Manipur and other Northeastern states to play a key role in nationwide civil defence preparedness exercise
TFM Report
In a significant move underscoring the strategic importance of key regions in India, a large-scale Civil Defence mock drill will be conducted on May 7, 2025, across all categorized Civil Defence towns and districts across the country and the Northeast region.
This initiative, reportedly directed by the Additional Director General (ADG), Civil Defence, under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), aims to test India’s preparedness against hostile threats. This is significant for border-sensitive zones like Manipur, Nagaland, and Meghalaya.
Manipur will see intensive civil defence activities in Imphal, Churachandpur, Ukhrul, Moreh, and Ningthou-Khong, all of which are sensitive due to the state’s proximity to the porous Indo-Myanmar border. Similarly, drills in Meghalaya, bordering Bangladesh, will take place in East Khasi Hills (Shillong), Jaintia Hills (Jowai), and West Garo Hills (Tura), while Mizoram (Aizawl) and Nagaland (Dimapur, Kohima, and other districts) are also part of the coordinated exercise.
This inclusion of the Northeast region comes against the backdrop of ongoing unrest in neighboring Myanmar and political instability in Bangladesh, which has led to cross-border concerns including refugee influx and the potential for militant activity. India’s increasing strategic apprehensions regarding China’s influence and infrastructure build-up across the border also adds a layer of urgency to ensure operational readiness in these frontier states.
According to sources based on the official circular, the mock drill has multiple key objectives:
- Testing the effectiveness of air raid warning systems.
- Operationalizing hotline/radio communication links with the Indian Air Force.
- Training civilians, students, and officials on civil defence protocols during hostile attacks.
- Evaluating functionality of control and shadow control rooms.
- Implementing crash blackout measures and camouflaging of vital installations.
- Verifying response times of warden services, firefighting units, rescue operations, and depots.
- Assessing evacuation preparedness and blackout implementation.
“All State/UT Civil Defence Directors have been directed to organize this exercise by involving all relevant stakeholders and share action taken reports with the Directorate,” reads the directive.
While the Northeast commands priority due to its geopolitical sensitivity, the mock drill will span the entire nation. For instance, Maharashtra, for instance, will have drills in 21 towns including Mumbai, Uran, Tarapur, Thane, Pune, Nashik, and Pimpri-Chinchwad. Karnataka’s urban and semi-urban regions like Bengaluru and Raichur, and Kerala’s cities including Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram are also involved. States like Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Lakshadweep (Kavaratti) are likewise participating in the synchronized operation.
The comprehensive drill reflects India’s broader security concerns and the government’s effort to bolster national resilience in an increasingly volatile global and regional environment. The Northeast’s readiness is especially crucial given its role as both a gateway and a guardpost in India’s eastern security architecture.