The much-anticipated civil defence mock drills under the Centre’s ‘Operation Shield’ initiative, scheduled for May 29 across several border states, have been postponed due to administrative reasons, according to official statements issued late Wednesday.
The drills, designed to test emergency preparedness in the event of aerial attacks or war-like scenarios, were planned across Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Union Territory Chandigarh. These exercises aimed to simulate wartime scenarios including air raid warnings, rescue operations, and blackout protocols, testing both government systems and civilian response.
“According to the instructions of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, the Haryana Home Department announced the postponement of the comprehensive civil defence exercise, Operation Shield,” read an official statement by the Haryana Home Department, quoted by PTI.
In Haryana, the simulation was scheduled in 22 districts from 5 pm to 9 pm, but has now been deferred with no alternate date announced yet.
The Chandigarh Administration also issued a formal notice:
“As per the directions received from the Government of India, it is hereby informed that the civil defence exercise Operation Shield, which was planned for May 29, is hereby postponed due to administrative reasons. There will be no blackout or mock drill tomorrow,” the administration stated, as quoted by Outlook.
Punjab is the only state so far to declare a new date—June 3—for the postponed drills. Officials confirmed the state will conduct the full-scale simulation next week, focusing on district-level coordination and emergency services.
Rajasthan authorities confirmed the delay and assured that a new date will be announced soon, while Gujarat has not yet provided any update. There is also no official word from Jammu and Kashmir regarding any changes to its drill schedule.
These coordinated drills under ‘Operation Shield’ follow a similar nationwide simulation held earlier this month on May 6, hours before ‘Operation Sindoor’, where cities participated in brief readiness assessments.
Operation Shield is part of India's broader civil defence initiative aimed at enhancing readiness along volatile borders, especially amid ongoing tension with Pakistan. The simulations test key wartime protocols such as:
Air raid warning systems
Functionality of control rooms
Warden duties and rescue ops
Depot and logistics management
Blackout enforcement and evacuation plans
