What is Mock Drill? Location and Timing in India

In a major national security initiative following rising threats and the recent Pahalgam terror attack, the Union Home Ministry has directed states and Union Territories to conduct a nationwide civil defence mock drill on May 7, 2025 (Wednesday). This move marks the first comprehensive drill of its kind since 1971, aiming to test and strengthen India’s passive defence readiness against potential external attacks.

What is a Civil Defence Mock Drill?

A civil defence mock drill is a simulated emergency preparedness exercise conducted to evaluate how well civilians and civil defence agencies respond during crisis scenarios such as enemy air raids, terrorist attacks, or natural disasters.

These drills help:

• Train civilians to react calmly and effectively.
• Evaluate response coordination among government agencies.
• Identify gaps in preparedness and improve upon them.
• Build a culture of safety, vigilance, and resilience.

In this context, the May 7 mock drill is aimed at enhancing awareness and preparation across 244 categorised districts, ranging from high to low threat zones.

Why Now? The Trigger for the Mock Drill

The decision to conduct the mock drill follows the April 22, 2025 Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 lives, mostly tourists. The government, in response, launched Operation Sindoor, a surgical military strike on nine terror camps in Pakistan and PoJK.

To supplement these military efforts, the Centre has now focused on internal readiness by strengthening civil defence mechanisms. The emphasis is on citizen-level awareness and coordination, especially in areas vulnerable to enemy strikes or sabotage.

List of 244 Civil Defence Districts for Mock Drills (May 7th, 2025)

Summary:

• Category I (High Priority Locations): 13 Districts
• Category II (Medium Priority Locations): 201 Districts
• Category III (Low Priority Locations): 45 Districts

Category I – High Priority Locations (13 Districts)

Category II – Medium Priority Locations (201 Districts)

Category III – Low Priority Locations (45 Districts)

Objectives of the May 7, 2025 Civil Defence Mock Drill

As outlined by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the core objectives of the nationwide drill include:

• Testing the efficacy of air raid warning sirens.
• Deploying crash blackout measures in urban and sensitive zones.
• Training civilians and students on safety actions during enemy attacks.
• Rehearsing evacuation plans and ensuring readiness of control rooms.
• Activating communication links with the Indian Air Force (IAF).
• Implementing camouflaging techniques for critical infrastructure.
• Assessing the alertness of warden, rescue, and fire-fighting services.
• Coordinating agencies like NCC, NSS, NYKS, and civil defence volunteers.
• Reviewing shadow control room operations and disaster management coordination.

National Coordination and Oversight

Video Conference by Union Home Secretary

To ensure seamless implementation, Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan will chair a video conference with the Chief Secretaries of States on May 6, 2025, one day prior to the drill. The aim is to provide final operational guidance and ensure inter-state consistency in execution.

Locations and Categories: District-Wise Coverage

A total of 244 districts have been identified for participation. These have been classified into three categories based on strategic importance and threat perception:

Category I: High Priority Locations (13 districts)

These are high-risk zones, often housing critical infrastructure, military bases, border locations, or major urban centres.

Examples include:

• Delhi (including Cantonment area)
• Mumbai, Uran, and Tarapur in Maharashtra
• Ahmedabad, Surat, Jamnagar in Gujarat
• Anantnag, Pulwama, Baramulla, and Jammu in Jammu & Kashmir
• Port Blair (Andaman & Nicobar Islands)
• Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala)
• Chennai and Kalpakkam (Tamil Nadu)
• Hyderabad (Telangana & Andhra Pradesh)

These districts will undergo intensive drills, including blackouts, sirens, mass evacuations, and civilian response testing.

Category II: Medium Priority Locations (201 districts)

These districts may face moderate threats or house important public utilities and transportation hubs. Exercises here will focus on coordination testing, communication drills, and partial evacuation strategies.

Included are:

• Bharuch, Mehsana, and Kutch (Gujarat)
• Aurangabad, Bhusawal (Maharashtra)
• Golaghat, Karbi Anglong (Assam)
• Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara (Odisha)

Category III: Low Priority Locations (45 districts)

Although classified as low-risk, these districts will still participate in awareness drives and basic preparedness rehearsals.

Example:

• Bomdila (Arunachal Pradesh)
• Districts in remote Nagaland, Sikkim, and parts of Tripura

Participating Agencies and Support Mechanisms

Multiple government and volunteer agencies will be involved, ensuring a whole-of-society response. These include:

• State and District Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs/DDMAs)
• Fire & Rescue Services
• Police and Traffic Departments
• Hospitals and Health Departments
• Municipal bodies and Panchayats
• National Disaster Response Force (NDRF)
• Volunteers from Civil Defence, NCC, NSS, NYKS

Historical Context: First Such Drill Since 1971

This May 7, 2025 drill is being described as the first comprehensive nationwide civil defence exercise since the 1971 India-Pakistan War. The long hiatus underlines the growing urgency around internal security preparedness amid external threats and evolving warfare patterns.