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{{Short description|2025 security exercise}}{{Infobox event
| title = 2025 India civil defence mock drill
| image =
| caption =
| date = 7 May 2025
| location = 244 districts, India
| type = Nationwide civil defence exercise
| organisers = Ministry of Home Affairs<br/>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 (India)|Ministry of Home Affairs]] (MHA) and coordinated by the [[National Disaster Management Authority (India)|National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)]], the drill bolstered civilian readiness against potential hostile threats, particularly in response to escalating tensions with [[Pakistan]] following the [[2025 Pahalgam attack|Pahalgam attack]] on 22 April 2025, which resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians.<ref name=toi>{{cite news |work=Times of India |title=Mock drill in India Live: Sirens blare, people evacuated as Delhi conducts mega mock drills at 55 locations |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/mock-drill-in-india-on-7-may-live-updates-civil-defence-blackout-operation-abhyaas-time-bihar-delhi-india-pakistan-tensions/liveblog/120941521.cms |access-date=8 May 2025}}</ref>

This large-scale exercise, the most extensive since the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971|1971 India-Pakistan war]], involved activities such as [[Civil defense siren|air-raid siren]] tests, blackout simulations, evacuation drills, and public training sessions. Major cities including [[Delhi]], [[Mumbai]], [[Chennai]], [[Kolkata]], and [[Hyderabad]] participated, with specific measures like a 10-minute blackout in [[Bareilly College|Bareilly]], Uttar Pradesh, and drills at critical installations such as the [[Madras Atomic Power Station]] in Tamil Nadu.<ref>{{cite news |date=6 May 2025 |title=Mock Drill in India: Blackouts and air raid sirens – how Delhi, Lucknow, other cities are gearing up for May 7 exercise |url=https://www.livemint.com/news/india/mock-drill-in-india-blackouts-air-raid-sirens-how-delhi-lucknow-other-cities-are-gearing-up-for-may-7-exercise-11746515297001.html |access-date=7 May 2025 |website=Mint}}</ref>

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.<ref name=ie>{{cite news |work=The Indian Express |title=Mock drills at six places in Pune under Operation Abhyaas |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/pune/mock-drill-siren-bombing-op-abhyaas-9989134/ |access-date=8 May 2025}}</ref> Similarly, in [[Hyderabad Metro|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.<ref name=et>{{cite news |work=The Economic Times |title=Mock drill conducted as part of 'Operation Abhyaas' in Bengaluru |url=https://m.economictimes.com/news/india/mock-drill-conducted-as-part-of-operation-abhyaas-in-bengaluru/articleshow/120970353.cms |access-date=8 May 2025}}</ref>

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.<ref name=toi2>{{cite news |work=Times of India |title=Security Drill in India Live Updates: Civil defence drills simulating multiple hostile scenarios conducted across country |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/mock-drill-in-india-on-7-may-live-updates-civil-defence-blackout-operation-abhyaas-time-bihar-delhi-india-pakistan-tensions/liveblog/120941521.cms |access-date=8 May 2025}}</ref> [[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]], [[National Cadet Corps (India)|NCC]], [[National Service Scheme|NSS]], [[Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan|NYKS]], as well as college and school students.<ref name=ba>{{cite news |title=Blackout alert: Parts of Delhi to go dark 8–8:15 pm for mega civil defence exercise |url=https://www.businesstoday.in/india/story/blackout-alert-parts-of-delhi-to-go-dark-8-815-pm-for-mega-civil-defence-exercise-475175-2025-05-07 |access-date=8 May 2025}}</ref>

== Background ==

=== Escalating tensions following the Pahalgam terror attack ===
On 22 April 2025, a devastating terrorist attack occurred in the Baisaran Valley near [[Pahalgam]], [[Anantnag]] district, in Indian-administered [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]]. Five militants armed with M4 carbines and AK-47s targeted a group of tourists, resulting in 26 fatalities and 17 injuries. The victims were primarily Hindu tourists, though a Christian tourist and a local Muslim were also among the casualties. The assailants, who wore military-style uniforms, separated the tourists based on their religion before opening fire. This incident was the deadliest attack on civilians in India since the [[2008 Mumbai attacks]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Attack on tourists kills 26 in Indian-administered Kashmir: Police |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/4/22/gunmen-open-fire-on-tourists-in-indian-administered-kashmir |access-date=6 May 2025 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en}}</ref>

