Centre Orders Security Drill in 244 Districts; Civilians to Join War-Like Preparedness

New Delhi : Following a directive from the Centre, all states and Union Territories are preparing to conduct a large-scale civil defence drill on Tuesday. The exercise, which will be conducted in 244 Civil Defence districts across India, is aimed at assessing and enhancing the readiness of national and local civil defence mechanisms. The move comes amid escalating tensions in the wake of the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians, most of them tourists.

Although the official communication from the Ministry of Home Affairs to the states’ chief secretaries makes no reference to Pakistan, the timing of the drill has drawn attention. It coincides with heightened security concerns following India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty — a rare and significant geopolitical gesture that many analysts interpret as a signal of India’s assertive stance. The last time such a nationwide civil defence exercise was conducted was during the build-up to the 1971 Indo-Pak war, which eventually led to the creation of Bangladesh.

According to the official notification, the civil defence drill will reach down to the village level and involve coordinated efforts across multiple departments. The Ministry stated, “The conduct of the exercise is planned up to the village level. This exercise aims to assess and enhance the readiness of Civil Defence mechanisms across all States and Union Territories.”

Participants in the drill will include District Controllers, district administration officials, civil defence wardens and volunteers, as well as personnel from the Home Guard (including active and reservist volunteers). Youth organisations like the National Cadet Corps (NCC), National Service Scheme (NSS), Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS), along with students from schools and colleges, will also be involved in the simulation.

The notification explicitly highlights the need for public preparedness, noting that civilians must be trained to respond to scenarios involving a “hostile attack.” Mock drills are expected to simulate situations such as blackouts, evacuations, communication breakdowns, and emergency shelter setup.