New Delhi, 23 October 2026: In a first-of-its-kind joint initiative, the Ministry of Home Affairs, through the Directorate General of Fire Services, Civil Defence and Home Guards (DGFSCDHG), in coordination with the Indian Army, has launched a pilot programme to train 600 Civil Defence Master Trainers. These instructors will, in turn, prepare 60,000 Civil Defence volunteers across 12 States and Union Territories, significantly strengthening India’s civil defence preparedness against emerging security threats and emergencies.
The initiative aligns with the vision articulated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Independence Day address from the Red Fort on 15 August 2026, in which he called for building a vibrant Civil Defence network equipped with modern systems, technologies and contemporary preparedness capabilities.
In the first phase, 50 Master Trainers from each of the participating jurisdictions will undergo a three-day specialised training programme at designated Indian Army training establishments. The training is scheduled to be completed by the second week of November 2026. The 12 participating States and Union Territories are Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Delhi, Meghalaya, Sikkim, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
The curriculum is structured around three broad areas:
- Threat Awareness: Modern and hybrid warfare, drone awareness and air-raid threats.
- Protection and Emergency Response: Critical infrastructure protection, fire safety, Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) awareness, casualty management, and search and rescue.
- Communication and Coordination: Emergency communication, cyber hygiene, digital resilience, civil-military coordination and incident command.
A defining feature of the programme is its cascading Master Trainer model. After completing the Army-led training, each of the 600 Master Trainers will train 100 Civil Defence volunteers in their respective State or Union Territory. According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, “This cascading mechanism has the potential to extend specialised preparedness skills to 60,000 Civil Defence Volunteers across the 12 participating States/UTs, thereby significantly expanding the reach and impact of the initiative.”
The programme seeks to enhance the ability of Civil Defence personnel to respond effectively to contemporary security threats, hostile situations and emergencies. By combining the Indian Army’s operational expertise with the existing Civil Defence volunteer network, it aims to strengthen civil-military coordination and institutional preparedness. Outcomes of the pilot phase will guide the planned expansion of the initiative to the remaining States and Union Territories in a phased manner, furthering the goal of a robust, responsive and future-ready Civil Defence network.
The announcement was issued by the Press Information Bureau on 23 October 2026. Multiple media outlets have reported the details based on the official statement, confirming the pilot scope, training timeline, curriculum focus areas and the projected reach of 60,000 volunteers.
This initiative marks a significant step in modernising India’s civil defence architecture to address hybrid threats, technological challenges and large-scale emergency response requirements.