[[The Resistance Front]] (TRF), an offshoot of the [[Lashkar-e-Taiba]], initially claimed responsibility for the attack, citing opposition to non-local settlement in the region, but retracted their claim shortly thereafter. [[India]] accused [[Pakistan]] of supporting cross-border terrorism, a charge [[Islamabad]] denied. In response, India suspended the [[Indus Waters Treaty]], expelled Pakistani diplomats, and closed borders and airspace. Pakistan retaliated by suspending the [[Simla Agreement]], restricting trade, and [[2025 Pakistani airspace closure|closing its airspace]] to Indian airlines. Minor exchanges of fire were reported along the [[Line of Control]], and both nations conducted missile test firings.<ref>{{Cite web |date=5 May 2025 |title=India and Pakistan face off over Kashmir attack. Here's where the rivals stand |url=https://apnews.com/article/india-pakistan-kashmir-explainer-8594b9e7694e0f3c6b4795e232d01cd9 |access-date=6 May 2025 |website=AP News |language=en}}</ref>

=== National Security Measures and Civil Defence Preparedness ===
In the wake of the Pahalgam attack, India initiated a series of national security measures to prepare for potential escalation. The Ministry of Home Affairs announced the nationwide emergency preparedness drill, code-named Operation Abhyaas, for 7 May 2025. This exercise aimed to strengthen India's readiness in the face of new and complex threats arising from heightened tensions with Pakistan.<ref>{{cite web |date=6 May 2025 |title=Mock drill in India on 7 May Live: Delhi boosts security, Bihar on high alert; States gear up for ‘Operation Abhyaas’ |url=https://www.livemint.com/news/mock-drill-in-india-on-7th-may-live-updates-civil-defense-list-of-district-cities-tomorrow-india-pakistan-tension-11746536712028.html |access-date=7 May 2025 |website=Mint}}</ref>

The drill spanned 244 districts and included testing air raid sirens, readying bomb shelters, simulating blackouts, and training civilians in emergency response procedures. The Ministry of Home Affairs coordinated with various state and local agencies to ensure effective implementation. [[Prime Minister Narendra Modi]] and top security officials held high-level meetings to assess the situation and formulate appropriate countermeasures.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Amrit Dhillon |date=6 May 2025 |title=Drills across India as country prepares for possible war with Pakistan |url=https://www.thetimes.com/world/asia/article/india-mock-drill-pakistan-conflict-vfnvvj7n3?region=global |access-date=6 May 2025 |website=www.thetimes.com |language=en}}</ref>

== Outcome ==
Operation Abhyaas was successfully executed across all 244 designated civil defence districts, testing air raid sirens, blackout simulations, evacuation drills, and public training exercises.<ref name=toi/>

* In Delhi, 60 air raid sirens were activated across 55 locations, prompting coordinated evacuation rehearsals at landmarks such as Khan Market, Select Citywalk Mall, Chandni Chowk, and the NDMC building, with participation from over 1,000 personnel including police, civil defence volunteers, and emergency responders.<ref>{{cite news |work=The Indian Express |title=Mock Drill in India Live Updates: Air raid sirens to blackouts seen nationwide as India holds civil defence drills day after Op Sindoor |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/mock-drill-in-india-live-updates-9988219/ |access-date=8 May 2025}}</ref>
* In Pune, simulated bombing scenarios at six sites tested search-and-rescue coordination, casualty evacuation, and fire suppression operations, successfully assessing control room and communication link readiness.<ref name=ie/>
* In Bengaluru, the Karnataka State Fire and Emergency Services, together with civil defence and medical teams, demonstrated coordinated rescue and medical aid procedures at the Fire and Emergency Services campus, simulating emergency casualty management.<ref name=et/>
* In Assam, mock drills conducted at 18 locations across 14 civil defence districts were concluded within half an hour, with Home Guard and Civil Defence Inspector General Arabinda Kalita noting successful testing of rescue capabilities and monitoring of time-bound operational parameters.<ref name=toi2/>

A 15-minute scheduled blackout in Delhi's NDMC area—from 8:00 PM to 8:15 PM—was executed smoothly, with power restored promptly and no major public complaints reported.<ref name=ba/>

== See also ==
* [[Civil defense]]
* [[National Disaster Response Force]]
* [[National Institute of Disaster Management (India)]]
* [[2025 Pahalgam attack]]
* [[2025 India–Pakistan standoff]]
* [[Exercise TROPEX]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:May 2025 in India]]
[[Category:Emergency management in India]]
[[Category:Military exercises involving India]]
[[Category:Civil defense]]
[[Category:India–Pakistan relations]]

2025 India civil defence mock drill - Revision history

imported>HTDCourtney at 15:42, 4 July 2025