The civil defence exercise scheduled for May 29 in Rajasthan and Gujarat has been postponed due to administrative reasons, according to official statements from the respective state governments. Fresh dates for the exercise will be announced later.
The postponed drill was part of ‘Operation Shield’, a nationwide emergency preparedness initiative launched by the Ministry of Home Affairs. The exercise was intended to be held in border states including Gujarat, Punjab, Haryana, and the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir.
Despite the deferral in two states, Haryana will conduct the exercise as planned across all 22 districts between 5 PM and 9 PM on May 29. The drill aims to enhance emergency response mechanisms and civil preparedness in the face of aerial threats and wartime-like scenarios.
Key features of the Haryana drill include:
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Simulation of air raids and drone attacks
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Activation of air raid sirens
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Testing of control room hotlines with the Indian Air Force
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A 15-minute blackout near critical installations at 8 PM, excluding essential services such as hospitals, police stations, and fire services.
The initiative follows the first nationwide civil defence drill conducted on May 7, just ahead of Operation Sindoor, during which the Home Ministry directed 244 districts to implement blackouts, evacuation drills, and public awareness sessions.
The Directorate General of Fire Services, Civil Defence & Home Guards, which operates under the Home Ministry, had earlier flagged critical gaps in civil defence readiness across vulnerable districts. ‘Operation Shield’ is aimed at addressing these gaps and strengthening national resilience against emergencies.
