Operation Shield: Mock drills in J&K, Gujarat, Haryana, Rajasthan and Chandigarh - Know date, timing, activities & more
Let's take a closer look at the date, timings, participating states, and what will happen during the drill.
Operation Shield details
Date: 31 May 2025
Timings: 5:00 PM onwards
States/UTs: Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir, Gujarat, Haryana, Rajasthan and Chandigarh
Purpose: Enhance emergency response and community readiness
Involvement: Civil Defence, NCC, NSS, NYKS, Bharat Scouts & Guides
Main activities: Evacuation drills, sirens, communication tests, hotline activation
When is Operation Shield? Check Date and Timings
The mock drill, named Operation Shield, is scheduled to take place on 31 May 2025, starting at 5:00 PM onwards. However, the timings may vary slightly depending on local convenience, as mentioned in a press release issued on 29 May 2025.
States and UTs Participating in Operation Shield
This mock drill will be conducted across districts close to the India-Pakistan border. The six participating states and UTs include:
Punjab
Jammu and Kashmir
Gujarat
Haryana
Rajasthan
Chandigarh
These regions are considered sensitive due to their proximity to the Line of Control (LoC) and are often vulnerable to cross-border threats. The goal of Operation Shield is to strengthen coordination among security forces and improve local response capabilities.
Why Operation Shield is Being Conducted
Operation Shield is a follow-up to the first Civil Defence Exercise held on 7 May 2025, just before Operation Sindoor – India's military action in response to a terrorist attack. The recent drills aim to enhance alertness, community engagement, and readiness in case of real emergencies.
According to Umesh Sharma, Assistant Director General of Civil Defence, all local administrations and stakeholders are encouraged to fully participate and share an action report after the drill is completed.
Who Will Be Involved in the Mock Drill
A wide range of organisations and volunteers will take part in the drill. Participants include:
Civil Defence Wardens
Civil Defence Volunteers
Youth groups like NCC (National Cadet Corps), NSS (National Service Scheme), NYKS (Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan), and Bharat Scouts & Guides
This collective effort shows the importance of involving the community in national safety and defence measures.
Activities Planned During Operation Shield
The mock drill will include various simulated emergency scenarios to test the preparedness of all involved. Some of the main activities are:
Silent and general recall of Civil Defence volunteers
Evacuation drills
Emergency communication tests
Activation of hotlines between the Air Force and Civil Defence Control Rooms
Use of air raid sirens controlled from central hubs
These activities aim to ensure that, in the event of a real threat, the response can be quick, organised, and effective.
Operation Shield in the Context of Operation Sindoor
The timing of Operation Shield is notable, as it comes after Operation Sindoor, India's military strike on April 22, 2025, in response to a deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, where 26 people were killed. In that operation, the Indian Armed Forces carried out targeted attacks on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
From May 7 to 10, India witnessed four days of heightened military tension, including shelling and attempted drone attacks by Pakistan. This backdrop further explains why Operation Shield and its mock drills are critical for national preparedness.
What to Expect on 31 May
Residents living in the above-mentioned states and UTs should not panic on 31 May when they hear air raid sirens or see evacuation exercises in progress. These are part of Operation Shield, a planned mock drill to keep everyone prepared for any emergency.
Security agencies urge full cooperation from the public, local officials, and volunteers to ensure the success of the exercise.
Stay informed, stay safe. Operation Shield is about strengthening our nation's defence—together.
