New Delh: India is gearing up for the second phase of its nationwide civil defence initiative, Operation Shield, scheduled to take place on May 31, 2025, across all districts along the country’s western frontier, including Jammu and Kashmir. Announced by the Ministry of Home Affairs, this large-scale exercise follows the first drill held on May 7 and is designed to test and improve preparedness for hostile threats such as air raids, missile strikes, and drone attacks. The operation will be conducted under Section 19 of the Civil Defence Rules, 1968, and is being coordinated by the Additional Director General of Civil Defence.
Building on the lessons from the earlier drill, Operation Shield will simulate a wide range of emergency scenarios. These include the general and silent recall of civil defence volunteers, mock air attacks involving aircraft and drones, and the activation of emergency communication channels between the Indian Air Force and Civil Defence Control Rooms. Other critical components of the exercise will involve the use of centralized air raid sirens, enforcing blackout procedures in civilian areas, simulated drone strikes on military bases, and evacuation drills, including the relocation of 20 mock casualties. The drill will also feature mass casualty management efforts, with 30 units of blood made available and trained medical teams deployed to handle emergency scenarios.
As part of the broader Rear Area Security Plan, the Indian Army will deploy Border Wing Home Guards to support regular military units. Troop mobilization and de-induction drills will be carried out to assess the speed and coordination of logistics in operational zones. The exercise will also see the active participation of youth organizations such as the National Cadet Corps (NCC), National Service Scheme (NSS), Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS), and the Bharat Scouts & Guides. All participating districts have been instructed to begin the drill at 1700 hours in coordination with local administrations.
Once completed, each district is required to submit a detailed action report evaluating its performance, highlighting gaps, and recommending improvements. Oversight for Operation Shield has been entrusted to key officials and agencies including the Union Home Secretary, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Ministry of Youth Affairs, and the Chief Secretaries and Administrators of states and union territories such as Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, and Chandigarh.
Originally scheduled for May 29, Operation Shield was postponed due to administrative reasons. Despite the brief delay, the core mission remains unchanged: to enhance national preparedness through coordinated civil-military drills and efficient crisis response across high-risk regions.
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