In an effort to strengthen India’s emergency preparedness, a large-scale civil defence mock drill titled Operation Shield is set to take place on Thursday, May 29, across various states and union territories bordering Pakistan. The Ministry of Home Affairs has greenlit the initiative, following a string of recent national security incidents.
States including Gujarat, Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, and the Union Territory of Chandigarh will participate in the exercise, which is being coordinated under the supervision of the Directorate of Civil Defence. The state of Punjab, which also shares a significant border with Pakistan, is scheduled to conduct its drill on June 3 instead.
This comes in the wake of Operation Sindoor, a military operation carried out on the night of May 6–7 in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 tourists were killed on April 22. The drill is also a follow-up to Operation Abhyas, a nationwide mock exercise held on May 7, aimed at testing wartime readiness amid escalating tensions with Pakistan.
The Haryana government is undertaking a comprehensive version of the drill, spanning all 22 districts under the banner of Operation Shield. Set to begin at 5 PM on May 29, this state-wide operation will feature a blackout from 8 PM to 8:15 PM in all key areas, excluding critical and emergency services. Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini noted that such extensive civil defence drills haven’t taken place since the 1971 war, underscoring their significance in raising public awareness.
Mock Drills to be Conducted in Rajasthan’s Border
Barmer District Collector Tina Dabi confirmed that mock drills will also be conducted in Rajasthan’s border districts as per instructions from the central government. The blackout and simulation of air attack scenarios are aimed at testing the operational efficiency of response teams and the public’s readiness.
As part of the exercise, key infrastructure points, public buildings, and government facilities will undergo operational readiness evaluations. Activities will include simulated air raid sirens, blackout procedures, rescue operations, and civilian training sessions on first aid and emergency protocols.
In Gujarat, drills are planned in every district, with 2–3 selected locations designated per district. Citizens are encouraged to register as civil defence volunteers via the government portal. These exercises will simulate air attack response strategies and blackout practices.
The mock drills are designed to assess the effectiveness of civil defence systems such as firefighting units, evacuation teams, control room operations, and depot management. The initiative also includes public briefings, especially for students, on how to act during emergencies.
Mock Drills Reflects the Preparedness of Urgency
The recent increase in conflict-like situations has heightened the urgency for such preparedness. During Operation Sindoor, states along the western border, including Punjab and Rajasthan, imposed emergency measures. Punjab cancelled all public gatherings and closed schools in districts like Ferozepur, Pathankot, Fazilka, Amritsar, Gurdaspur, and Tarn Taran. Rajasthan followed suit, shutting down educational institutions in its border regions as a preventive measure.
During the nationwide Operation Abhyas drill earlier in May, 244 civil defence districts and 250 locations across 33 states and union territories took part in simulations. The exercises included major metros like Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, and Hyderabad. Notably, 32 airports in northern India were temporarily shut down as a precaution against potential aerial threats.
These initiatives, while primarily precautionary, serve a dual purpose of both preparing authorities for crisis response and educating the public on how to remain safe during wartime or terror-related emergencies.
