According to a communication from the Directorate General of Fire Service and Home Guards, the exercise code named “Operation Shield” will be conducted. The exercise aims at testing preparedness in case of air raids, drone attacks and missile threats.
The Civil defence mock drill will be carried out on in various districts of Punjab, Haryana, and Jammu and Kashmir as stated by the the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The new initiative follows similar mock drills which commenced days before the Operation Sindhoor. ‘Operation Sindoor’, targeted nine terrorist sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir in response to the April 22 Pahalgam attack.
The new drills under Operation Shield will assess emergency preparedness and is expected to also address gaps identified during the first exercise held on 7th May 2025.
The Haryana government will conduct a civil defence exercise, named Operation Shield, on 29th May 2025, across all 22 of the State’s districts to vet its emergency preparedness.
Haryana, will experience a complete blackout in vital areas excluding emergency and critical services. The blackout will begin at 8 PM and will continue till 8.15 PM.
Initially, a notice issued by IAS officer Tina Dabi, the District Collector of Barmer, stated that mock drills were to be conducted in the districts bordering Pakistan on Thursday, May 29 as per the orders of the Central Government. However, the drills are reported to have been postponed to another date in the area due to administrative related issues.
“It is requested that necessary directions to all the Controllers of Civil Defence and other stakeholders, may be issued accordingly," Rajasthan Home Department said in a statement, adding that the next dates for the exercise will be issued.
Punjab will hold the drill in the border districts on 3rd June 2025 to strengthen the state’s emergency preparedness and response systems.
Gujarat mock drills will be held in all the districts of the state and registrations will be done on the government portal to make people civil defence volunteers. The mock drill will be conducted on rescue operations and medic help to people in the event of an air attack.
The mock drill will be held in 2–3 spots in every district. Also, there will be a blackout in the evening, and an appeal has been made for people to join it.
