Special Meeting in Home Ministry Before 'War Mock Drill' on May 7, List of 244 Districts Released

In response to the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22, 2025, which resulted in the tragic loss of 26 lives, the Indian government has initiated a comprehensive nationwide civil defence exercise. Scheduled for May 7, 2025, this mock drill aims to bolster the country's preparedness for potential emergencies, including air raids and other security threats.

India vs Pakistan: Nationwide Civil Defence Drill on May 7, 2025

The Government of India will conduct a nationwide mock drill in 244 districts across the country on May 7. This is the first major mock drill since 1971. During the drill, blackouts and sirens will be sounded, which will signal people to move to safe places. See the full list of 244 districts below.

India-Pakistan Tension: Mock Drill in 244 Districts, Check State-wise List

The drill will involve various states and union territories, including Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Gujarat, Jammu & Kashmir, Odisha, Bihar, Assam, Jharkhand, Arunachal Pradesh, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Goa, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Meghalaya, and Manipur.

Rajasthan: The drill will encompass districts such as Rawat-Bhata, Ajmer, Alwar, Barmer, Bharatpur, Bikaner, Bundi, Ganganagar, Hanumangarh, Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Sikar, Suratgarh, Abu Road, Nasirabad (Ajmer), Bhiwari, Phulera (Jaipur), Nagaur (Merta Road), Jalore, Bewar (Ajmer), and Lalgarh (Ganganagar).

Uttar Pradesh: Key districts participating include Bulandshahr (Narora), Agra, Allahabad, Bareilly, Ghaziabad, Gorakhpur, Jhansi, Kanpur, Lucknow, Mathura, Meerut, Moradabad, Saharanpur, Varanasi, Bakshi-Ka-Talab, Mughal Sarai, Sarsawa, Bagpat, Muzaffarnagar, and Sarsawa.

Haryana: The drill will take place in Ambala, Hisar, Faridabad, Gurgaon, Panchkula, Panipat, Rohtak, Sirsa, Sonepat, Yamuna Nagar, and Jhajjar.

Gujarat: Participating districts include Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Jamnagar, Gandhinagar, Bhavnagar, Kakrapar, Kandla, Ankleshwar, Okha, Vadinar, Bharuch, Mehsana, Narmada, Navsari, and Valsad.

Jammu & Kashmir: The drill will cover Anantnag, Budgam, Baramulla, Doda, Jammu, Kargil, Kathua, Kupwara, Leh, Rajouri, Srinagar, Udhampur, Samba, Akhnoor, Uri, Nowshera, Avantipur, and Pulwama.

Odisha: Key districts include Talcher, Balasore, Koraput, Bhubaneswar, Gopalpur, Hirakud, Paradip, Rourkela, Bhadrak, Dhenkanal, Jagatsinghpur, and Kendrapara.

Bihar: The drill will be conducted in districts such as Katihar, Patna, Purnia, Begusarai, and Muzaffarpur.

Assam: Participating districts include Bongaigaon, Dibrugarh, Dhubri, Goalpara, Jorhat, Sibsagar, Tinsukia, Tezpur, Digboi, Duliajan, Guwahati (Dispur), Rangia, Naamrup, Nazira, North Lakhimpur, Numaligarh, Darrang, Golaghat, Barpeta, and Kokrajhar.

Jharkhand: The drill will take place in Bokaro, Dhanbad, Godda, Sahebganj, and Ranchi.

Arunachal Pradesh: Key districts include Itanagar, Tawang, Hayuliang, and Bhalukpong.

West Bengal: Participating districts include Cooch Behar, Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Durgapur, Greater Kolkata, Haldia, Hashimara, Kharagpur, Asansol, Farakka, Chittaranjan, Balurghat, Alipurduar, Islampur, Dinhata, Mekhliganj, Mathabhanga, Kalimpong, Jaldhaka, Kurseong, Kolaghat, Bardhaman, Birbhum, East Medinipur, Howrah, Hooghly, Murshidabad, and Nadia.

Madhya Pradesh: The drill will be conducted in Bhopal, Indore, Gwalior, Jabalpur, and Sehore.

