In a move to boost preparedness amid rising regional hostilities, India is launching an expansive civil defence exercise titled Operation Shield across states and Union Territories bordering Pakistan.
While the mock drill was originally slated for May 30, it has been postponed in several states due to administrative and logistical reasons. However, new dates have now been set in Rajasthan and Punjab, with Gujarat, Jammu & Kashmir, and Chandigarh expected to announce theirs shortly.
The exercise is a direct response to the escalating security situation following the April 22 terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, which killed 26 civilians.
The tragedy triggered Operation Sindoor—a series of Indian military strikes on terror camps across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on May 7, followed by a four-day exchange of fire and drone activity between the two sides.
Simulated warzone: What the drills will look like
The Ministry of Home Affairs has tasked the Directorate General of Fire Services and Home Guards with overseeing the drill, aiming to close critical gaps in civil defence revealed during a preliminary exercise on May 7.
The upcoming round, dubbed Operation Shield, will simulate large-scale emergency responses in border districts across Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, and Chandigarh.
The drills will test coordination and response time across agencies through blackout protocols, air raid siren activations, and mock evacuations. Scenarios will simulate drone or missile strikes, with deployment of emergency medical teams, blood transport units, and hotlines between local administrations and the Indian Air Force. Civil defence volunteers from the NCC, NSS, and Bharat Scouts and Guides will also be mobilised.
According to PTI sources, the exercise will mirror real-time war-like conditions, with centrally controlled air sirens blaring, families being evacuated from military zones, and urban areas plunged into simulated blackouts—all designed to train civilians and authorities in high-alert scenarios.
Rajasthan and Punjab lead in rescheduling drills
In Rajasthan, the drill will now take place on the evening of May 31. The civil defence department has instructed all 41 district administrations to conduct a coordinated blackout and simulation simultaneously. Jagjeet Singh Monga, director of the state’s civil defence, said the drill follows a central government directive mandating full-scale civil defence preparedness in western border regions.
Punjab has chosen June 3 for the exercise, aligning the date with the completion of ongoing training by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). The Centre has approved the state’s request for rescheduling, and all deputy commissioners have been asked to conduct the simulation in their respective districts.
Gujarat, J&K, and Chandigarh yet to declare new dates
In Gujarat, the civil defence department postponed the May 29 drill and has yet to finalise a new date. The state’s information department confirmed the postponement and said, “Next dates for the exercise shall be issued subsequently.”
Chief Secretary of Gujarat’s Revenue Department, Jayanti Ravi, reviewed preparations via a virtual meeting with district officials and issued fresh instructions. She emphasised readiness checks, active youth volunteer participation, and establishing hotlines between civil authorities and defence agencies.
With Pakistan ramping up its psychological and military tactics, Operation Shield marks India’s most comprehensive civil preparedness push in recent memory—ensuring that both civilians and institutions are battle-ready for any eventuality.
(With inputs from PTI)
While the mock drill was originally slated for May 30, it has been postponed in several states due to administrative and logistical reasons. However, new dates have now been set in Rajasthan and Punjab, with Gujarat, Jammu & Kashmir, and Chandigarh expected to announce theirs shortly.
The exercise is a direct response to the escalating security situation following the April 22 terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, which killed 26 civilians.
The tragedy triggered Operation Sindoor—a series of Indian military strikes on terror camps across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on May 7, followed by a four-day exchange of fire and drone activity between the two sides.
Simulated warzone: What the drills will look like
The Ministry of Home Affairs has tasked the Directorate General of Fire Services and Home Guards with overseeing the drill, aiming to close critical gaps in civil defence revealed during a preliminary exercise on May 7.
The upcoming round, dubbed Operation Shield, will simulate large-scale emergency responses in border districts across Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, and Chandigarh.
The drills will test coordination and response time across agencies through blackout protocols, air raid siren activations, and mock evacuations. Scenarios will simulate drone or missile strikes, with deployment of emergency medical teams, blood transport units, and hotlines between local administrations and the Indian Air Force. Civil defence volunteers from the NCC, NSS, and Bharat Scouts and Guides will also be mobilised.
According to PTI sources, the exercise will mirror real-time war-like conditions, with centrally controlled air sirens blaring, families being evacuated from military zones, and urban areas plunged into simulated blackouts—all designed to train civilians and authorities in high-alert scenarios.
Rajasthan and Punjab lead in rescheduling drills
In Rajasthan, the drill will now take place on the evening of May 31. The civil defence department has instructed all 41 district administrations to conduct a coordinated blackout and simulation simultaneously. Jagjeet Singh Monga, director of the state’s civil defence, said the drill follows a central government directive mandating full-scale civil defence preparedness in western border regions.
Punjab has chosen June 3 for the exercise, aligning the date with the completion of ongoing training by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). The Centre has approved the state’s request for rescheduling, and all deputy commissioners have been asked to conduct the simulation in their respective districts.
Gujarat, J&K, and Chandigarh yet to declare new dates
In Gujarat, the civil defence department postponed the May 29 drill and has yet to finalise a new date. The state’s information department confirmed the postponement and said, “Next dates for the exercise shall be issued subsequently.”
Chief Secretary of Gujarat’s Revenue Department, Jayanti Ravi, reviewed preparations via a virtual meeting with district officials and issued fresh instructions. She emphasised readiness checks, active youth volunteer participation, and establishing hotlines between civil authorities and defence agencies.
With Pakistan ramping up its psychological and military tactics, Operation Shield marks India’s most comprehensive civil preparedness push in recent memory—ensuring that both civilians and institutions are battle-ready for any eventuality.
(With inputs from PTI)
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