Page 2 - Ministry Of Home Affairs

Civil defence drill in Bengaluru today: Everything you need to know

In Karnataka, the mock drill will be conducted in three districts - Bengaluru urban, Karwar, and Raichur

Civil defence mock drills in 244 districts tomorrow: Check full list

The decision comes after a series of top-level discussions led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi to plan India's response to the April 22 terror attack.

What are civil defence districts, and how are they categorised in India?

The order to conduct the mock drill came after a series of high-level meetings by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi to discuss India's response to the Pahalgam terror attack

Civil defence mock drill: What it is and what to expect during May 7

A civil defence mock drill is conducted to evaluate the preparedness of civilians and government agencies in responding to emergencies. Its primary goal is to minimise confusion and save lives

Union home secretary to review preparations for civil defence mock drills

Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan will on Tuesday review the preparations for strengthening civil defence mechanisms that include conducting mock drills on air-raid warning sirens, training civilians to protect themselves in the event of a "hostile attack" and cleaning bunkers and trenches. The Ministry of Home Affairs has asked all states to conduct mock drills on Wednesday, given the "new and complex threats" that have emerged amid rising tensions with Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack. "The home secretary will review the preparations for civil defence being made across 244 districts. Chief secretaries and heads of civil defence from across the country will participate in the meeting via video conferencing," a source said. According to a home ministry communication, the measures to be taken during the mock drills include the operationalisation of air-raid warning sirens, training civilians on civil-defence aspects to protect themselves in the event of a "hostile attack

Centre steps in as home secy calls emergency meet on Haryana water crisis

It was further agreed that during the dam-filling period, BBMB will compensate Punjab with an equivalent amount of excess water to address any additional requirements

MHA downgrades ex-Delhi CM Atishi's security cover from Z to Y category

The development comes as a part of routine threat assessments of political leaders on the basis of which they are provided security cover

India announces 3-day state mourning on passing of Pope Francis

The government on Monday announced a three-day state mourning as a mark of respect on the passing away of Pope Francis. Francis, who was the first non-European Pope in nearly 1,300 years, died on Monday. He was 88. In a statement, the Ministry of Home Affairs said, "His Holiness Pope Francis, Supreme Pontiff of the Holy See passed away on April 21. As a mark of respect, three-day state mourning shall be observed throughout India." As per the schedule, two days' state mourning will be on April 22 (Tuesday) and April 23 (Wednesday). Besides, one day's state mourning will be on the day of the funeral, the statement said. During the period of the state mourning, the national flag will be flown at half mast throughout India on all buildings where the national flag is flown regularly and there will be no official entertainment, it added.

BJP MLAs urge Manipur Governor to intensify arms recovery in hill areas

A delegation of seven BJP MLAs called on Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla and urged him to ensure that recovery of illegal arms must be intensified in hill areas of the strife-torn northeastern state, a party legislator said on Friday. Speaking to reporters at the BJP state headquarters here, legislator Kh Ibomcha, who was part of the party delegation, said they also appealed to the governor to accelerate dialogue between the Meitei and the Kuki-Zo communities and take the peace process forward. The legislators urged him to take appropriate actions against those who have been involved in provocative acts against various communities, he said. The BJP MLA appreciated the governor's appeal to the people of the strife-torn state to voluntarily surrender looted and illegally held weapons. "There was a positive response to the arms surrender call. However, people feel that the response to the call and the recovery of weapons have been lackadaisical in the hill areas compared to the sam

Padma awards 2026: Nominations, recommendations open; deadline July 31

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has started the process of nominations and recommendations for the Padma awards-2026 to be announced on the eve of next year's Republic Day. The last date for nominations and recommendations for the Padma awards is July 31, 2025 and these would be received online on the Rashtriya Puraskar Portal (https://awards.gov.in ), an official statement said on Friday. The Padma awards -- namely Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri -- are amongst the highest civilian awards of the country. Instituted in 1954, these awards are announced on the eve of the Republic Day every year. The award seeks to recognise 'work of distinction' and is given for distinguished and exceptional achievements and service in all fields and disciplines such as art, literature and education, sports, medicine, social work, science and engineering, public affairs, civil service, trade and industry etc. All persons without distinction of race, occupation, position or sex are ..

Govt holds meeting with Meitei-Kuki groups on Manipur conflict resolution

The Centre on Saturday held a meeting with representatives of Manipur's warring Meitei and Kuki communities, in an effort to bring a lasting peace in the restive state. Sources said the meeting was held as part of the central government's initiatives to find an amicable solution to the ongoing conflict between the two communities, which began on May 2023. The meeting was aimed at enhancing trust and cooperation between the Meiteis and Kukis and finding a roadmap to restore peace and normalcy in Manipur, sources said. The discussions also stressed on maintaining law and order and facilitating reconciliation between the two communities, they said. A six-member Meitei delegation comprising representatives from the All Manipur United Clubs' Organisation (AMUCO) and the Federation of Civil Society Organisations (FOCS) attended the meeting. The Kuki delegation comprised about nine representatives. The central government interlocutors included A K Mishra, a retired special director of t

