India Code
The Civil Defence Act, 1968
The statutory foundation for civil-defence measures in India.
Open primary source →National resilience · Evidence page
Project SURAKSHA India
A proposed national civil-defence and resilience mission examining warning systems, protective infrastructure, public training, emergency continuity and coordination across levels of government.
Public problem
Why this initiative is being developed
India has a statutory civil-defence foundation, but a legal mandate becomes a dependable public capability only when local risks are mapped, warnings reach people, protective options are defined, volunteers are trained and readiness is repeatedly exercised.
Evidence boundary: the sources below establish the legal, institutional or risk context. The proposed framework, phases and outcomes are Nitish Jindal's independent policy assessment and are not presented as government decisions.
Primary evidence
Authoritative sources supporting the problem definition
National Disaster Management Authority
Civil Defence guidance — Part I
Official guidance on civil-defence organisation, roles and preparedness.
Open primary source →Ministry of Home Affairs
Lok Sabha answer on civil-defence mechanisms, 3 February 2026
Current parliamentary evidence on the institutional position across States and Union Territories.
Open primary source →Framework direction
What the initiative proposes to organise
Tiered national, state, district and community preparedness architecture
Integrated early warning, public communication and continuity planning
Comparative study of international civil-defence and shelter systems
Training, exercises, accessibility and protection of vulnerable groups
Institutional ownership
Authorities and delivery partners
- Ministry of Home Affairs for national standards and coordination
- State and Union Territory governments for implementation and training
- District authorities for risk maps, public instructions and exercises
- Local bodies, emergency services, health systems and utilities for operational delivery
Implementation
Proposed sequence
- Baseline: legal, institutional and district-capability audit
- Design: minimum standards, risk tiers and funding principles
- Pilot: representative border, metropolitan, industrial and coastal districts
- Scale: phased national adoption with recurring exercises and public reporting
Measurable outcomes
How progress should be judged
- Measured warning reach and response time
- Defined protective options in priority risk zones
- Trained and identifiable community capability
- Auditable corrective actions after every exercise
Safeguards
Constraints that must govern design
- No public disclosure of sensitive infrastructure
- Accessibility standards for children, older people and persons with disabilities
- Transparent procurement and clear command responsibility
- Volunteer roles that complement, not replace, professional emergency services
Version: Evidence page 1.0 · Last materially reviewed 2026-08-02 · No official adoption or endorsement is claimed.
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