Syllabus: 

GS3: Role of External State and Non-state Actors in Creating Challenges to Internal Security.

Context: 

Recently, India commenced civil defence drills to boost preparedness amid rising India-Pakistan tensions after the Pahalgam attack.

More on the News

• Cities and districts across India are participating in civil defence activities under the name Operation Abhyas.
• The exercise aims to assess and enhance civil defence and emergency response in key districts, focusing on air raid alerts, control rooms, crisis communication, evacuation plans, and blackout protocols. 
• It seeks to prevent panic during emergencies and identify gaps in infrastructure or capacity to strengthen national defence.
• The last time civil defence drills were held in the country was in 1971, ahead of the India-Pakistan war.

What is Civil Defence?

Civil Defence involves non-combat measures to protect people and property from hostile attacks by land, air, or sea, and to reduce their impact.

• These actions, taken before, during, or after an attack, focus on public safety and restoring vital services, mainly in key areas and critical infrastructure.

As per the 2011 civil defence guidelines, building shelters, mass camouflage, or large-scale evacuations are generally discouraged.

• Bunker construction should be planned, with evacuation schemes focused on border areas as directed by the Centre.
• Factories should prioritize repair and recovery over costly protections, and blackout measures must be prepared.

Measures for Civil Defence

The Ministry of Home Affairs formulates and oversees Civil Defence policy.

• Civil defence measures extend peacetime government functions to suit war-like conditions, with responsibilities aligned to each Ministry's regular duties.

Civil Defence and Home Guards have been described as twin voluntary organisations dedicated to the defence of the common man.

• The Civil Defence Corps is largely built of volunteers, with a core set of paid staff, which is increased during emergencies.

A Civil Defence Day is observed on December 6 every year to highlight the importance of civil defence and its importance for any national emergency or war.

A National Civil Defence College has been established in Nagpur while multiple State civil defence training institutes exist. 

Laws for Civil Defence

The Civil Defence Act 1968: 

• The Act applies across India and provides for non-combat measures to protect people, property, and places from hostile attacks by air, land, sea, or otherwise, and to reduce their impact before, during, or after such attacks. 
• It authorized the raising of the Civil Defence Corps and for making rules and regulations for civil defence.

• The corps is only raised in areas which are considered strategically important or vulnerable to enemies.
• The Act was amended in 2009 to expand the Civil Defence Corps' role to include disaster management for both natural and man-made calamities, such as earthquakes, fires, terrorist attacks, and war.

The Defence of India Act 1971: The Act provides for special measures to ensure the public safety and interest, the defence of India and civil defence and for the trial of certain offences and for matters connected therewith. 

Mains Question:

Q. Discuss the importance of civil defence during wartime. How does it contribute to the protection of civilians and critical infrastructure, and what role does it play in maintaining national resilience?