TV
In the wake of the devastating terrorist attack in Pahalgam, which claimed the lives of 26 people on April 22 and rising India-Pakistan tensions, the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs has called for a nationwide Civil Defence Mock Drill.
Scheduled for 7th May 2025, the exercise will test the nation’s readiness against potential hostile threats, right down to the village level.
Directives from the Ministry of Home Affairs
In a formal letter issued to Chief Secretaries of all States and Union Territory Administrators, the Ministry of Home Affairs has mandated that Civil Defence authorities conduct full-scale exercises on 7th May across all 244 categorised Civil Defence Districts.
Notably, the initiative falls under the purview of Section 19 of the Civil Defence Rules, 1968.
The letter, circulated on 2nd May 2025, stresses that “the conduct of the exercise is planned up to the village level” and that the goal is “to assess and enhance the readiness of Civil Defence mechanisms across all States and Union Territories.”
It further instructs all concerned authorities to ensure the participation of Civil Defence Wardens, Home Guards, National Cadet Corps (NCC), National Service Scheme (NSS), Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS), as well as college and school students.
Mock Drill Key Objectives: A Closer Look
The Ministry’s letter lays out the following key objectives:
- To assess the effectiveness of air raid warning systems.
- Operationalisation of Hotline/Radio Communication Links with the Indian Air Force.
- To test the functionality of control rooms and shadow control rooms.
- Training of civilians, students, etc., on the civil defence aspects to protect themselves in the event of hostile attack.
- Provision of crash blackout measures.
- Provision for early camouflaging of vital plants/installations.
- To verify the activation and response of Civil Defence services, including warden services, firefighting, rescue operations, and depot management.
- To assess the implementation of crash blackout measures.
- To evaluate the preparedness of evacuation plans and their execution.
These drills are designed to test the coordination, alertness, and readiness of multiple stakeholders in times of crisis.
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Why a Mock Drill Now?
While civil defence drills are periodically conducted, the scale and urgency of this exercise underscore the Ministry’s concern over growing national security threats.
In the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, such an initiative serves as both a preventive and educational tool. It is intended not only to assess institutional capabilities but also to empower citizens with practical knowledge in emergency response.
Experts note that in urban as well as rural settings, early warning systems, coordinated communication, and clear evacuation plans could make a critical difference during attacks.
Nation Prepares for May 7
With the date fast approaching, States and UTs are ramping up logistical arrangements and public messaging campaigns. Action-taken reports following the drills are expected to be submitted to the Directorate General, ensuring accountability and systematic review.
This large-scale civil defence exercise, conceived in the shadow of tragedy, aims to instil confidence and demonstrate that India is prepared, aware, and resilient in the face of terrorism amid PM Modi’s vow to bring the perpetrators to justice.
