In line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision, a first-of-its-kind joint training initiative between India and the Indian Army is being implemented to enhance preparedness of Civil Defence personnel across 12 States/UTs. The specialized training program aims to extend specialised skills to 60,000 Civil Defence Volunteers through a Master Trainer model.
Under Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi's vision for a vibrant and prepared Civil Defence Network, India is set to implement a unique training initiative with the Indian Army. This ambitious project, announced on August 15, 2026, involves enhancing the preparedness of 60,000 Civil Defence Volunteers through specialised training.
In furtherance of this vision, the Directorate General of Fire Services, Civil Defence & Home Guards (DGFSCDHG), Ministry of Home Affairs, in coordination with the Indian Army, is undertaking a first-of-its-kind pilot initiative. The three-day specialized training will take place by the second week of November 2026 at designated Indian Army training establishments across 12 States/UTs: Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Delhi, Meghalaya, Sikkim, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu.
The specialized training for 600 Civil Defence Master Trainers will focus on three main areas: modern and hybrid warfare, protection and emergency response; critical infrastructure protection, fire safety, Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) awareness, casualty management, search and rescue; and communication and coordination: emergency communication, cyber hygiene, digital resilience, civil-military coordination and incident command.
Following the specialised training, each Master Trainer will impart further training to 100 Civil Defence Volunteers in their respective State/UT. This cascading mechanism has the potential to extend specialised preparedness skills to 60,000 Civil Defence Volunteers across the 12 participating States/UTs.
The initiative marks a significant step towards strengthening civil-military coordination and institutional preparedness by combining the Indian Army’s operational expertise with the Civil Defence volunteer network.
Source:
Press Information Bureau
