Nationwide Mock Drill Conducted Today: Emergency Alerts Sent to Smartphones Across India

New Delhi, May 7, 2025:In a major move to test and strengthen the country’s emergency preparedness, the Indian government conducted a nationwide mock drill on Wednesday, May 7. The exercise aimed to assess the efficiency of emergency response mechanisms, including air raid sirens, public communication channels, and other rapid response protocols.

As part of the drill, millions of mobile users across India received emergency alert messages directly on their smartphones. These alerts were dispatched through mobile service providers and clearly marked as part of the mock drill.

How to Ensure You Receive Alerts on Your Device

Smartphone users were advised to check their settings to make sure emergency notifications were enabled. Here's how users can verify this on their devices:

For Android Devices:
Emergency alerts are supported on Android 11 and newer versions. While settings may vary slightly depending on the manufacturer (Pixel, Samsung, OnePlus, Xiaomi, etc.), the general process includes:

• Go to Settings

• Scroll to Safety & Emergency

• Select Wireless Emergency Alerts

• Ensure all alert options are activated

Note: Devices without an active SIM or those in roaming conditions may still receive certain alerts, depending on network provisions.

For iPhone Users:
Apple users can also receive emergency alerts, including mock drill notifications, by following these steps:

• Open Settings

• Navigate to Notifications

• Scroll down to the Government Alerts section

• Toggle on Emergency Alerts and Public Safety Alerts

Authorities emphasized the importance of public participation and awareness in such drills, which are designed not only to test systems but to ensure citizens are familiar with emergency protocols.

The Ministry of Home Affairs confirmed that similar exercises will be conducted periodically across regions to maintain preparedness and fine-tune the response systems.