India is bracing itself for a large-scale civil defence drill on May 7, 2025, spanning 244 districts across all states and union territories. The timing comes on the heels of a devastating terror strike in Pahalgam that took 26 innocent lives. While officially termed a “drill,” the exercise reveals a deeper resolve showing India is not just shoring up its military preparedness but mobilising its civilian infrastructure for crisis response.
Thus, this drill is a strategic move, reflecting a shift in India’s approach to national security where citizens play a central role in facing modern threats.
What Will Happen on May 7 – Sirens, Darkness, and Drills
According to a circular issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs on May 2, this civil defence drill falls under the ambit of the Civil Defence Rules, 1968. The goal is to gauge and enhance civilian response capabilities in the event of wartime scenarios, particularly missile or air attacks.
Here’s what’s in store:
Air Raid Alerts in High-Risk Areas
Citizens in sensitive zones will hear the wail of air raid sirens, an auditory warning system meant to mimic real-time alerts during aerial strikes. The goal is to condition communities to respond swiftly and decisively in the face of airborne threats.
City-Wide Blackouts
Urban centres will experience planned power blackouts, an effort to simulate wartime darkness, reducing visibility for potential night-time attackers. The last time India used such tactics was during the 1971 war with Pakistan.
Mass Training and Awareness Sessions
Educational institutions, government bodies, and public spaces will host training sessions focusing on basic survival skills such as seeking cover, offering first aid, and maintaining mental resilience during high-stress situations.
Strategic Camouflage Exercises
Critical infrastructure like military facilities, telecom towers, and power grids will undergo visual concealment drills. These are aimed at making them less detectable from enemy satellites or surveillance drones.
Evacuation Practice in Vulnerable Areas
Mock evacuations will test the logistical readiness of local administrations. Populations in designated danger zones will be moved to safety, allowing authorities to assess real-time coordination under stress.
A Collective Effort Spanning Age, Geography, and Occupation
This initiative brings together a wide swath of Indian society, from district officers and home guards to student volunteers, NCC cadets, and civil defence personnel. It is a comprehensive mobilisation designed to instil a culture of readiness.
Not Just Nostalgia, Why these Drills Are Crucial?
While reminiscent of Cold War-era defence protocols, the relevance of such drills has grown in a world beset by hybrid warfare – cyberattacks, drone incursions, and precision strikes are now realities. Civilians are no longer mere spectators; they’re on the frontlines too.
Pahalgam Attack, The Catalyst
The drill’s urgency was undoubtedly catalysed by the Pahalgam attack, which shattered the nation’s sense of security. In its wake, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired multiple high-level security reviews and vowed uncompromising action.
“We will hunt down the perpetrators and conspirators and bring them to justice in a manner that goes beyond their imagination.”
— Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Upgraded Missiles, Jets, and Vows of Revenge After Pahalgam Attack Raise Stakes in India-Pakistan Standoff
The shadow of war once again looms large over South Asia, as the aftermath of the brutal Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed the lives of 26 Indian tourists, pushes India and Pakistan closer to the edge. While both nations have danced this dangerous tango before, most notably in 2019, experts now warn that the risks of escalation are higher than ever, and the battlefield, if drawn, would be vastly different.
Since their last major military standoff in February 2019, both India and Pakistan have significantly upgraded their arsenals, inducted next-generation warplanes, and diversified their strike capabilities – conventional and otherwise. The military chessboard has evolved, and the pieces are more lethal, more agile, and more likely to trigger unintended consequences.
India’s Growing Air Superiority and the Rafale Edge
Back in 2019, when India launched the Balakot airstrikes in response to the Pulwama attack, it relied heavily on ageing Sukhoi-30s, Mirage 2000s, and MiG-21s.
The lack of stealth, speed, and long-range missile capabilities left the Indian Air Force at a disadvantage, a shortcoming Prime Minister Narendra Modi openly acknowledged, suggesting that had India possessed the French-made Rafale fighter jets then, the outcome may have been decisively different.
Since then, India has inducted 36 Rafale jets into its fleet – aircraft considered among the finest in the world. Armed with Meteor missiles, which can engage targets well beyond visual range (BVR), and equipped with cutting-edge avionics and radar evasion technology, the Rafale now forms the backbone of India’s aerial strike capability. More are on order for the Indian Navy as well.
Pakistan’s J-10C: Beijing’s Response to the Rafale
Not to be outpaced, Pakistan has turned to its all-weather ally, China, for a rapid upgrade to its air force. Since 2022, Islamabad has inducted at least 20 J-10C fighter jets, a Chinese multirole aircraft often compared to the Rafale. According to military sources, the J-10Cs are equipped with PL-15 air-to-air missiles, which are roughly on par with the Rafale’s Meteor and represent a major leap in Pakistan’s aerial capabilities.
