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Indian Express
15 hours ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Chandigarh, Panchkula to observe mock drills, blackouts today
In a bid to improve coordination among the civil administration, emergency services, and armed forces in an event of war-like or hostile situation, mock drills and blackouts will be organised in Chandigarh and Panchkula under the initiative 'Operation Shield'. A 10-minute blackout will be observed in the Kishangarh and IT Park areas of Chandigarh on Saturday from 8 pm to 8.10 pm. The exercise is being coordinated by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, and will take place across states and Union Territories along the western border to enhance emergency response capabilities. In Chandigarh, the blackout will simulate emergency conditions in the event of a hostile attack. Additionally, a mock drill will be held at the Community Centre in Sector 47, simulating a drone attack on a military station. As part of the scenario, 20 civilians will be evacuated, and the medical response system will be tested, including the arrangement of 30 units of blood and deployment of medical teams for the injured. It will involve civil defence volunteers, Home Guards, NCC, NSS, NGOs, and local authorities. Key activities will include air raid simulations, drone and missile threat drills, operation of air raid sirens, and communication exercises between civil and military control rooms. The Border Wing Home Guards will also be mobilised as part of rear area security support for the Indian Army. Deputy Commissioner Nishant Kumar Yadav has directed all departments under the Chandigarh Administration to participate fully and extend complete cooperation to ensure the success of the drill. Meanwhile, a 15-minute blackout will be observed throughout Panchkula district on Saturday, from 8 pm to 8:15 pm. Panchkula Deputy Commissioner Monika Gupta announced that the blackout is being organised to raise awareness and test readiness during hostile conditions. Citizens were urged to turn off all indoor and outdoor lighting, avoid using mobile flashlights or any light sources, and remain alert while cooperating fully with the administration.
India Today
15 hours 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.
The Hindu
a day ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Centre allows Maharashtra CM's Relief Fund to receive foreign funds
NEW DELHI The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has granted the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), 2010, registration to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund of Maharashtra, enabling it to receive foreign donations for 'social' programmes. This is the first time that a State government relief body has been granted permission to receive foreign funds under the Act to supplement financial assistance to those affected by natural calamities, major accidents, communal riots, terrorist attacks or those in need of medical and educational help. The relief funds of State governments usually run on domestic donations and contributions. In 2018, India had declined foreign aid for Kerala flood relief. The Chief Minister's Relief Fund (CMRF) of Maharashtra is registered as a Trust under the Bombay Public Trusts Act, 1950, its website said. It is managed by the State of Maharashtra under the chairmanship of Chief Minister who exercises overall supervision and control over the funds. According to a tender floated in February, the average number of transactions handled by the CMRF are between one lakh and 1.5 lakh per year. The Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund or the PM CARES Fund – set up in March 2020 to tackle distress situations such as that posed by the COVID-19 pandemic – was exempted from the FCRA provisions, and a 'separate account for receiving foreign donations' was opened. Registration mandatory The Home Ministry regulates foreign donations through the FCRA to ensure that such funds do not adversely affect country's internal security. It is compulsory to register under the Act, first enacted in 1976, if an association, group or NGO intends to receive foreign donations. The 1976 Act was repealed and replaced with a new legislation in 2010. It was further amended in 2020. Registered associations can receive foreign contributions for social, educational, religious, economic and cultural programmes. This year, FCRA registrations were granted to 244 NGOs or associations, including the Ramakrishna Mission in Kolkata, the Ramakrishna Mission Hospital in Itanagar, and seven Buddhist associations. As on Friday, there were 16,141 FCRA-registered NGOs in the country.
Time of India
a day ago
- General
- Time of India
Haryana to conduct statewide civil defence exercise 'Operation Shield' on May 31
Chandigarh: The Haryana government will conduct a major statewide Civil Defence Exercise, " Operation Shield ", on May 31, across all 22 districts to enhance the state's emergency preparedness and response capabilities. Scheduled to begin at 5 pm, this comprehensive drill is being organised under the guidance of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, to simulate critical incidents such as air raids, drone attacks, and other wartime scenarios in the light of current national security concerns, an official statement said here on Friday. The mock exercises are scheduled for May 31 between 5 pm to 9 pm and should not be the cause of alarm for the citizens, officials said. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Belly Fat Removal Without Surgery in Philippines: The Price Might Surprise You Belly Fat Removal | Search Ads Get Info Undo Earlier, this drill was scheduled for May 29 but was postponed as per the instructions of the Ministry of Home Affairs, it said. Giving further details, Additional Chief Secretary, Haryana's Home Department, Sumita Misra on Friday stated that the exercise aims to test existing emergency mechanisms, improve coordination between the civil administration, defence forces, and local communities and to identify areas that need to be strengthened, thus ensuring swift and effective response during any crisis. Live Events She said that currently there are around 32,000 Civil Defence Volunteers across state who will also contribute in this exercise. All Deputy Commissioners have been directed to call out Civil Defence Volunteers, NSS, NCC, Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS), Home Guards, of their respective districts in order to brief them regarding their deployment, duties and exercises to be undertaken. She further stated that, key components include drills responding to aerial threats such as air raids and swarms of unmanned aerial vehicles (drones), activation of air raid sirens, and testing of control room communication hotlines established with the Indian Air Force. Additionally, a controlled blackout of 15 minutes will be observed from 8 pm to 8.15 pm near vital installations, with exception of essential emergency services such as hospitals, fire stations, and police stations. Misra highlighted that the exercise also aligns with the Incident Response System (IRS), which Haryana officially notified on January 28, 2025, under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, providing a structured framework for effective emergency response. She directed all Deputy Commissioners, who are also Chairpersons of District Disaster Management Authorities, along with Commissioners and Superintendents of Police, to ensure meticulous planning and execution of the exercise in their jurisdictions. They have been instructed to submit detailed Action Taken Reports to the Commandant General, Home Guards, and Director, Civil Defence, Haryana, which will be compiled for state-level review and forwarded to the Ministry of Home Affairs.
New Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Centre directs states, UTs adjoining Pakistan border to hold second Civil Defence mock drills on May 31
NEW DELHI: The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Thursday directed the state governments of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Gujarat and the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Chandigarh to carry out an extensive civil defence drill across districts on the evening of May 31. The exercise is aimed at bolstering preparedness and raising awareness in areas susceptible to cross-border threats, the MHA said in the order, adding that the Directorate of General Fire Service, Civil Defence & Home Guards has found 'critical gaps were found' in the fist such exercise, which was conducted earlier on seventh of this month. 'Instructions to take necessary actions to suitably address the issues were also issued by this Directorate through a letter dated May 9, 2025. Accordingly, emergency powers were invoked and funding arrangement through the SDRF was also made,' the MHA said in the order. It further said, 'In order to augment the civil defence preparedness against hostile attack, a second Exercise 'Operation Shield' in all the districts of states/UTs, adjoining Western border is hereby planned to be held on May 31, 2025.' Incidentally, the decision to proceed with the drills follows a recent deferment. Exercises were earlier planned for Thursday in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, J&K and Chandigarh, but were postponed due to administrative reasons.
