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India Today
3 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
Operation Shield security drills today in states bordering Pakistan
Security forces will conduct the second phase of the nationwide civil defence security drill, Operation Shield, on Saturday, May 31, across several border states and Union Territories. The exercise aims to enhance emergency preparedness in vulnerable regions adjoining the western border, including Jammu and Kashmir, Gujarat, Punjab and phase follows the first drill conducted on May 7, just hours before the Indian Armed Forces launched 'Operation Sindoor' in retaliation to the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs is overseeing the drill, which includes blackout protocols, evacuation simulations, and coordinated emergency response to a government press release issued on Thursday, the drill will begin at 5:00 PM and will be carried out across multiple areas. In Jammu, a blackout drill is scheduled between 8:00 PM and 8:15 PM. Residents have been asked to switch off all lights and cover windows to prevent light emission once the siren sounds. The local administration said that this is a security exercise and urged citizens not to panic. In Chandigarh, a 10-minute blackout will take place in the Kishangarh and I.T. Park areas from 8:00 PM to 8:10 PM. A full-scale simulation involving a drone attack on a military base and evacuation of 20 individuals will be conducted at Sector 47. The operation will also test medical preparedness with the arrangement of 30 blood units and deployment of emergency will see a series of activities starting at 5:00 PM in Shahibaug Cantonment and Viramgam police lines. These include volunteer mobilisation, air raid simulations, activation of communication systems, and evacuation drills, culminating in a blackout at 7:45 will conduct its security drill between 6:00 PM and 7:00 PM, followed by a blackout from 8:00 PM to 8:30 PM. The district administration has requested residents to remain indoors with lights off during the the security drill was initially planned for Thursday, but it was postponed in Haryana, Rajasthan and Chandigarh due to administrative guidelines from the Directorate General of Fire Services and Home Guards instructed all border districts to conduct coordinated drills involving air raid sirens, blackout measures and mock Shield is a national initiative to plug the gaps identified during the first round of civil defence exercises. Following intelligence inputs and recent hostilities along the western border, the government invoked emergency powers and activated funding from the State Disaster Response Force to strengthen civil second phase focuses on testing inter-agency coordination, public responsiveness, and readiness of emergency services in case of air raids, drone strikes, and missile attacks. Volunteers from National Cadet Corps (NCC), National Service Scheme (NSS), NGOs, Home Guards and Border Wing units will be involved across various states.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Operation Shield: India prepares for future threats with massive civil defence drills across border states
In a move to boost preparedness amid rising regional hostilities, India is launching an expansive civil defence exercise titled Operation Shield across states and Union Territories bordering Pakistan. While the mock drill was originally slated for May 30, it has been postponed in several states due to administrative and logistical reasons. However, new dates have now been set in Rajasthan and Punjab, with Gujarat, Jammu & Kashmir, and Chandigarh expected to announce theirs shortly. The exercise is a direct response to the escalating security situation following the April 22 terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, which killed 26 civilians. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Stop Selling Your Excess Solar Energy For Cents Australian Solar Batteries Learn More Undo The tragedy triggered Operation Sindoor—a series of Indian military strikes on terror camps across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on May 7, followed by a four-day exchange of fire and drone activity between the two sides. Simulated warzone: What the drills will look like The Ministry of Home Affairs has tasked the Directorate General of Fire Services and Home Guards with overseeing the drill, aiming to close critical gaps in civil defence revealed during a preliminary exercise on May 7. Live Events The upcoming round, dubbed Operation Shield, will simulate large-scale emergency responses in border districts across Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, and Chandigarh. The drills will test coordination and response time across agencies through blackout protocols, air raid siren activations, and mock evacuations. Scenarios will simulate drone or missile strikes, with deployment of emergency medical teams, blood transport units, and hotlines between local administrations and the Indian Air Force. Civil defence volunteers from the NCC , NSS, and Bharat Scouts and Guides will also be mobilised. According to PTI sources, the exercise will mirror real-time war-like conditions, with centrally controlled air sirens blaring, families being evacuated from military zones, and urban areas plunged into simulated blackouts—all designed to train civilians and authorities in high-alert scenarios. Rajasthan and Punjab lead in rescheduling drills In Rajasthan, the drill will now take place on the evening of May 31. The civil defence department has instructed all 41 district administrations to conduct a coordinated blackout and simulation simultaneously. Jagjeet Singh Monga, director of the state's civil defence, said the drill follows a central government directive mandating full-scale civil defence preparedness in western border regions. Punjab has chosen June 3 for the exercise, aligning the date with the completion of ongoing training by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). The Centre has approved the state's request for rescheduling, and all deputy commissioners have been asked to conduct the simulation in their respective districts. Gujarat, J&K, and Chandigarh yet to declare new dates In Gujarat, the civil defence department postponed the May 29 drill and has yet to finalise a new date. The state's information department confirmed the postponement and said, 'Next dates for the exercise shall be issued subsequently.' Chief Secretary of Gujarat's Revenue Department, Jayanti Ravi, reviewed preparations via a virtual meeting with district officials and issued fresh instructions. She emphasised readiness checks, active youth volunteer participation, and establishing hotlines between civil authorities and defence agencies. With Pakistan ramping up its psychological and military tactics, Operation Shield marks India's most comprehensive civil preparedness push in recent memory—ensuring that both civilians and institutions are battle-ready for any eventuality.