For more informative articles on historical and upcoming events from around the world, please visit Indiatimes Events.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
29 minutes ago
- Hans India
MyVoice: Views of our readers 16th Aug 2025
Rahul's dereliction of protocol The decision of the Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi to absent himself from the nation's Independence Day celebration at the Red Fort is not merely a dereliction of protocol but also of symbolism. In the theatre of democracy, moments such as these transcend partisanship; they are occasions when we set aside our ideological cudgels to affirm a shared national identity. The absence sends an unfortunate semaphore: that political schism can supersede patriotic solidarity. One need not be in concord with the government to stand in concert with the Republic. Rahul Gandhi did not diminish the government but the gravitas of the Opposition's own constitutional role. Independence Day is a day when the tricolour should eclipse the party flag. Mohit Rawal, Ujjain Modi erred by praising RSS I endorse the criticism against Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address to the nation on I- Day in which he praised the RSS on its 100th year. This has been condemned by CPI(M) leader M A Baby, who pointed out that RSS has a dubious record and it was banned after Gandhi's assassination. Modi may be seeking RSS support in the wake of the political turmoil that has emerged after Rahul Gandhi's 'vote chor' accusations. Dr T Ramadas, Visakhapatnam Testing times for Modi This is further to your editorial 'Challenges galore for Modi' (Aug 15). It is truly testing time for India, and the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre, particularly when the opposition is irrationally up in arms against the ECI and EVMs. They are also questioning the deletion of names in the revised electoral roll in Bihar despite the poll panel's clarification in this regard. The previous one decade of the BJP rule was truly creditable with various achievements, which many people thought would be impossible like the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, 'Operation Sindoor', removal of 'triple talaq' and implementation of the 'Waqf Amendment Act'. The divisive politics being played out by the opposition, coupled with the US targeting India with a 50 per cent tariff on exports to America, is unmissable. K V Raghuram, Wayanad Centre should have a contingency plan In the grand bazaar of Indian politics, 'deep state' is on a mission to fracture the BJP by creating political chaos. It is essential that the Narendra Modi government at the Centre develops a serious contingency plan to counter future tensions. Whether the claims to provoke disruptions prove accurate or not, the government cannot remain silent at a time when the nation sits in the crosshair of a high-stakes geopolitical game. This is even as the Election Commission is determined to improve accuracy and efficiency. K R Srinivasan, Secunderabad-3 Civic officials must act I wish to highlight the growing distress of residents in low-lying areas like Malakpet, Kishanbagh, Jiyaguda, and Chaderghat as the Musi River overflows following heavy rains and the opening of the Himayat Sagar floodgates. Every monsoon, these neighbourhoods face inundation, road closures, and evacuation. While immediate steps such as traffic diversions and rescue efforts are appreciated, they unfortunately remain short-term fixes. It is imperative for the authorities to implement long-term measures—strengthening embankments, desilting the Musi, and improving drainage—to prevent recurring crises. It calls for a permanent solution. Without proactive action, thousands will continue to suffer the agony of heavy losses and displacement each year. Uthkarsha, St Francis college for Women Push carts causing obstruction People from Vijayawada are subject to several hardships because of push carts that have been left on the busy Sivalayam street, Satyanarayana puram. No one has a clue about who has left the carts. These are also causing worry to the locals as they have remained unclaimed for a long time. This is causing inconvenience to nearby bank customers, hospital patients and others, who park their vehicles here. It is also a posing threat to incriminating activities. We urge the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation to remove the carts and bring respite to the people. M Janardhana Rao, Vijayawada-520011
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
PM Modi's address to the nation on Independence Day: Atmanirbharta for a Viksit Bharat
