In a large-scale countrywide exercise, India will carry out extensive civil defence mock drills in 244 districts on Wednesday to test preparedness in case of a military strike. The massive exercise, the first since the 1971 war with Pakistan, involves 100 high-risk districts like the national capital Delhi, financial capital Mumbai, and districts that have nuclear power plants like Kalpakkam and Tarapur.
The mock drills come in the wake of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 people, mostly civilians, and intensified tensions between India and Pakistan. New Delhi has held the Pakistani deep state responsible for orchestrating the assault. In response, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reportedly granted the armed forces permission to launch military action, sparking concerns of possible retaliation targeting Indian urban centres.
Home Ministry Orders Comprehensive Mock Drills
To prepare against any such attacks, the Ministry of Home Affairs instructed all states and union territories to conduct civil defence exercises. These encompass air raid siren testing, control room operational readiness, hotline communication with the Indian Air Force, and evacuation drills involving the public. Simulated blackouts and emergency procedures will also be practised to simulate real-time conflict scenarios.
Civil defence basics are being taught to civilians, and vital services such as firefighting are being put into operation in all states. Camouflaging operations for key infrastructure such as factories, powerhouses, and government buildings are also being implemented by authorities.
Mock Drills Begin in Districts, Involve Police, NDRF
Preparatory exercises involving police, local officials, and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have already been initiated in some states. In Jammu, images captured schoolchildren taking cover under desks during a mock air raid.
#WATCH | Students in a Jammu school being trained to respond to any eventuality during a mock drill exercise
MHA has directed countrywide mock drills on May 7 pic.twitter.com/NxxxmOGetn
— ANI (@ANI) May 6, 2025
In Uttar Pradesh, authorities conducted firefighting and evacuation of casualties exercises, such as smothering a dummy fire with a red cloth and evacuating victims.
Lucknow’s Civil Lines, sirens were sounded in preparation for full-scale exercises. Officials in Uttar Pradesh have selected 19 high-risk areas for extensive simulation.
#WATCH | UP: Civil Defence, Police and local administration rehearse mock drill exercise in Lucknow’s Police Lines, following MHA’s order for nationwide mock drills on May 7 pic.twitter.com/ipJHVivYZE
— ANI (@ANI) May 6, 2025
Delhi Police too have been sensitised to civil defence strategies, with a focus on areas with high pedestrian movement such as Connaught Place. Security is being intensified in border districts along Pakistan, such as Rajasthan and Punjab, with a particular focus on intelligence gathering and border patrolling.
Punjab, Odisha, Karnataka, and Gujarat Increase Preparations
Punjab will also hold exercises in 20 districts with police and civil defence personnel. Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said the inclusion of key areas has been confirmed in these exercises.
#WATCH | Srinagar, J&K | SDRF personnel hold exercise to prepare for tomorrow’s mock drill at Dal lake
MHA has asked several states and UTs to conduct mock drills for effective civil defence, tomorrow, May 7. pic.twitter.com/FEUQYw8huG
— ANI (@ANI) May 6, 2025
In Odisha, 12 places, including the temple town of Puri, will conduct drills. Puri is gearing up to host the annual Rath Yatra on June 27, which attracts lakhs of devotees. A National Security Guard (NSG) team is working in tandem with local police to provide maximum security during the festival.
Karnataka has identified three districts for these exercises, while Gujarat will carry out operations in 15 districts. In Manipur, the fire department has launched customised firefighting motorbikes in Imphal to deal with emergencies in congested and narrow spaces.
The area of Imphal has congested traffic. And with narrow roads, entering the inner parts with fire trucks is difficult. Therefore, we have included firefighting motorbikes,” said KH Surchandra Singh, a senior officer, to ANI.
Authorities Emphasise Alertness Against Espionage and Infiltration
Security forces are also on the lookout for potential penetration and espionage. Rajasthan and Punjab officials have cautioned that there will be higher surveillance to avoid spilling sensitive information to Pakistan.
“If anyone leaks information for money, he will get very strict action. If anybody is leaking out of fear or is being blackmailed by the Pakistani side, then he needs to tell us. We are keeping an eye on all. All intelligence agencies are on the job,” stated Sudhir Choudhary, Superintendent of Police in Jaisalmer, just under 200 km from the border.
India’s civil defence system classifies districts into three categories based on risk. Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and nuclear districts such as Kalpakkam, Surat, and Tarapur are classified under Category 1—the highest vulnerability.
This project represents an important milestone towards strengthening India’s internal defence readiness and civil resilience infrastructure.
