India to up civil defence, security net on critical infra, cyber resources

New Delhi: India will immediately move to mobilise and strengthen its civil defence mechanism and security and anti-cyber warfare apparatus across states, and communications on the same are set to go out on Thursday evening, it is learnt.

Alongside, over 300 Critical Information Infrastructures across seven critical sectors from power to airports and crucial road links, already identified by agencies a few months back, are also set to go under high security, it is gathered.

The civil defence mechanism is being upped following a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday to review 'national preparedness and inter-ministerial coordination' in light of recent developments concerning national security.


ET gathers that more than six categories of civil defence volunteering mechanisms from Bharat Scouts & Guides to National Cadet Corps, over a lakh 'Aapda Mitras', Yuva Mitras, Home Guards besides the National Youth Corps of the Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan will be deployed across states and down to every district to ensure readiness and emergency response.

The government is also preparing to reach out to ex-servicemen for the same, besides relief and response staff across organisations, it is learnt.

Meanwhile, the State Disaster Management Authorities have been activated along with the various arms of the National Disaster Response Force to assess for any critical equipment shortage, need for emergency procurement or central assistance of any sort.

Strengthening of civil defence mechanisms apart, the meet also discussed the need to counter misinformation and fake news, the security of critical infrastructure and the need for close coordination with state authorities.

The PM emphasized the need for "seamless coordination" among ministries and agencies to uphold operational continuity and institutional resilience. Secretaries to the various ministries were also asked to undertake a comprehensive review of ministerial operations and to ensure fool-proof functioning of essential systems, with special focus on readiness, emergency response, and internal communication protocols, a PIB statement said.