**Summary:**
On July 29, 2025, the Ministry of Home Affairs addressed Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1501 regarding Civil Defence Mock Drill Operation Abhyaas. Shri Nityanand Rai, Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs, provided the response.
Operation Abhyaas was conducted on May 7, 2025, under Section 19 of the Civil Defence Rules 1968, to enhance civil defence preparedness. The exercise encompassed 400 districts nationwide, including 244 categorized Civil Defence Districts and 156 non-categorized districts. Approximately 2.3 million warden volunteers and other stakeholders participated. Key activities included activating air raid early warning circuits with the Indian Air Force and implementing complete blackout measures.
Specific measures undertaken during the exercise included:
* Operationalizing communication links between the Indian Air Force and Civil Defence Control Rooms.
* Activating Civil Defence Air Raid Early Warning Sirens.
* Evacuating civilians to safe zones and providing assistance to the injured.
* Activating 12 Civil Defence services.
* Maintaining bunkers, trenches, and air raid shelters.
The exercise targeted Critical Civilian Infrastructure such as Nuclear Power Plants, Thermal Plants, Civil Airports, Military Cantonments, Railway Stations, Dams, Oil & Gas Refineries, Ordinance Factories, Chemical facilities, Vital Plants and Installations, critical Government Buildings, Schools/Colleges, Residents Welfare Associations, and Commercial places.
A second Civil Defence Exercise, Operation Shield, was conducted on May 31, 2025, in 140 districts of States/UTs bordering the western international border. Future exercises will be based on operational requirements.
Key lessons and action points identified from Operation Abhyaas include the modernization of the Air Raid Warning System, enhanced training and capacity building for Civil Defence volunteers, enrollment of volunteers from diverse backgrounds, and community awareness initiatives.
Key Entities Referenced
Civil Defence Rules 1968: A set of rules under which the Civil Defence Mock Exercise Operation Abhyaas was conducted as per Section 19.
Operation Abhyaas: A Civil Defence Mock Exercise conducted to augment the civil defence preparedness of the civil administration.
Indian Air Force: Worked with civil defence control rooms to operationalize communication links and took air raid early warning circuits during the exercise.
Operation Shield: A Civil Defence Exercise conducted in 140 districts of States/UT, adjoining western international border.
SHRI NITYANAND RAI: Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs who provided the answer to the question.
Nuclear power Plants: Critical Civilian Infrastructure where the exercise was carried out.
Civil Defence Districts: Categorized districts where the Civil Defence Mock Exercise Operation Abhyaas was conducted.
Ministry of Home Affairs: The government ministry responsible for civil defence and internal security.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1501
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 29TH JULY, 2025/ SRAVANA 7, 1947 (SAKA)
CIVIL DEFENCE MOCK DRILL ‘OPERATION ABHYAAS’
1501. DR. MALLU RAVI:
Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) the details of mock drill conducted across 244 districts across the
country;
(b) the key lessons and action points identified from the said mock drill; and
(c) whether there are any plans for similar exercises in future?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
(SHRI NITYANAND RAI)
(a) to (c): The Civil Defence Mock Exercise “Operation Abhyaas” was
conducted on 07.05.2025 under Section 19 of the Civil Defence Rules 1968
to augment the civil defence preparedness of the civil administration. The
exercise was conducted in 400 districts including the 244 categorized Civil
Defence Districts and 156 non-categorized districts across the country.
About Twenty-three Lakhs Warden/Volunteers & others stakeholders
participated in exercise. During the exercise, air raid early warning circuits
with Indian Air Force were taken and complete blackout measures were
undertaken.-2-
L.S.US.Q.NO. 1501 FOR 29.07.2025
Following measures were undertaken during the exercise: -
a) Operationalizing the communication links between Indian Air
Force and Civil Defence Control rooms
b) Activation of Civil Defence Air Raid Early Warning Sirens.
c) Evacuation of civilians to safe zones, injured, etc.
d) Activation of 12 services of Civil Defence
e) Maintenance of bunkers /trenches /air raid shelters, etc.
The exercise was carried out at Critical Civilian Infrastructure like Nuclear
power Plants, Thermal Plants, Civil Airports, Military Cantonments, Railways
Stations, Dams, Oil & Gas Refineries, Ordinance Factories, Chemical
facilities, Vital Plants and Installations, critical Government Buildings,
School/Colleges, Residents’ Welfare Associations and Commercial places,
etc.
Second Civil Defence Exercise “Operation Shield” was conducted on
31.05.2025 in the 140 districts of the States/UT, adjoining western
international border. Conducting further exercise would be based on
operational requirements.-3-
L.S.US.Q.NO. 1501 FOR 29.07.2025
Key lessons and action points identified from Operation Abhyaas included
modernization of Air Raid Warning System, training and capacity building of
Civil Defence volunteers, enrolment of volunteers from diverse background
as well as community awareness drives.
******