Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s planned civil defence mock drills, known as Operation Shield, intended to enhance emergency preparedness in several border states, have been postponed due to administrative reasons. States like Haryana, Rajasthan, and Punjab, along with the Union Territory of Chandigarh, were scheduled to conduct these drills to simulate responses to threats such as drone attacks and air raids amid heightened tensions with Pakistan. However, official announcements late Wednesday evening confirmed the postponement in most areas, while Punjab has rescheduled the drill for June 3 to accommodate ongoing training for its civil defence staff.
Postponement Announced in Haryana, Rajasthan, and Chandigarh
Haryana’s Home Department issued an official statement confirming the postponement of Operation Shield following instructions from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. The civil defence exercise was originally set for Thursday evening and aimed to conduct full-scale simulations, including evacuation drills, activation of air raid sirens, and mobilization of emergency response teams across all 22 districts. Chandigarh’s administration also confirmed there would be no blackout or mock drill on the scheduled date, citing directives from the central government. Similarly, Rajasthan, which had prepared to conduct the drill in all 41 of its districts—particularly sensitive border areas like Jaisalmer and Barmer—announced postponement with a new date to be announced soon.
Punjab’s Drill Rescheduled Due to NDRF Training
Punjab took a different path by proactively requesting a new date for the mock drill, as its civil defence personnel are currently engaged in training with the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). The central government agreed to this proposal, setting June 3 as the new date for Punjab’s Operation Shield exercise. Deputy commissioners in Punjab have been informed to prepare accordingly.
This postponement comes in the context of rising security concerns following Operation Sindoor, a recent Indian military campaign targeting terrorist camps in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. In response to the escalation of cross-border shelling and drone incursions, the Ministry of Home Affairs had directed vulnerable western border states and Union Territories to strengthen civil defence readiness. New dates for the postponed drills in Haryana, Rajasthan, and Chandigarh are expected to be announced shortly.
