On 7 May 2025, a national-level civil defence rehearsal took place across 244 officially designated Civil Defence districts. States and union territories had organised and overseen the large-scale mock drill exercise. It tests how quickly and effectively a civilian population can respond to an emergency — particularly during war-like situations such as missile strikes or aerial attacks. The drills simulate real-world scenarios: air raid sirens go off, lights in cities are switched off, civilians practice taking shelter and emergency services respond in real-time. The aim is to reduce panic, avoid chaos, and save lives.
This comes hours after India dropped missiles on alleged Pakistani terror sites to avenge the bloody attack on Indian tourists in Pahalgam, Kashmir on April 22. While the exercise was a serious affair, useful to institutions like the fire services and disaster response professionals, how far it will have an impact on the country’s security situation has to be analysed.
Mock drills have become common for the populace in the face of natural disasters. However blackouts and sirens are the first since the 1971 War. Blackouts are strategic manoeuvres during a war or war-like situations. Major cities, especially those very close to the border, and strategic locations like power plants, dams, government and defence buildings, etc., witness total blackouts during the night to shield them against enemy attack.
Things have changed since 1971. Technology has advanced as GPS and other navigational tools can enhance visibility to help with navigation in the dark. Modern fighter jets also have advanced GPS and their own built-in navigation systems. So, in today’s world of GPS and precision weapons what can blackouts or camouflaging really achieve?
During blackouts in the 1965 and 1971 wars, people were asked to switch off lights, and use lamps or candles below the window level. They were also asked to cover their windows so that no speck of light betrayed it to be a residential area. Reports said that people cover headlights with brown paper, sit glued to the radio through the night, hoarded scarce kerosene, and conduct mock drills while all street lights are switched off after the siren is sounded. Not in this century. Shillong saw the reality yesterday. Solar-powered lights and bulbs were dotting the city just like fireflies at rest. There was no complete blackout and therefore darkness doesn’t play as big a role in modern warfare as it once did.
However, experts say blackouts are more about psychological preparedness. It can keep an area safe in times of war and helps the civilians keep calm. Blackouts also encourage people to be disciplined, exercise caution, and abide by the guidelines issued by the authorities that no longer offer full protection.
