For 13 nights in a row, Mumbai (then called Bombay) turned off all its lights. Street lights were shut, and people followed a blackout from evening to morning, starting on December 3, 1971. That year, India and Pakistan fought their last major war. Since Bombay was the financial capital and near the western border, the city stayed alert to avoid attacks by enemy planes. The blackout was done to confuse Pakistani fighter pilots.
As per a media report, more than 50 years later, India is holding civil defence drills across the country due to rising tension with Pakistan. These drills were planned earlier but are now happening on the same day the Indian armed forces carried out a large military strike on nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK).
Codenamed ‘Operation Sindoor’, the missile strikes were carried out by all three branches of India’s military in response to the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, which killed 26 tourists.
The civil defence drills will take place at 259 locations across 33 states and union territories. As part of the drills, blackouts will be done — where lights are turned off so that enemy pilots can’t spot homes, businesses, or military sites. Important infrastructure will also be hidden using camouflage during the exercises.
The drills are meant to check the preparedness of India’s civil defence machinery and are the first since the 1971 War.
But things have changed a lot since the 1971 war. In the last 20 years, technology has grown very fast. Today, drivers don’t get lost on dark roads, even without signs, because they use GPS navigation.
Modern fighter jets also have advanced GPS and their own built-in navigation systems. They don’t rely only on what they see.
So, in today’s world of GPS and precision weapons that already know the exact location of their targets, the question is — what can blackouts or camouflaging really achieve?
“The order to the civilian administration to conduct civil defence security drills across states is a significant signal of India’s intentions and seriousness about taking appropriate kinetic action to avenge Pahalgam,” says Colonel Rajeev Agarwal (Retired), Senior Consultant at Chintan Research Foundation, Delhi.
“In an age of GPS tracking and precision targeting, these drills, which also include blackout drills, are more symbolic than substantive in nature,” Colonel Agarwal (Retd) tells India Today Digital.
A full blackout drill was held on May 4 at the Indian Army cantonment in Ferozepur, Punjab, lasting for 30 minutes. From 9 pm onwards, all visible lights were turned off, and residents were instructed to ensure that even backup-powered lights could not be seen from outside their homes.
Wars are fought on multiple fronts, including psychological.
“These drills convey a direct and strong signal to the enemy that something is around the corner and that they cannot let their guard down. They can be a very effective tool towards psychological exhaustion of the enemy before the physical blow is delivered,” says Colonel Agarwal (Retd).
Apart from checking the preparedness of the civil defence machinery and readying the people in case of an escalation in military conflict, it also keeps Pakistan guessing.
After the Pahalgam terror attack, Pakistan might have been expecting a response on those lines, but the civilian defence drills threw it off-gear. The Rawalpindi-Islamabad establishment doesn’t know if it is in preparation for retaliation or a signal of something big coming its way.
Confusing an enemy is a timeless strategy of war.
The psychological pressure that a cross-country drill of this magnitude builds is undeniable.
It also prepares the people of India for a war in which every individual gets affected to some extent.
“For the civilian population involved in the drills, it is a clear message that the possibility of retribution from the enemy once our kinetic response is delivered cannot be ruled out,” says Colonel Agarwal (Retd) of Chintan Research.
“Also, this time, the exchange of blows may not be restricted to the border or the Line of Control (LoC). It is also part of the psychological and physical conditioning of the youth as a part of the ‘Whole of Nation’ approach,” he adds.
WHAT HAPPENS DURING CIVILIAN DEFENCE DRILLS
A civil defence mock drill is a planned preparedness exercise aimed at assessing the strengths, weaknesses, and gaps in the country’s civil defence systems — from national to local levels — during emergency situations such as war, missile attacks, or aerial strikes.
These drills are essential to ensure that the systems and personnel in place are ready to respond effectively when needed.
Wednesday’s drills will take place at different times in the civil defence districts across the country.
The exercise typically includes simulated scenarios like coordinated terrorist attacks, chemical emergencies, and large-scale evacuations. Key responders such as the State Disaster Response Forces (SDRF), local police units, fire departments, and medical teams actively participate in the operation to test their coordination and efficiency.
During the drill, civilians are expected to follow specific safety protocols. It’s important to stay calm, even if sirens are heard or blackout measures are put in place.
People should pay attention only to official announcements made through trusted sources like the internet, radio, or television. Following the directions of police, civil defence personnel, and authorised volunteers is crucial. Civilians should also avoid restricted zones and keep a basic emergency kit ready, including essentials like water, a flashlight, and basic medical supplies, according to a public notice by DC Chandigarh.
WHY BLACKOUTS HELPED EARLIER BUT MIGHT NOT NOW
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.
“For two fraught weeks that winter when India and Pakistan were at war, Bombay was a dark, high-strung creature that covered its headlights with brown paper, sat glued to the radio through the night, hoarded scarce kerosene, conducted mock drills and held wedding receptions in the afternoon,” according to a report in The Times of India, recounting the events of 1971.
“The imposition of a city-wide dusk-to-dawn blackout from December 3, 1971 meant that BEST officials went around switching off all street lights after the siren was sounded. ‘Batti bandh karo’, mischievous grown-ups and children would shout even before blackout time,” according to the report.
The GPS and self-contained navigation systems like inertial navigation system (INS) help pilots fly with minimal visual cues.
Systems like the INS come into play if GPS is jammed or is anyhow unavailable.
Then there are infrared (IR) cameras that detect heat signatures.
Advanced fighter jets also release weapons in pre-programmed coordinates with great accuracy. The weapons come loaded with pre-fed locations.
Even though darkness doesn’t play as big a role in modern warfare as it once did, it still has some value. It can interfere with optical and infrared surveillance, affect backup navigation systems, and reduce visibility.
Today’s fighter pilots use many advanced tools — like sensors, GPS targeting, thermal imaging, radar, and shared intelligence — to hit targets accurately, even at night. So, darkness no longer offers full protection. Still, complete darkness can take away certain advantages from the enemy.
👉 Click here to read the latest Gujarat news on TheLiveAhmedabad.com