Centre plans civil defence network of 60,000 volunteers in 12 states, UTs; army to train

The Union Home Ministry will train 600 civil defence master trainers with the Indian Army to build a network of 60,000 volunteers across 12 states and Union Territories as part of a pilot project to strengthen emergency preparedness and response to emerging security threats.

In the first phase, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) will organise a three-day specialised training programme for civil defence master trainers from the participating states and UTs, according to an official statement.

The initiative follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Independence Day speech, in which he announced a vision for a vibrant civil defence network equipped with modern systems, technologies and contemporary preparedness capabilities to address emerging security challenges.

"In furtherance of this vision, the Directorate General of Fire Services, Civil Defence and Home Guards, Ministry of Home Affairs, is undertaking a first-of-its-kind pilot initiative to strengthen civil defence preparedness through specialised training of civil defence master trainers by the Indian Army," it said.

The ministry aims to train 600 master trainers — 50 from each participating state and UT — by the second week of November 2026. The three-day programme will be conducted at designated Indian Army training establishments.

"The participating states/UTs are Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Delhi, Meghalaya, Sikkim, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu," it said.

The initiative seeks to improve civil defence personnel's ability to respond effectively to contemporary security threats, hostile situations and emergencies.

The training will cover three broad areas: threat awareness; protection and emergency response; and communication and coordination.

Each master trainer will subsequently train 100 civil defence volunteers in their respective state or UT. Through this training model, the initiative aims to prepare a total of 60,000 volunteers across the 12 participating states and UTs, significantly expanding the reach and impact of the civil defence network, the statement said.