Amid the ongoing tension between India and Pakistan, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Government of India (GoI) will conduct a mock drill on 7th May 2025. This is the first time since 1971, when India was in war with Pakistan and created Bangladesh. The union directs the states and union territories to ready for a civil defense mock drill tomorrow. The Centre also advised them not to create any havoc among the citizens; this is just for preparedness.

The MHA has commanded 244 districts to conduct the drill, which will include blackout simulations, air raid sirens, evacuation drills, and public training sessions to prepare for war like situations.

List of 244 districts;

The mock drill of 7th May;

• The drill is conducted in the official notified civil defence districts
• The participants are; Civil Defence wardens, Home Guards, National Cadet Corps (NCC), National Service Scheme (NSS) volunteers, Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS) members, and students from schools and colleges
• Areas may witness a power cut, blackout, or internet shut down
• Loud sirens and restriction of some public areas
• Traffic may also be diverted in some areas

Activities of mock drill;

• Blackout: Areas will switch off the lights to reduce visibility during the wars. This protects the cities from air strikes at night.
• Air raid sirens: Their activation will test the public alert system. This is a warning siren in case of any aerial threat.
• Training sessions: Schools, colleges, offices, and community centres organize awareness sessions. These will help the civilians how to find shelter, use basic first aid, and be positive during emergencies.
• Evacuation Drills: Authorities conduct evacuations from risk prone areas to safer locations. These drills help in identifying the logistical issues and improve response time.
• Camouflage Exercises: Communication towers, power plants, hospitals, military areas, hotels, & important buildings will undergo camouflage operations to test camouflage strategies from aerial or satellite monitoring.

Things to remember in a mock drill;

• Stay relax and follow the instructions given by the authorities
• You always have sufficient water, flashlights, & medicines
• Stay away from rumors on social media and do not share them until there is any verified news from the authorities itself
• Keep calm during blackout and internet shut down
• Only focuses on authentic news not on any spread rumors

What is a mock drill?

The purpose of a mock drill is to test the readiness of government and civilian systems in the event of a conflict, missile attack, or aerial assault. Air raid sirens sound, city lights are switched off, citizens rehearse sheltering techniques, and emergency personnel work in real time as the exercises replicate real-life situations. By raising knowledge and preparedness, these exercises seek to prevent confusion, lessen fear, and save lives.