NEW DELHI: The nationwide civil defence exercise conducted across 244 districts and towns on Wednesday marks the beginning of a sustained effort by the Modi government to revitalize and operationalize civil defence infrastructure, with the ultimate goal of achieving permanent readiness for emergencies — including hostile attacks.
Although the immediate catalyst for the exercise is rising tensions with Pakistan, the government sees this initiative as part of a broader, long-term strategy to prepare the population for a range of contingencies. These include armed conflict, natural disasters, and industrial accidents involving hazardous materials.
“We want to be prepared not only for the immediate threats but also to draw long-term lessons from these drills,” said a senior official overseeing preparations for what is the first such national exercise since 1971.
Another official told NOG, “The drills — staged in civil defence districts with varying levels of vulnerability — are intended to assess current preparedness. They will also raise public awareness about the civil defence system and the standard protocols during hostile scenarios, including identifying air-raid warnings and implementing blackouts to guard against aerial attacks. Volunteers on the ground will guide citizens through various emergency responses.”
On Tuesday, Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan chaired a meeting with state chief secretaries and Union Territory administrators to finalise drill protocols. Officials were instructed to activate District Magistrates — who act as civil defence coordinators — and ensure the appointment of wardens for various functional grids. They were also asked to upgrade response systems, enrol volunteers, and enhance training to focus on key goals: saving lives, protecting property, ensuring continuity of essential services, and maintaining public morale.
“At present, the 244 civil defence districts vary in their levels of preparedness. This exercise will allow the Ministry of Home Affairs to evaluate the extent to which these systems are functional, how well personnel and volunteers are trained, and what further support is needed to ensure uniform readiness across the country,” the official added.
As part of the drill, Indian Air Force hotlines will transmit simulated air-raid warnings to DMs, who will then sound sirens with distinct tones for different stages — approaching enemy aircraft, overhead presence, and all-clear signals. In areas with sensitive infrastructure like hospitals, volunteers will instruct people to black out windows using cloth or paper. In other locations, temporary power cuts may be implemented.
The nature of the drill varies by district based on risk assessment. Delhi and Mumbai are among 12 ‘Category I’ districts deemed most vulnerable, while 171 districts fall under ‘Category II’ and 61 under ‘Category III.’
