India Conducts First Nationwide Civil Defence Drills Since 1971 Amid Rising Security Concerns

New Delhi, May 6 — In a move reflecting heightened security concerns and geopolitical tensions, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has directed all Indian states and Union Territories to conduct full-scale civil defence drills across 244 districts on Wednesday. This is the first nationwide exercise of its kind since the 1971 Indo-Pak war and is aimed at bolstering the country’s preparedness against potential attacks, including simulating wartime conditions.

Unprecedented Scale of Drill Amid Pakistan Tensions

The large-scale security exercise comes amid rising friction with Pakistan and increasing national security deliberations. On Monday, the directive was issued by the Directorate General of Fire Services, Civil Defence, and Home Guards under the MHA. It followed a high-level review meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which included National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and top defence and home ministry officials.

Unlike previous limited-scale preparations, including those during Operation Vijay in Kargil (1999) and the post-Parliament attack standoff in 2001, this drill aims to test India’s comprehensive civil defence infrastructure, including its readiness for air raids, evacuation procedures, and emergency communications.

Civilian Participation and Emergency Preparedness in Focus

Wednesday’s drill will see the activation of air raid sirens, testing of blackout protocols, hotline connectivity with the Indian Air Force, and camouflaging of critical installations. Control rooms and backup shadow control facilities will also be evaluated for readiness and response.

Key participants in the drills will include:

• Civil defence wardens and volunteers

• Home Guards (both active and reserve)

• NCC cadets

• Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS) members

• National Service Scheme (NSS) volunteers

• Students from schools and colleges

The core objective is to prepare civilians for hostile scenarios, strengthen coordination between civil agencies and defence infrastructure, and validate evacuation and rescue procedures at a grassroots level, including village participation.

Renewed Focus on Border and Coastal Security

The initiative also follows an earlier advisory issued on May 2 urging states to ramp up civil defence capabilities in vulnerable regions. The advisory cited Prime Minister Modi’s emphasis on the need for comprehensive preparedness in border and coastal areas during the ‘Chintan Shivir’ held in Haryana in October 2024.

States have been asked to clean and inspect bunkers and trenches in these sensitive zones, ensuring that civil defence systems are both functional and immediately deployable.

The nationwide drills mark a significant shift in India’s internal security posture, reflecting a broader strategic emphasis on civilian readiness and decentralized emergency response capabilities.