2025 India civil defence mock drill
| Date | 7 May 2025 |
|---|---|
| Location | 244 districts, India |
| Type | Nationwide civil defence exercise |
| Organised by | Ministry of Home Affairs National Disaster Management Authority |
The 2025 India civil defence mock drill, code-named Operation Abhyaas, was a nationwide emergency preparedness exercise that took place on 7 May 2025 across 244 districts in India. Organized by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and coordinated by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), the drill bolstered civilian readiness against potential hostile threats, particularly in response to escalating tensions with Pakistan following the Pahalgam attack on 22 April 2025, which resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians.
This large-scale exercise, the most extensive since the 1971 India-Pakistan war, involved activities such as air-raid siren tests, blackout simulations, evacuation drills, and public training sessions. Major cities including Delhi, Bombay, Madras, Calcutta, and Hyderabad participated, with specific measures like a 10-minute blackout in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, and drills at critical installations such as the Madras Atomic Power Station in Tamil Nadu.
In addition to these activities, Operation Abhyaas encompassed a wide array of coordinated efforts across various states to enhance emergency preparedness. In Delhi, the exercise took place at 55 locations spanning all 11 districts, with 60 air raid sirens activated at 4:00 PM to signal the commencement of the drill. This initiative mobilized thousands of personnel, including civil defence volunteers, police officers, and emergency responders, to simulate responses to potential hostile scenarios. Similarly, in Hyderabad, the mock drill occurred between 4:00 PM and 4:30 PM within the Outer Ring Road limits, engaging 12 civil defence services such as police, fire, rescue, medical, and municipal departments. Key sites—Secunderabad, Golconda Fort, Kanchan Bagh, and Nacharam—served as focal points, and citywide siren activations simulated air raid warnings.
The nationwide exercise also emphasized public awareness and participation. In Kerala, mock drills were conducted across all 14 districts, with the state government urging public cooperation and preparedness. Maharashtra saw extensive involvement, with drills in 16 cities—including Mumbai, Pune, and Nashik—extending down to the village level and involving civil defence volunteers, Home Guards, NCC, NSS, NYKS, as well as college and school students.