New Delhi, May 31 — In a major move aimed at fortifying national security and enhancing civil preparedness, the Government of India will conduct extensive civil defence mock drills under the banner of ‘Operation Shield’ on Saturday, June 1, across multiple border states and Union Territories.
The exercises, rescheduled from May 29 due to administrative reasons, will commence at 5:00 p.m. and cover strategically sensitive regions in Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, and Chandigarh — areas deemed most vulnerable to potential cross-border threats from Pakistan.
According to an official statement issued on May 29, the drills are designed to simulate high-tension hostile scenarios, such as air raid alerts, blackout protocols, and emergency response operations. The objective is to evaluate and enhance the preparedness of civil authorities, first responders, and residents living near the Line of Control (LoC) and the International Border (IB).
“Operation Shield is critical for addressing key security gaps identified during the nationwide mock drill held on May 7,” the release stated, adding that the current exercise will focus specifically on border-adjacent high-risk districts.
In Punjab, complete blackouts will be enforced in designated civilian zones, with exceptions granted to hospitals and emergency services. Air raid sirens will be sounded to simulate attack warnings, and coordinated emergency responses will be launched by local agencies to assess the effectiveness of existing defence protocols.
Officials noted that the May 7 drill highlighted several operational deficiencies, particularly in inter-agency coordination and public awareness, which this follow-up operation aims to address. The current initiative is expected to act as a stress test for local systems, helping authorities better understand and improve their crisis response mechanisms.
“These drills are essential not only for improving tactical preparedness but also for building a culture of alertness and cooperation among citizens and emergency responders,” said a senior official from the Ministry of Home Affairs.
As regional security dynamics continue to evolve, particularly along India’s western front, Operation Shield reflects the government’s proactive stance in ensuring that civil defence systems remain robust, responsive, and well-integrated with national security objectives.
