The Indian government has ordered civil defense drills across much of the country in an unprecedented move.
The drills, set to take place on Wednesday, follow a deadly terror attack last month in the region of Kashmir that killed 26 people and reignited hostilities between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
In a letter issued Monday to all states and union territories, the country’s Union Ministry of Home Affairs directed officials to conduct mock drills in 244 districts deemed vulnerable due to their proximity to international borders, coastlines, or other strategic considerations.
These areas, designated as “civil defense districts,” will see preparedness exercises rolled out in all villages.
The drills are expected to include the testing of air raid sirens, instructions to civilians on navigating blackouts, and protocols for evacuation in the event of an aerial or missile attack.
“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 letter from the Directorate General Fire Service, Civil Defence and Home Guards said.
The order also came hours after Pakistan conducted its second missile firing test in two days under “Exercise INDUS”.
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the successful test launch “made it clear that Pakistan’s defence is in strong hands.”
How will the mock drill play out in the country?
Mock drills simulate emergencies in a controlled environment, allowing people and services to test response strategies.
These can include evacuations, emergency first aid, lockdown procedures, or blackout management.
Civil defense drills are particularly focused on wartime scenarios, including missile strikes, air raids, and communication disruptions.
Civilians in selected districts may experience temporary disruptions during the drills, such as power blackouts, mobile network suspensions, and rerouted traffic.
Local administrations will also test public announcement systems and conduct staged evacuations.
According to the MHA, the primary objectives of the mock drill are as follows:
To assess the effectiveness of air raid warning systems.
Operationalisation of Hotline/Radio Communication Links with the Indian Air Force.
To test the functionality of control rooms and shadow control rooms.
Training civilians, students, etc., on civil defence aspects to protect themselves in the event of a hostile attack.
Provision of crash blackout measures.
Provision for early camouflaging of vital plants/installations.
Mock drill reminiscent of drills undertaken in the wars of 1960 and 1971
Tensions between India and Pakistan — both of which possess nuclear weapons and have fought multiple wars — have surged since the late April attack in Kashmir.
While the identity of the attackers remains under investigation, Indian authorities have alleged Pakistani involvement.
Islamabad has denied any link.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in remarks following the incident, vowed to “pursue the perpetrators to the ends of the earth” and deliver punishment “beyond their imagination,” signaling a hardened stance against any perceived cross-border terrorism.
In the days since, civil defense preparations have already begun in border states such as Jammu and Kashmir.
Videos circulating online show schoolchildren taking part in duck-and-cover drills, while civilians are seen cleaning and preparing bunkers intended for use during airstrikes.
The scale and nationwide nature of Wednesday’s planned drills, however, mark a significant escalation in readiness efforts.
Large-scale mock drills of this nature were last seen during the India-China war in the early 1960s and the run-up to the 1971 India-Pakistan war, according to retired police officer Nirmal Kumar Singh.
“But I don’t remember such drills after the 1971 war,” Singh said in comments published by the New York Times.
“This is the most serious civilian preparedness I’ve seen in decades.”
Moody’s cuts India’s GDP growth forecast, sees India-Pak tensions as “risk”
Separately, the ripple effects of the deteriorating geopolitical climate are also being felt in India’s economic outlook.
Moody’s Ratings on Tuesday revised India’s GDP growth forecast for 2025 downward to 6.3%, from an earlier estimate of 6.5%.
The ratings agency pointed to rising global policy uncertainty and escalating tensions with Pakistan as key downside risks.
In its Global Macro Outlook for 2025–26, Moody’s warned that conflict in South Asia could disrupt investment flows and raise costs for businesses, as companies reassess risk and operational exposure.
Despite these concerns, the agency maintained its 2026 forecast at 6.5%, following an estimated 6.7% growth in 2024.
It noted that India’s economy remains relatively resilient, but faces pressure from broader global trends, including inflation, trade restrictions, and financial market volatility.
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