Indian Army to train 600 civil defence master trainers

The Indian Ministry of Home Affairs, in coordination with the Indian Army, has launched a specialized training initiative for 600 civil defence master trainers across 12 states and union territories. This first-of-its-kind program will be conducted at Indian Army training facilities and is expected to be completed by the second week of November 2026.

The trained master trainers are expected to subsequently train 60,000 civil defence volunteers. The first phase of the program includes Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Delhi, Meghalaya, Sikkim, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu.

The curriculum focuses on modern and hybrid warfare, drone-related threats, air-raid preparedness, and the protection of critical infrastructure. Participants will also receive training in fire safety and Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) awareness. This initiative follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s August 2026 call to modernize the nation's civil defence capabilities to address contemporary security challenges, such as threats to data centres, banking systems, and refineries.