Goa: The exercise will take place in North Goa and South Goa.

Maharashtra: Key districts include Mumbai, Tarapur, Thane, Pune, Nashik, Pimpri Chinchwad, Aurangabad, Bhusaval, Raigarh, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, and Lakshadweep.

Karnataka: The drill will be conducted in Bangalore, Malleshwar, and Raichur.

Kerala: Participating districts include Cochin and Thiruvananthapuram.

Meghalaya: Key districts include East Khasi Hills, Jaintia Hills, and West Garo Hills.

Manipur: The drill will take place in Imphal, Churachandpur, Ukhrul, Moreh, and Nganthou-khouang.

Apart from these, mock drills will be conducted in Chandigarh, Durg (Bhilai) of Chhattisgarh, Dadra (Silvassa) of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman of Daman and Diu, Puducherry, Shimla of Himachal Pradesh, Delhi (including New Delhi and Delhi Cantonment), Andaman-Nicobar Port Blair, Hyderabad of Andhra Pradesh, Visakhapatnam, Agartala of Tripura, Dehradun of Uttarakhand.

Civil Defence Mock Drill Timing State-wise

The Civil Defence Mock Drill in India will be conducted at different times across various states. In Tamil Nadu, the drill is scheduled for 4:00 pm on May 7, while in Sikkim, it will be held from 9:00 pm to 9:30 pm the same day. Chandigarh will observe the mock drill between 7:30 pm and 7:40 pm. In Manipur, the drill is planned for Wednesday at 4:00 pm. Delhi to conduct mock drill at 4pm at 55 sites. In Uttar Pradesh's several districts, a 10-minute blackout will take place from 8:00 pm to 8:10 pm on May 7, according to officials.

Home Ministry Special Meeting Before Mock Drill in India

7 May Mock Drill Live Update: A pivotal meeting took place at the Home Ministry on Tuesday a day before the mock drill. The key meeting chaired by Home Secretary Govind Mohan, involving Chief Secretaries and Civil Defence Chiefs, was held to discuss the upcoming drill, emphasizing the coordinated effort required across India's 244 Civil Defence Districts.

Understanding the Mock Drill's Importance

Mock drills play an instrumental role in ensuring that both the administrative framework and the general public are well-prepared for emergency scenarios, such as air strikes. The drills aim to instill a sense of urgency and readiness, ensuring that in the event of an actual threat, the response is swift and coordinated.

These districts, notably in border states like Rajasthan, Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir, West Bengal, and the Northeast, are slated to conduct drills that mimic multi-hazard scenarios, showcasing the nation's commitment to safeguarding its citizens against a backdrop of heightened security concerns.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has issued a directive for the execution of these mock drills, emphasizing the gravity of the current situation and the necessity for comprehensive preparedness. Amid these preparations, officials are urging households to equip themselves with essentials such as medical kits, torches, candles, and cash, preparing for any eventualities that might disrupt electronic systems. This advisory points to the seriousness with which the government views the potential for escalated conflicts, ensuring that civilians are not caught off-guard.

What Will Happen During the May 7 Mock Drills?

According to the government notice, the mock drills will include the following activities:

• Testing of Air Raid Sirens - Sirens will sound to simulate an air attack warning.
• Checking Emergency Communication - Special hotlines and radio links with the Indian Air Force will be tested.
• Running Emergency Control Rooms - Main and backup (shadow) control rooms will be activated and managed.
• Civil Defence Training - Civilians, students, and others will be trained on how to stay safe during an attack.
• Activating Civil Defence Services - Firefighting, rescue teams, wardens, and support staff will take part.
• Blackout Practice - Lights may be turned off temporarily to practice hiding from enemy observation.
• Camouflaging Important Sites - Key installations like power plants may be quickly covered to hide them.
• Updating Civil Defence Plans - Existing plans will be reviewed and practiced.
• Evacuation Rehearsals - Evacuation plans will be updated and people may practice moving to safe areas.
• Cleaning of Safety Shelters - Bunkers, trenches, and shelters will be cleaned and prepared for use.