Centre directs States to hold ‘civil defence’ drills, Pg1

• Union Home Ministry has directed States to conduct civil defence drills at the village level in 244 districts, focusing on preparedness for hostile attacks.
• Drills include air-raid sirens, blackout measures, evacuation plans, and camouflaging vital installations.
• States asked to clean and activate bunkers, particularly in border areas of Jammu & Kashmir and Punjab.

What is Civil Defence?

• Civil Defence refers to organized non-military efforts to protect citizens from military attacks or emergencies.
• It includes training civilians, mock drills, sheltering mechanisms, public warning systems, and disaster response coordination.
• Governed under the Civil Defence Act, 1968, updated post-2001 to include responses to natural and man-made disasters.

Background Context:

• Follows the Pahalgam terror attack (April 22) and increased Indo-Pakistan tensions.
• India has opened Chenab dam ahead of schedule — a rare hydro-political step tied to the Indus Waters Treaty, signaling strategic posturing.

Scientific/Technical Concepts Involved:

• Crash Blackout: A defence tactic of switching off all lights to obscure target visibility from air strikes.
• Air-Raid Sirens: Warning systems emitting loud tones to signal immediate danger from air attacks.
• Camouflaging: Military-grade masking of infrastructure using material or positioning to reduce visibility from satellites or drones.

Significance:

• Reinforces the passive defence strategy vital for national resilience in times of cross-border conflict.
• Prepares border states and civilians for emerging threats, especially where hybrid warfare and terror threats intersect.
• Highlights the evolving interplay between civil administration and defence mechanisms during crisis.

Mains Mock Question:

"Discuss the importance of civil defence mechanisms in strengthening India’s internal security framework. How do such drills contribute to strategic preparedness at the grassroots level?"