This grand festival of Independence is a celebration of the 140 crore resolutions of our people. This festival of Independence is a moment of collective achievements, a moment of pride, and our hearts are filled with joy. 'Har Ghar Tiranga' is visible, whether from the deserts, the Himalayan peaks, the seashores, or densely populated regions and everywhere there is one echo, one cheer: The praise of our motherland, dearer to us than life itself. Friends, I feel great pride that I have the opportunity to salute the brave warriors of Operation Sindoor from the ramparts of the Red Fort. Our courageous soldiers punished the enemies beyond anything they could have imagined. On April 22, terrorists crossed the border and committed a massacre in Pahalgam. The entire nation was filled with outrage, and the whole world was shocked. Operation Sindoor was the expression of that outrage. After the events on the 22nd, we gave our army complete freedom — let them decide the strategy, choose the targets, and select the timing. Our army accomplished something that had not happened in decades. Penetrating hundreds of kilometres into enemy territory, they reduced terrorist headquarters to dust. Imagine if we were not self-reliant, could we have executed Operation Sindoor with such swiftness? We would have been plagued by worries over who might supply us, whether or not we would get the required equipment, and so on. The results we see today are the outcome of our consistent mission over the past 10 years towards self-reliance in the field of defence. None can deny that the 21st century is a technology-driven century. When we speak of various dimensions of technology, I wish to draw your attention to semiconductors. I do not stand here to criticise any person or government. But it is equally important for the youth of our country to know. In our country, files related to semiconductors started moving 50-60 years ago. The idea of a semiconductor factory began then. My young friends will be shocked to know that today, semiconductors have become a global force — but 50-60 years ago, the idea was stalled, delayed and shelved. The conception of semiconductors was aborted. We lost 50-60 years. Today, we have freed ourselves from that burden and advanced the work on semiconductors in mission mode. Six different semiconductor units are taking shape on the ground, and we have already given the green signal to four new units. We all know that we are dependent on many countries for petrol, diesel, and gas. We are spending lakhs of crores of rupees to procure them. It is essential to make the country self-reliant in energy. We took up this resolve, and in the last 11 years, solar energy has seen a thirty-fold increase. We are building new dams to expand hydropower so that we may obtain clean energy. With Mission Green Hydrogen, Bharat is today investing thousands of crores of rupees. In the field of nuclear energy, 10 new reactors are progressing rapidly. By 2047, when the nation will complete 100 years of independence — the year we have set as the target for achieving the goal of a Viksit Bharat — we are moving forward with the resolve to increase our nuclear energy capacity more than tenfold. Today, the National Manufacturing Mission is progressing at great speed. There is always some tool or component that comes from our country's MSMEs in the making of some of the biggest products globally. But we want to move towards a path of comprehensive and integrated development. That is why we must strengthen their capabilities. I had once said from the Red Fort — Zero Defect, Zero Effect. Today, I want to reiterate that if we want the world to recognise our strength in the global market, we must constantly scale new heights in quality. The world accepts quality. Our quality must be the best. Those who lived by the mantra of an independent Bharat gave us freedom. That generation dedicated itself to a free Bharat; this generation must take bold new steps for a prosperous Bharat. That is why I keep urging again and again, and I want to tell all the influencers of the country — help me in spreading this mantra. I appeal to all political parties, politicians, everyone: Come, this is not the agenda of any one political party. Bharat belongs to all of us. Together, let us make 'Vocal for Local' the mantra of every citizen's life. I want to appeal to every small trader and shopkeeper, you too have a responsibility. In our childhood, we used to see shops simply labelled as 'Ghee Shop,' but over time, people began writing 'Pure Ghee Shop'. In the same way, I want traders and shopkeepers across the country to put up boards saying: 'Swadeshi goods sold here'. Let us take pride in Swadeshi. We should use it not out of compulsion, but with strength, for our own strength and if needed, even to compel others to use it. That should be our power. This should be our guiding mantra. This nation is built by the toil of crores of people — by sages, saints, scientists, teachers, farmers, soldiers, workers, labourers. Contributions come from individuals and from institutions alike. Today, with great pride, I wish to mention one such institution. One hundred years ago, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh was founded. These 100 years of service to the nation constitute a proud and golden chapter. With the resolve of nation-building through character-building, with the aim of serving Maa Bharati, the swayamsevaks have, for a century, dedicated their lives to the welfare of the motherland. In a sense, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh is the world's largest NGO. Today, from the ramparts of the Red Fort, I salute all the swayamsevaks who have contributed