Mock Drills To Be Held In 244 Districts Across India

Updated: Tuesday, May 6, 2025, 14:07 [IST]

As tensions between India and Pakistan escalate following the deadly Pahalgam attack, the Centre has announced a nationwide civil defence mock drill scheduled for May 7 throughout the country.

This extensive exercise-the first of its kind since 1971-will take place at 244 districts across the country, divided into three categories.

Photo Credit: PTI

Indian army and Air Force soldiers demonstrate their combat skills during a drill on the Ganga Expressway highway between Prayagraj and Meerut, in Shahjahanpur district of Uttar Pradesh, India, Friday, May 2, 2025.

Air raid sirens will be sounded in various regions as part of the drill, during which civilians will be trained in methods of self-protection in the event of warfare.

Home Secretary Govind Mohan is chairing a key meeting to review and coordinate the nation's civil defence readiness in advance of the drill.

The meeting brings together Chief Secretaries and Civil Defence Chiefs from across India, with a particular emphasis on the 244 officially designated Civil Defence Districts, many of which are situated in border states such as Rajasthan, Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir, West Bengal, and the North Eastern states.

These districts have been instructed to conduct drills that simulate multi-hazard scenarios. Regions such as Delhi, West Bengal, and Punjab maintain a strong cadre of active civil defence volunteers, who are regularly involved in civic responsibilities such as traffic regulation and crowd control.

India's civil defence system functions largely on a voluntary basis, supplemented by a small number of salaried personnel, and is significantly expanded during times of emergency.

On May 5, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued formal instructions to the states to carry out the drills on 7 May, in light of the rising hostilities with Pakistan.

The exercise will feature air raid siren alerts and civil defence training for civilians and students, aimed at equipping them with the knowledge to safeguard themselves in the event of a hostile attack.

Additional measures include blackout simulations, early-stage camouflaging of vital installations and infrastructure, and updates to evacuation plans followed by their practical rehearsal.

The last nationwide drill of this scale was conducted in 1971-the same year that India and Pakistan engaged in a full-scale war.