The civil defence mock drill ‘Operation Shield’, initially scheduled for May 29 in Rajasthan, Gujarat and Chandigarh, has been postponed due to administrative reasons, according to official statements from both state governments. The Rajasthan state home department and the Gujarat information department confirmed that revised dates for the exercise will be announced later.
Also Read: ‘Operation Shield’: Mock Drill in 4 States and 2 UTs Tomorrow Amid Tensions With Pakistan
‘Operation Shield’ is part of a nationwide civil defence initiative aimed at boosting emergency preparedness, particularly in border states. The Ministry of Home Affairs had planned the latest round of drills to be conducted in Gujarat, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Jammu & Kashmir, all bordering Pakistan. The exercise is designed to simulate wartime scenarios, including air raids, drone attacks, blackouts, and civilian evacuation protocols.
The first of these exercises was conducted on May 7, just hours before the launch of Operation Sindoor, India’s strategic military campaign. That nationwide drill spanned 244 districts and revealed key gaps in civil defence readiness, prompting the government to intensify training and public awareness efforts in high-risk areas.
Haryana has announced it will proceed with Operation Shield as planned on Thursday, May 29. The mock drill will be held from 5 pm to 9 pm across all 22 districts of the state. It includes responses to aerial threats, activation of air raid sirens, communication drills with Indian Air Force control rooms, and a 15-minute controlled blackout near vital installations from 8 pm, excluding essential services such as hospitals, fire stations, and police units.
The Directorate General of Fire Services, Civil Defence and Home Guards, which oversees the exercises under the Ministry of Home Affairs, has emphasized the importance of such drills in preparing the civilian population for emergency situations. The recent postponements come at a time when civil defence infrastructure in the western states is under increasing scrutiny amid regional tensions and growing threats from drone and missile incursions.
