiness of civil defence mechanisms across all states and union territories,” said a senior MHA official. It is the first such large-scale national mock drill since 1971, underscoring the growing urgency for civilian readiness in an unpredictable security environment.
