Operation Shield: Border States Conduct Civil Defence Drill Today Amid Security Push

By A Staff Reporter

New Delhi, May 31 — In a sweeping move to bolster national preparedness, the Union Home Ministry has announced the launch of Operation Shield, a major civil defence mock drill scheduled for today, May 31, from 5 PM onwards. The exercise will be conducted across all districts in Indian states and Union Territories that share a border with Pakistan — including Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, and Chandigarh.

The high-alert exercise, postponed from its original May 29 date due to administrative reasons, is part of a broader initiative to test and improve India’s civil defence systems in light of emerging cross-border threats. According to a government press release, the drills will simulate a range of emergency scenarios, such as aerial attacks, drone intrusions, missile strikes, and mass civilian evacuations.

The exercise will also include general and silent recall of civil defence volunteers, emergency communication rehearsals, and coordination drills among local authorities. It follows the first round of exercises held on May 7 — the same day India executed Operation Sindoor, a retaliatory strike targeting nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in response to the deadly Pahalgam terrorist attack that claimed 26 lives.

From May 7 to 10, India witnessed a spike in military tensions, including Pakistani artillery shelling and attempted drone and missile incursions along the International Border and Line of Control (LoC). This volatile backdrop has prompted officials to reassess civil readiness and correct vulnerabilities identified during the initial drills.

“Several shortcomings were observed in the previous exercise,” the ministry’s May 29 statement noted, adding that Operation Shield aims to “fill the critical gaps and augment Civil Defence preparedness against hostile attacks.”