India, in the wake of increased tensions with Pakistan after the precision attacks under Operation Sindoor, has initiated nationwide full-scale civil defence mock drills. The exercises, carried out on Wednesday, are intended to test emergency response systems and civilian readiness against “new and complex threats.”
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), anticipating potential retaliation or escalation following India’s targeted attacks on nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (Pok), came out with a nationwide advisory on Monday. The attacks were launched on the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday as a counter to the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, which had taken 26 lives.
From Airports to Schools: A Nationwide Effort
The drills were conducted at key strategic locations, including New Delhi’s NDMC headquarters and the Indira Gandhi International Airport-Terminal 3.
VIDEO | Delhi: As part of a nationwide emergency preparedness, Civil Defence team conducts a mock drill at the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) headquarters.#CivilDefenceMockDrill
(Full video available on PTI Videos – https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/qv8qhqd3NB
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 7, 2025
Delhi: Mock drills being conducted at Indira Gandhi International Airport-Terminal 3
VIDEO | Delhi: Mock drills being conducted at Indira Gandhi International Airport-Terminal 3
(Full video available on PTI Videos – https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/FtFP5XKSMm
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 7, 2025
#WATCH | A comprehensive mock drill is being conducted at Delhi’s Khan Market.
MHA has ordered a nationwide mock drill today. pic.twitter.com/W2qbkNwanD
— ANI (@ANI) May 7, 2025
In Mumbai, a significant mock drill was held at the iconic Cross Maidan, simulating a large-scale emergency response.
VIDEO | Civil Defence team conducts mock drill at Cross Maidan in Mumbai.#CivilDefenceMockDrill
(Full video available on PTI Videos – https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/6MApFeQLQb
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 7, 2025
According to officials, these drills began with the sound of sirens, followed by civil defence personnel tending to simulated victims.
Four high-profile private schools in Kolkata—Future Foundation School, La Martiniere for Boys, La Martiniere for Girls, and DPS Ruby Park—were involved in organised evacuation drills. The exercises were carried out by National Cadet Corps (NCC) wings under government orders.
“The whole drill was done in 30 minutes, to ensure that students were thoroughly aware of procedures in the event of an emergency. Students were quite eager and enthusiastic to engage in the drill,” stated a spokesperson of the two La Martiniere schools.
Preparedness Amid Uncertainty
While India has opted for a calibrated and nuanced strategy through Operation Sindoor—steering clear of Pakistani military installations to avoid provocation—the civil defence exercises are indicative of the government’s resolve to be ready for any retaliatory or asymmetric attack.
Further, the Centre’s pre-emptive strike also coincides with a situation where geopolitical tensions can build very quickly, and civilian preparedness is as important as military prowess.
By engaging schools, government buildings, and transportation terminals, the civil defence initiative makes the response net broad and encompassing. These exercises are not merely preventive measures but also confidence boosters for the public, who are under the shadow of a high-stakes regional war.
