Blackouts, war-like emergency exercises: What will Centre’s May 7 mock drill entail?

These exercises, the first of their kind since 1971, have been ordered by the central government amid escalating tensions with Pakistan following the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir.

Several high-ranking officials – including the DG, Civil Defence and the DG, NDRF – attended a meeting called by union home secretary Govind Mohan on the mock drills to be held on May 7.

A source had told PTI, "The home secretary will review the preparations for civil defence being made across 244 districts. Chief secretaries and heads of civil defence from across the country will participate in the meeting via video conferencing.”

Also read: Centre asks states to conduct mock drills to prepare for any attack

The drills will recreate real-life scenarios — air raid sirens will go off, lights will be switched off across cities, civilians will practice sheltering procedures, and emergency teams will operate in real time.

So, what is a mock drill?

A mock drill is usually planned to test civilian readiness.

Officials clarified that this drill is not a signal of immediate conflict but part of the broader civil defence efforts. This exercise falls under the Civil Defence Rules, 1968, and was communicated by the MHA on May 2.

In short, a civil defence mock drill is a ‘preparedness exercise’ aimed at testing how civilians and government systems respond during emergencies like war, missile attacks, or aerial strikes.

Also read: Pak troops target forward posts along LoC in 8 J-K sectors, Indian Army retaliates

What happens in a mock drill?

Lights are turned off across cities

Hotline/Radio Communication Links with the Indian Air Force will be operated to test the functionality of control rooms and shadow control rooms

Civilians, students, etc., will be trained on the civil defence aspects to protect themselves in the event of a hostile attack. Civil Defence Services, especially, warden services, firefighting, rescue service, depot, etc., will be activated

Crash black out measures will happen

Provision for early camouflaging of vital plants / installations

Updation of evacuation plan and its rehearsal and cleaning of bunkers, trenches, etc.

Emergency teams will operate in real time

Public training sessions will be held to prepare for war-like emergencies

Purpose of the drill

These drills aim to reduce panic, avoid confusion, and save lives by increasing awareness and readiness. It also helps to protect citizens in the event of a hostile attack.

"The said Civil Defence Exercise is aimed to assess the operational efficacy and operational coordination of various civil defence measures," it said.

How many districts are involved in this exercise?

The MHA has decided to organise this mock drill exercise and rehearsal across 244 categorised Civil Defence Districts of the country on May 7.

These districts, many located in border states like Rajasthan, Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir, West Bengal, and the North East, have been instructed to conduct the drill simulating multi-hazard scenarios.

Also read: For India, a dark lesson from an Iberian blackout

"In the current geo-political scenario, new and complex threats/challenges have emerged, hence, it would be prudent that optimum Civil Defence preparedness in the states/UTs is maintained at all times," the communication from the Directorate General Fire Service, Civil Defence and Home Guards said.

"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," a letter said.

It said that active participation of the district controller, various district authorities, civil defence wardens/volunteers, Home Guards (active /reservists volunteers), NCC, NSS, NYKS, college / school students is envisaged in the exercise.

India weighs options

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been holding a series of high-level meetings, including with top defence functionaries, as India weighs its options for countermeasures against the April 22 terror attack which left 26 civilians, mostly tourists, dead.

Modi has vowed to pursue the perpetrators and those part of the conspiracy to the "ends of the earth" to inflict punishment on them "beyond their imagination.