The MHA has written to all states and union territories to conduct mock drills across 244 categorised districts across the country tomorrow (May 7)
MHA orders nationwide mock drills on May 7: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has asked all States to conduct nationwide mock drills across the 244 categorised civil defence districts on tomorrow (May 7) as tensions between India and Pakistan soar after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.
“In the current geo-political scenario, new and complex threats/challenges have emerged, hence, it would be prudent that optimum civil defence preparedness in the states/UTs is maintained at all times,” the letter from the Directorate General of Fire Service, Civil Defence and Home Guards stated.
Key Features of May 7 Mock Drills
The exercise will be conducted across 244 civil defence districts in India, involving state governments, local authorities, and various civil defence organizations
Purpose of the Mock Drills
The primary objective is to test and improve the readiness of civil defence mechanisms and the general public in the face of potential threats, such as missile attacks or air raids. The drill is a proactive measure to ensure that emergency protocols are effective and that citizens are trained to respond appropriately during crises
Context and Significance
This is the first nationwide civil defence drill of its kind since 1971, reflecting the seriousness of the current geopolitical situation. The exercise follows recent military activities, including Pakistan’s missile tests and India’s own military preparedness initiatives, such as the Indian Air Force’s “Exercise Aakraman”
Purpose & Objectives
Air Raid Warning Sirens: Activation of sirens to simulate aerial threats.
Blackout Exercises: Temporary suspension of lights to practice blackout protocols.
Evacuation Drills: Rehearsals for moving civilians to safety.
Bunker Drills: Training on seeking shelter during attacks.
Communication Tests: Operationalization of hotlines and radio links with the Indian Air Force.
Camouflage Measures: Practices for concealing vital installations.
Participants: Civilians, students, civil defence wardens, firefighting units, rescue services, and volunteers from organizations like the National Cadet Corps (NCC) and National Service Scheme (NSS)
The Ministry of Home Affairs, meanwhile, issued another letter to the Chief Secretaries of all States and “administrators” of union territories over the civil defence mock drill.
Details of the Letter Dated May 5, 2025
“In continuation of our earlier communication dated 2nd May 2025 regarding the strengthening of Civil Defence preparedness in vulnerable areas (copy enclosed), and in exercise of the powers conferred under Section 19 of the Civil Defence Rules, 1968, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India has decided to organize Civil Defence Exercise and Rehearsal across the 244 categorized Civil Defence Districts of the country on 07.05.2025. The conduct of the exercise is planned up to the village level. This exercise aims to assess and enhance the readiness of Civil Defence mechanisms across all States and Union Territories,” the letter stated.
“In the Civil Defence Exercise, active participation of the District Controller, various district authorities, Civil Defence Wardens/Volunteers, Home Guard (active / reservists volunteers), NCC, NSS, NYKS, college / school students is envisaged. The said Civil Defence Exercise is aimed to assess the operational efficacy and operational coordination of various Civil Defence measures,” the letter further stated.
Primary objectives of the mock drill are as follows:
- To assess the effectiveness of air raid warning systems.
- Operationalization 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 black out 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.
