Amid rising tensions with Pakistan, the Government of India has instructed multiple states to conduct a nationwide mock drill on May 7 to assess emergency preparedness. A high-level meeting was recently held between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval to review the situation and finalise the drill strategy.
The mock drill will focus on enhancing civil defence capabilities in border states like Rajasthan, Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir, West Bengal, and the northeastern region. Citizens, students, and civil defence volunteers will be trained to respond swiftly and effectively during wartime or disaster scenarios.
Key focus areas of the mock drill include testing air raid sirens, raising awareness about alerts, blackout drills, shielding infrastructure from enemy aircraft, and rehearsing evacuations of vulnerable areas. Delhi, West Bengal, and Punjab have active civil defence volunteer units that routinely assist in traffic control and crowd management and will play a vital role in the exercise.
India’s civil defence system mainly operates on a volunteer basis, managed by a limited number of salaried personnel. During emergencies, the system is significantly scaled up to support national safety.