to this century-long journey of national service. The nation takes pride in this grand and dedicated journey of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, which will continue to inspire us. I wish to warn the nation of a grave concern and challenge. As part of a deliberate conspiracy, the demography of the country is being altered. These infiltrators are snatching away the livelihoods of our youth. These infiltrators are targeting our sisters and daughters. These infiltrators are misleading innocent tribals and seizing their lands. When demographic change occurs, particularly in border areas, it creates a crisis for national security. It threatens the unity, integrity, and progress of the country. Our forefathers attained freedom through sacrifice. It is our duty towards those great souls that we do not accept such acts. Therefore, today I announce that we have decided to launch a High-Power Demography Mission. Through this mission, the severe crisis will be addressed in a deliberate and time-bound manner. We have to remember — the one who has toiled hard, the one who has toiled hard, is the one who has created history. The one who has worked hard, is the one who has created history. The one who has broken the steel rocks, is the one who has bent the time. This is the time to bend the time, this is the right time. Once again, I extend my best wishes to all of you on this great festival of Independence. The writer is Prime Minister of India. Edited excerpts of the English translation of his address to the nation on August 15
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
Express View on PM Modi's Independence Day speech: Hope, not fear
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Independence Day speech, his 12th in a row, was delivered against the backdrop of a global economy roiled by unpredictability, turmoil and upheaval. PM Modi did not name him but Donald Trump and the tariff regime the US President has unleashed, lurked, between the lines, as both presence and shadow. For the most part, the PM spoke of how India needs to enliven the 'Make in India' and 'Vocal for Local' mantras, and install self-reliance at the heart of the country's development strategy and growth model. The message was: In times when the Trump tariff regime is impacting exports, and when disruptions in global supply chains are threatening to squeeze imports, India must focus on strengthening the domestic economy by pursuing the path of self-sufficiency or 'aatmanirbharta'. PM Modi reminded the nation of India's proven 'samarthya' or capability — when it took the lead in manufacturing the coronavirus vaccine, not only for itself, but also for the world; and more recently, when, powered by indigenous weapon systems, it conducted Operation Sindoor. This is not the first time that PM Modi has spoken of the need to Make in India, or extolled the virtues of aatmanirbharta. But this I-day speech was remarkable for the urgency with which it sought to connect the dots from Atmanirbhar Bharat to Viksit Bharat and national security, framing it as a matter not merely of import-export but as a test of a nation's very 'aatma samman' or self-respect: 'Hum nahin banayenge? Hum nirbhar rahenge? (Why will we remain dependent on others)?' He exhorted the young and the entrepreneurs, the scientists and the private sector, to come forward and fill the gaps with ideas and innovations — to make India's own fertiliser and semiconductor, and to be self-reliant in clean energy and critical minerals. The government, he said, would encourage and enable them through the next generation of reforms, for which he announced a special task force. But as much as the PM sought to exhort and energise, and even as he tapped into his countrymen and women's ambitions and optimism — he announced a special Diwali bonanza of GST reform, a Rs 1 lakh crore Rozgar Yojana for the young, invoked the symbolism of naari shakti, space start-ups and Shubhanshu Shukla's odyssey — he also painted a gathering spectre. Illegal immigrants or 'ghuspaithiye', he said, are snatching Indians' jobs, taking away land from tribal populations, endangering India's 'behan-beti' or women. His government would, therefore, set up a high powered Demography Mission. While illegal immigration is a resonant issue that is becoming bigger across the world, riding on the back of nationalist politics and populist movements, the PM's highlighting of it has a disquieting domestic backdrop — of growing incidents of violence against Bengali-speaking migrants in states, and the ongoing controversy over voters' lists. The BJP's defeat in the Jharkhand assembly election may have pointed to the limits of 'illegal immigration' as an electoral plank, but in a diverse country, it is still an issue that is fraught, one that can propel a politics of distrust and fear. The PM's playing up of the dark motif of the 'ghuspaithiya', coupled with his tribute to the RSS from the ramparts of Red Fort, showed an unmistakable ideological layering of his message. For the nation, they frame the challenge that lies ahead: Of finding a way forward that sidesteps the fear and embraces the hope.
