OPERATION SINDOOR AND CIVIL DEFENCE MOCK DRILL

Recently, the Indian Military initiated OPERATION SINDOOR, striking terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

About Operation Sindoor

• India launched Operation Sindoor in the early hours of May 7, 2025, targeting terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu & Kashmir (Pok).9 terrorist infrastructure sites linked to banned outfits like Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, and Hizbul Mujahideen were precisely struck.
• The Indian government clarified that no Pakistani military installations were targeted—only non-state terror elements.

Highlights of OPERATION SINDOOR

• Target: Nine terror-associated sites were attacked, including the offices of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) in Bahawalpur and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) in Muridke.
• Forces Used: A joint effort by the Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force.
• Method: Advanced precision strike weapon systems were employed, with attacks launched from Indian territory.
• Nature: The operation was termed “focused, measured, and non-escalatory,” with no Pakistani military installations attacked

Conclusion 

Operation Sindoor marks a significant shift in India’s approach to counter-terrorism. By targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pok, India has sent a strong message about its resolve to act against terror groups operating on its borders. However, the operation has also led to heightened tensions, with Pakistan responding militarily and claiming civilian casualties.

• International Concern: The international community has expressed concern over the rising tensions between India and Pakistan, urging both sides to de-escalate and engage in dialogue.
• US and UN Responses: The United States and the United Nations have urged restraint and called for peace to be maintained in the region.

Civil Defence Mock Drill

• The Ministry of Home Affairs has issued a notification instructing states to conduct mock drills to Evaluate Civil Defence Preparedness on 7th May 2025.
• The central government has given the advisory to many states, including Delhi, to conduct thorough mock drills to assess and improve the civil defence readiness in the wake of the Pahalgam Terror Attack that took place on 22nd April 2025 in Jammu and Kashmir. 
• These Mock Drills will help in evaluating the strengths, weaknesses and gaps in the current civil defence preparedness.

• A Civil Defence Mock Drill is a large-scale, state-supervised emergency response simulation designed to train civilians and officials in responding to wartime scenarios or disasters like aerial attacks and missile strikes. 
• It involves real-time simulations including blackouts, air raid sirens, camouflage operations, evacuation drills, and public awareness sessions.
• These activities are carried out under the Civil Defence Rules, 1968, ensuring systematic civil preparedness across India.
• Mock Drill in India means it is rooted in creating public readiness and testing the capabilities of emergency response systems. 
• The goal is to mitigate panic, streamline coordination, and protect civilian life in times of war-like emergencies.

Expect During the Mock Drill in India

The mock drill in India on 7 May 2025 will take place across designated Civil Defence Mock Drill districts, covering both urban and rural areas. 

According to the MHA’s circular, the event is expected to involve:

• Blackout simulations: Lights in specific areas will be switched off to replicate wartime conditions.
• Air raid sirens: Alert systems will be tested through the activation of sirens.
• Evacuation drills: Citizens will be moved from vulnerable zones to safe shelters.
• Camouflage exercises: Critical infrastructure such as power grids and communication hubs will undergo concealment training.
• Public awareness campaigns: Training sessions will be conducted in schools, colleges, and community centres.

War Mock Drill Participating Agencies

• The agencies participating in the War Mock Drill to be conducted on 7th May are: 
• State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs)
• District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs)
• Firefighting and rescue services
• Police forces
• Departments of health and hospitals
• Transportation departments
• Local administrations and municipalities
• National Disaster Response Force 

Objective

• Evaluate the effectiveness of the air raid warning system
• Implement and test hotline and radio communication with the Indian Air Force
• Assess the functioning of control rooms and shadow control rooms
• Train civilians and students in basic civil defence measures
• Deploy immediate crash blackout procedures
• Ensure early camouflage for critical infrastructure and installations
• Confirm the alertness and response of civil defence services, including firefighting and rescue teams
• Test the effectiveness of blackout measures

PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. Consider the following statements regarding the Civil Defence Mock Drill held on 7 May 2025:

1. The drill simulated conditions consistent with peacetime natural disasters, excluding wartime scenarios such as aerial or missile attacks.
2. Camouflage and blackout measures tested during the drill align with obligations under India’s adherence to the Geneva Conventions on civilian protection.
3. The participation of health departments and local administrations in the drill is governed by provisions under the Disaster Management Act, 2005.
4. The drill’s objectives include the operational coordination between civil agencies and the Indian Armed Forces during full-spectrum conflict situations.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2, 3, and 4 only
C. 1 and 3 only
D. 3 and 4 only

Answer: B. 2, 3, and 4 only

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is incorrect because the drill explicitly simulates wartime scenarios, including missile strikes.
• Statement 2 is correct: civil defence measures are expected to comply with international humanitarian law obligations.
• Statement 3 is correct: the Disaster Management Act, 2005, provides the legal framework for such coordinated civil responses.
• Statement 4 is correct: the drill aims to align civil-military coordination during high-conflict conditions.

Q. About Operation Sindoor, launched by India in May 2025, consider the following statements:

1. The operation involved airstrikes launched from both Indian and foreign territories to maximise precision and surprise.
2. Among the targets were the headquarters of banned terror groups located deep within Pakistani territory.
3. The operation marked the first-ever coordinated use of land, naval, and air forces by India for a cross-border anti-terror strike.
4. It was officially categorised by the Indian government as a “non-escalatory” response strictly against non-state actors.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 and 4 only
C. 1, 3, and 4 only
D. 2, 3, and 4 only

Correct Answer: B. 2 and 4 only

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is incorrect – All strikes were launched from Indian territory only.
• Statement 2 is correct – Targets included deep Pakistani sites like JeM’s base in Bahawalpur and LeT’s in Muridke.
• Statement 3 is incorrect – While joint force operations have happened before (e.g., Surgical Strikes, Balakot), this was not the first such coordinated use across Army, Navy, and Air Force.
• Statement 4 is correct – The operation was described as “focused, measured, and non-escalatory” and aimed solely at non-state actors.

MAINS PRACTICE QUESTION

Question: Civil Defence Mock Drills are no longer mere exercises in emergency response—they reflect a nation’s preparedness for hybrid threats.” In the context of the 2025 Civil Defence Mock Drill and Operation Sindoor, critically examine how evolving geopolitical tensions and internal threat perceptions are reshaping India’s national security and civil preparedness strategies. Also, discuss the limitations and ethical challenges of conducting such large-scale simulations. (250 Words. 15 Marks)