The J-10C and Rafale matchup could well be a preview of a larger technological face-off—between Western and Chinese defence ecosystems. And this battlefield could become a testing ground for unproven systems and doctrines.
Air Defence Upgrades: S-400 vs HQ-9
One of the most glaring exposures in the 2019 conflict was the lack of robust air defence on both sides. India has since plugged that gap with the acquisition of the Russian S-400 Triumf system, capable of detecting and neutralising multiple threats, including stealth aircraft and ballistic missiles, up to 400 km away. The S-400 is mobile, precise, and battle-tested.
Pakistan’s answer has been the HQ-9 air defence system, a Chinese adaptation of Russia’s older S-300 platform. While not as advanced as the S-400, the HQ-9 gives Pakistan a substantial defensive cushion especially when coupled with radar networks and early warning systems.
Drone Warfare: The Next Frontier
While full-scale aerial dogfights remain a possibility, experts believe the more likely path of escalation lies in unmanned warfare.
India has turned to Israel and the U.S., acquiring Heron Mk2 drones and placing orders for MQ-9B Predator drones, which are known for their strike accuracy and high endurance.
Pakistan, meanwhile, has acquired the Bayraktar TB2 and Akinci drones from Turkey—systems that have demonstrated impressive performance in Ukraine’s war against Russia.
These drones allow low-risk, high-impact options, particularly for tactical strikes, reconnaissance, or retaliatory actions without risking human pilots. But they also increase the probability of miscalculation—a single drone shot down in the wrong place could ignite a larger fire.
The Missiles in the Shadows
On the sidelines of the escalating rhetoric, Pakistan conducted a test of its surface-to-surface ballistic missile on Saturday, with a range of 450 km, signaling readiness and resolve. According to Pakistan’s military, the test was a message: “The armed forces are prepared to safeguard national security against any aggression.”
India has yet to respond officially, but its capabilities are formidable. The BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, developed jointly with Russia, offers pinpoint accuracy at 300 km range. The Agni series of ballistic missiles, including Agni-5 with intercontinental range, cements India’s strategic deterrence.
Both countries also maintain a range of short and medium-range missile systems capable of being launched from land, sea, or air adding to the hair-trigger environment.
Nuclear Shadows and Strategic Calculus
Despite the war drums, both sides remain nuclear-armed, and while experts believe nuclear weapons would not be the first line of escalation, the risk is never zero.
That said, India’s 2019 strategy was seen as failing to establish a long-term deterrence. This time, says Tufail, India might aim for a more decisive strike, particularly with the Rafales in play, which increases the stakes and opens the door to uncontrollable escalation.
A Regional Powder Keg with Global Implications
While the United States has urged both nations to de-escalate, it is watching developments with unusual interest especially to evaluate China’s aerial warfare capabilities via Pakistan’s J-10C. As tensions flare, China’s presence as Pakistan’s military benefactor adds a new layer of geopolitical complexity.
India, for its part, must weigh how many of its air squadrons it can spare for Pakistan, given the ever-present threat along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China.
“It’s a dilemma for India—two fronts, both nuclear-armed, and both increasingly sophisticated,” says a defence analyst in New Delhi.
The Last Bit, Why India Should Respond Strongly
The tragic attack in Pahalgam targeting innocent Indian civilians was a direct challenge to India’s sovereignty and internal security. While Pakistan continues to deny involvement, its long-standing pattern of harboring and aiding cross-border terrorism cannot be overlooked. A muted or delayed response would not only embolden Pakistan-based terror outfits but also signal weakness at a time when national morale demands resolve.
In 2019, India responded with a bold airstrike in Balakot, but the strategic message was diluted by the limitations in air capability and political caution. Today, however, the equation has changed. India has significantly upgraded its arsenal, with Rafale jets, S-400 missile systems, and advanced drones, and commands greater global diplomatic capital than before. It has both the tools and the legitimacy to act with precision and confidence.
A strong and calibrated response whether through drones, missiles, or strategic strikes would send a clear message: India will no longer tolerate proxy war under the nuclear shadow. It is not about escalation, but about deterrence. The cost of inaction is greater instability, greater civilian vulnerability, and a dangerous precedent.
India must act not for vengeance, but for justice, credibility, and long-term security. The era of turning the other cheek must end, and the message must be unmistakable: attacks on Indian soil will not go unanswered.
