Nationwide Civil Defence Mock Drill to be Conducted on May 7, 2025

Nationwide Civil Defence Mock Drill to be Conducted on May 7, 2025 – MHA Issues Directive

Drill to be Held at Village Level Across All Designated Civil Defence Districts

New Delhi, May 5, 2025 — The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Government of India, through the Directorate General Fire Service, Civil Defence & Home Guards, has announced a nationwide Civil Defence Mock Drill scheduled for May 7, 2025. This exercise will be conducted across 244 identified Civil Defence districts throughout the country, extending to the village level, with the goal of strengthening emergency preparedness and coordination.

The directive, issued to Chief Secretaries of all States and Administrators of Union Territories, follows up on earlier communication dated May 2, 2025, and invokes powers under Section 19 of the Civil Defence Rules, 1968.

The mock drill will involve the active participation of District Controllers, Civil Defence Wardens and Volunteers, Home Guards (active and reservists), NCC, NSS, NYKS members, and students from schools and colleges.

Key Objectives of the Mock Drill:

To evaluate the efficiency of air raid warning systems
To test hotline/radio communication links with the Indian Air Force
To assess the functioning of control rooms and shadow control rooms
To train civilians, particularly students, on civil defence preparedness in case of hostile attacks
To implement and assess crash blackout measures
To ensure early camouflage of vital plants/installations
To verify response mechanisms of firefighting, rescue operations, and depot management
To evaluate evacuation plans and their on-ground execution

State and UT authorities have been requested to mobilize all stakeholders and ensure comprehensive participation in the mock drill. An Action Taken Report (ATR) is to be submitted to the Directorate General at the earliest.

This initiative, approved by the Director General of Civil Defence, underscores the government’s commitment to building a resilient and well-prepared civil safety infrastructure capable of responding to any emergency situation.