Kuki Zo groups set up 3 pre-conditions ahead of April 5 talks in Delhi

Ahead of the April 5 talks between Kuki Zo and Meitei groups called by the Ministry of Home Affairs in New Delhi, the Kuki leadership based in Manipur's Kangpokpi district has set up three pre-conditions including no cross movement between Meitei and Kukis in the areas where the other community is in majority. Kuki Zo Council (KZC) chairman Henlianthang Thanglet said the three conditions were set up during a consultation meet organised at Kangpokpi by the Committee on Tribal Unity (COTU) on Tuesday. Thanglet said the three pre-conditions are "the movement of Meitei individuals in Kuki-Zo-dominated areas and vice versa shall be strictly restricted, hostilities shall be halted for a minimum period of six months to facilitate negotiations, a structured formal and meaningful dialogue process must be initiated during the ceasefire period." A functionary of the Kuki Zo Council said the Union Ministry of Home Affairs has called for a meeting between the Kuki Zo and Meitei groups in New Del

'Op Brahma': India sends 80 NDRF personnel to Myanmar for earthquake relief

India is sending a contingent of 80 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel for relief and rescue works in earthquake-hit Myanmar, officials here said Saturday. The personnel of the federal disaster contingency force are being deployed under 'Operation Brahma' with quake rescue equipment like strong concrete cutters, drill machines, hammers etc. to provide succour to the neighbouring country. "A team of 80 NDRF personnel are being airlifted to Myanmar onboard two IAF sorties from Hindon in Ghaziabad. The teams are expected to reach by Saturday evening," an official told PTI. Commandant P K Tiwary of the 8th NDRF battalion based in Ghaziabad near Delhi will lead the USAR (Urban Search And Rescue) team. The team is also taking along rescue dogs for the collapsed structure search and rescue operation being undertaken as per International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG) norms, the official said. Myanmar and neighbouring Thailand were rocked by high-intensity ...

Parliament passes new bill to improve disaster response across states

Parliament on Tuesday passed the Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill 2024 to strengthen the efficient working of the national and state disaster management authorities. The government also stressed that the legislation will help states in handling all disasters in a better way. The Rajya Sabha cleared the Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill 2024 to amend the Disaster Management Act of 2005 by a voice vote. Several amendments moved by Opposition members were negated by the House. The government said states faced difficulties in implementing the Disaster Management Act of 2005. The proposed amendments are based on the difficulties flagged by states and suggestions given by them. The Bill seeks to specify the roles and responsibilities of various organisations involved in disaster management and ensure synergy and uniformity in response. The discussion also saw a significant focus on the government's response to the disaster in Wayanad, with several opposition members accusing the

Govt blocked 781K SIMs, 3K Skype IDs, 83K WhatsApp accounts till Feb

In addition, the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C) has proactively identified and blocked more than 3,962 Skype IDs and 83,668 WhatsApp accounts used for digital arrest, the minister said

Datanomics: How the govt is tightening its grip on foreign funding

A deeper analysis of data from the annual reports of the Ministry of Home Affairs reveals a shifting regulatory approach

'12 peace accords signed, 10.9K youth gave up arms in Northeast': Amit Shah

Compared to 2014, there has been a 71 per cent reduction in insurgency incidents, 60 per cent in Security Forces casualties and 82 per cent in Civilian deaths in 2023, according to a press release

MHA confirmed roadmap for peace in Manipur prepared, claims Meitei body

A civil society organisation of Meiteis on Thursday claimed that MHA Advisor for North East A K Mishra has told them that the Centre has prepared a roadmap for peace in ethnic strife-hit Manipur. Federation of Civil Society (FOCS) Spokesperson Ngangbam Chamchan Singh told reporters here on Thursday that Mishra told them on Wednesday that the first phase of the roadmap for peace in Manipur has already been implemented. Singh said, "A FOCS delegation met the MHA Advisor and other officials at the Old Secretariat (in Imphal) on Wednesday following an invitation during which Mishra informed them that the Centre has prepared a roadmap to end the ongoing conflict in the state and it will be implemented in phases." The FOCS spokesperson said, "Mishra informed us that the roadmap includes surrender of weapons, reopening of roads, and curbing activities of armed groups. In connection with this, on February 20, the governor had called for the surrender of all arms. Movement of all people on a

India's security apparatus must stay adaptive to emerging threats: Rajnath

India's security apparatus must remain adaptive to emerging threats such as cyber and hybrid warfare as well as "space-based espionage", Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Tuesday. He said internal security is not just about managing conventional threats like terrorism, separatist movements, and left-wing extremism but it is also about preparing for unconventional threats that can destabilise the nation's economic and strategic interests. "The adversaries of today do not always come with traditional weapons; cyber-attacks, misinformation campaigns, and space-based espionage are emerging as new-age threats that require advanced solutions," he said. The defence minister was speaking at a conference on 'Advanced Technologies for Internal Security and Disaster Relief Operations' organised jointly by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). In his address, Singh highlighted the growing complexities in global security and the ..

HC asks agencies to exercise caution over blanket freezing of bank accounts

The Delhi High Court has asked probe agencies to exercise care and caution over blanket freezing of bank accounts. The matter before Justice Manoj Jain related to one such action of the agencies on the petitioner company's account, having a withdrawal balance of more than Rs 93 crore, but witnessing an innocuous entry of Rs 200. "Such blanket measures, if taken recourse to, without offering any reason, can certainly play havoc with the financial concerns of such account holders," it said. The court's February 20 order said, "It is, therefore, high time that the investigating/law enforcement agencies, in the context of freezing bank accounts, act with requisite care, caution and yes, compassion as well." Instead of freezing the bank account, the court said, authorities should explore the possibility of marking a lien on the disputed amount to mitigate the undue hardship caused to account holders and ensure the disputed amount was secured. Taking note of multiple such cases, the cou