Centre readying guidelines for future civil defence drills

The civil defence drills held across the country at the peak of the India-Pakistani hostilities were conducted in a “slapdash manner” and the government is now in the process of preparing guidelines that will be applicable across states in similar eventuality, an official circular has said.

- Prawesh Lama

The internal circular, issued by the directorate general, civil defence, fire services and home guards (DGFSCDHG) June 26, noted that there are no standard guidelines available for such exercises and the “existing ones were old, vintage and needed immediate review".

The DGFSCDHG, under the Union home ministry, is the nodal body responsible for carrying out drills nationwide.

“Civil defence exercises, Operation Abhyaas and Operation Shield, were carried out and itis observed that standard guidelines for conduct of civil defence exercises are not available and states were doing the exercise in