New Delhi, Oct 24: Assam, Meghalaya and Sikkim are among 12 states and Union Territories selected for an initiative to strengthen civil defence preparedness, with the Indian Army set to train master trainers as part of a plan to build a network of 60,000 volunteers.
The Ministry of Home Affairs said 600 civil defence master trainers, 50 from each participating state and Union Territory, will undergo a three-day specialised training programme at designated Army training establishments by the second week of November 2026.
The initiative, described as a first-of-its-kind collaboration between the Home Ministry and the Army, seeks to improve the ability of civil defence personnel to respond to contemporary security threats, hostile situations and emergencies.
According to the ministry, the programme follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Independence Day address, in which he outlined a vision for a robust civil defence network equipped with modern systems, technology and contemporary preparedness capabilities to address emerging security challenges.
The Directorate General of Fire Services, Civil Defence and Home Guards is implementing the pilot initiative through the specialised training of master trainers by the Indian Army.
The training will cover three broad areas - threat awareness, protection and emergency response, and communication and coordination.
Following the programme, each master trainer will be responsible for training 100 civil defence volunteers in their respective state or Union Territory.
The ministry said the initiative aims to prepare around 60,000 volunteers across the 12 participating jurisdictions.
Besides Assam, Meghalaya and Sikkim, the participating states and Union Territories are Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
The programme is intended to expand civil defence preparedness and strengthen coordination and emergency-response capabilities amid evolving security challenges.
PTI