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
‘Operation Shield': What will happen during mock drills in 6 states, UTs? Check dates
A civil defence mock drill under 'Operation Shield', which was originally scheduled for Thursday, across multiple border states and Union Territories, has been postponed due to administrative reasons. While Rajasthan, Haryana, and Punjab have announced new dates, Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir, and the Union Territory of Chandigarh are yet to do so. The mock drill was planned in the wake of heightened tensions with Pakistan following a terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22, which claimed 26 lives. In response, India launched 'Operation Sindoor' on May 7, targeting terror camps at nine locations across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The situation escalated into four days of skirmishes between May 7 and 10, during which India also struck Pakistani military bases. In retaliation, Pakistani forces launched heavy shelling along the LoC and international border, and also attempted drone and missile attacks on other strategic points in the western sector. The Directorate General of Fire Services and Home Guards, under the ministry of home affairs, earlier announced that the civil defence exercise 'Operation Shield' would be conducted in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, and Chandigarh. The move follows observations made during the first drill on May 7, where officials identified critical gaps in civil defence preparedness in vulnerable regions. Based on those findings, the Ministry issued directives on May 9 to address the shortcomings, invoking emergency powers and arranging funding support through the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF). Aimed at strengthening readiness against potential hostile attacks, the upcoming drills will cover all districts in the states and Union Territories along the western border. According to sources, quoted by PTI, the exercise will include the activation of centrally controlled air raid sirens, blackout protocols in civilian areas, and mock evacuation of families from military stations in the event of a drone strike. The drills will also involve the deployment of medical teams, transportation of blood units, and other emergency response measures. The civil defence department in Rajasthan has issued instructions to all district collectors and magistrates to implement a statewide blackout and mock drill on Saturday evening, May 31, news agency PTI reported. As per the directive issued by Jagjeet Singh Monga, director of the directorate of civil defence, a coordinated blackout and drill will be conducted simultaneously across all 41 districts of the state. Monga noted that this follows a recent directive from the Ministry of Home Affairs, which mandates that the 'Operation Shield' civil defence exercise be held on May 31 in all states and Union Territories along India's western border. The Punjab government has proposed June 3 as the new date for conducting the Operation Shield mock drill, PTI reported, citing that civil defence personnel are currently undergoing training with the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). According to a senior Punjab Police official, the Centre has accepted the state's request to reschedule the drill to June 3. Subsequently, all deputy commissioners in Punjab have been directed to conduct the civil defence exercise in every district on that day. The new date for the Operation Shield mock drill in Gujarat is yet to be finalised. In an official statement, the Gujarat information department said, 'It is hereby intimated that the Civil Defence Exercise 'Operation Shield', which was planned to be held on May 29, 2025, is hereby postponed due to administrative reasons. It is requested that necessary directions to all the Controllers of Civil Defence and other stakeholders, may be issued accordingly. Next dates for the exercise shall be issued subsequently.' Meanwhile, chief secretary of the revenue department, Jayanti Ravi, held a virtual meeting on Wednesday to review the preparations made by district administrations for the upcoming drill. She also issued instructions to all District Collectors to ensure effective implementation of the mock exercise. Jayanti Ravi added that the drill will include measures such as assessing the readiness of local administration, engaging youth volunteers from NCC, NSS, and Bharat Scouts and Guides, setting up a hotline between the Air Force and the Civil Security Control Room for communication during aircraft or missile threats, activating air raid sirens, enforcing complete blackouts, and ensuring the safety of people and property. (With PTI inputs)
