A limited-edition blue-coloured government handbook exceeding 200 pages included out of public sight is at the center of India’s emergency procedure during the last week. The confidential document, or the Union War Book 2010, silently guided high-ranking bureaucrats on operational management in a case of a war, dictating the minutest of functions and coordination of work between departments of the government.
Even though it’s revised every year with comments from the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Home Affairs, and the Cabinet Secretariat, even the officials who compile it don’t know who has formal custodianship. But Hindustan Times has discovered that every state’s chief secretary, as well as concerned Union ministries, have a copy. From fire drills to evacuation procedures and alert systems, everything is regulated by the instructions within this classified book.
Origins and Evolution of the War Book
The concept of the war manual dates back to colonial India. A revised edition is typically issued every 15 years, with the current one emerging in 2010, two years after the devastating 26/11 terror attacks that killed 174 people, including security personnel. That edition, overseen by then Home Secretary GK Pillai, became the official reference for national emergency response. Pillai declined to comment when contacted by HT.
Even after so many years, the guide is as relevant as ever. “While a revised edition of the book comes out every 15 years or so, annually, the three ministries issue notes. These get pasted on the book. Technological upgrades are part of it,” a senior official privy to its functioning indicated.
Even the Gold Standard in Emergencies
Where some may wonder if a 2010 edition can handle contemporary tools of warfare such as drones or cyberdisinformation the bureaucrats affirm its continued applicability. “It tells these important officers what each one of them should do in the event of a war. So there is no confusion whatsoever and everyone has a clear idea of what protocol to use,” explained one officer who asked not to be named.
They contend that old-fashioned methods are still useful today. “In times of war, old is gold,” one official stressed, noting that radios and flashlights are still in the checklist because of the susceptibility of mobile networks. The manual calls for preparedness to revert to such equipment if enemies hit communications infrastructure.
From Checklists to Cyber Surveillance
HT obtained one such wartime to-do list released at the state level. Besides useful steps such as foodstuffs and mobilization of staff, it particularly lists ‘social media management’. It recommends creating a “district cyber monitoring cell in coordination with the police IT wing” to monitor and report “inflammatory” posts. It also suggests “creating rosters of government staff and volunteers for round-the-clock shifts” under administrative mobilization.
The relevance of the book was even made known in public recently. Following Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis holding a behind-the-scenes meeting, his office issued a Marathi statement, “Study central government’s Union war book and inform about the instructions to all the concerned.”
Even though the manual is already in operation on ministry and state secretariat desks, most officials pray they won’t have to implement its provisions. “The thing for the public to know is that the Indian establishment is very good at handling emergencies. We have a lot of experience and we all know what to do,” said a senior official.
Nevertheless, they are still wary, having the book at arm’s length, just in case.
