Civil Defence under the Civil Defence Act, 1968

News: Amidst heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued instructions to all states and UTs to conduct a Civil Defence Mock Drill on May 7, 2025. Civil Defence under the Civil Defence Act, 1968.

About Civil Defence

• Civil defence (or civil protection) refers to organized government efforts aimed at protecting civilians during emergencies—be it war, terrorism, natural disasters, or accidents.
• It involves key emergency operations such as: Prevention, Mitigation, Preparedness, Response, Evacuation and Recovery
• In India, civil defence units are designed to protect people and infrastructure from hostile attacks or disasters.
• It is governed by the Civil Defence Act, 1968, later amended in 2009 to incorporate disaster management functions.
• It was initially developed under the Emergency Relief Organisation (ERO) during the 1962 Indo-China War and formalized after the 1965 Indo-Pak conflict.
• Civil defence responsibilities now cover: Traditional wartime roles, Natural and man-made disasters and assistance in emergencies before official agencies arrive
• Civil defence primarily relies on volunteers, with a minimal permanent staff nucleus. Volunteers come from various walks of life and undergo formal training.
• Though the Act applies nationwide, civil defence units are set up in strategically sensitive locations, especially areas prone to enemy attacks or hosting critical infrastructure.
• These include areas with: Nuclear plants, Refineries, Military bases and hydroelectric dams
• These drills are essential to: Enhance public awareness, train volunteers and residents in emergency protocols, evaluate coordination among civil and emergency services and ensure operational readiness of bunkers, sirens, and evacuation plans