27 March,2026 08:10 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Pic/Special Arrangement
The Indian Army's Southern Command has carried out a series of multi-agency exercises and engagements under its Military Civil Fusion Abhiyan across several states, in an effort to strengthen coordination between the military and civil authorities amid evolving security challenges.
The activities were conducted across Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan and southern states, bringing together the Armed Forces, civil administration, security agencies and other stakeholders to improve preparedness and response mechanisms.
Officials said the initiative was aimed at enhancing coordination among institutions that are often required to work together during emergencies and security situations. The engagements saw participation from Central Armed Police Forces, state police, disaster response agencies, civil aviation authorities, as well as departments such as forest and mining, along with academic institutions and industry representatives.
According to officials, the exercises focused on key areas including internal security, disaster management, airspace monitoring and protection of critical infrastructure, with an emphasis on adopting common procedures and improving information sharing between agencies.
A key component of the Abhiyan was a high-level tabletop exercise conducted at the Southern Command headquarters in Pune to assess emerging multi-domain threats in the hinterland.
The exercise was chaired by Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth and attended by senior officials from the Maharashtra government, railway authorities, and representatives from central forces and law enforcement agencies.
Officials said the exercise reviewed preparedness levels and examined coordination mechanisms required to respond to complex scenarios.
As part of the initiative, multiple on-ground exercises and discussions were held across different locations. In Pune's Aundh Military Station, a joint drill involving the Armed Forces, civil administration, police, disaster response agencies and NCC focused on testing coordinated response systems.
In Bhopal, a seminar on countering unmanned aerial threats brought together military personnel and civil aviation stakeholders, including representatives from the Airports Authority of India, to discuss emerging risks in airspace security.
At Babina, joint activities involving the Army and local departments such as police, forest and mining authorities were conducted to strengthen coordination through surveillance measures, joint patrolling and outreach in nearby areas.
In Chennai, a security conference held at the Victory War Memorial brought together senior officials to deliberate on internal security and crisis response strategies.
Similar engagements were also conducted in Belagavi and Hyderabad, focusing on training, preparedness and institutional coordination, while exercises in Jodhpur and Jaisalmer aimed at improving coordination and information sharing in strategically sensitive regions.
Officials indicated that the engagements were designed to streamline coordination, improve communication channels and enable faster decision-making during crises. The exercises also aimed to familiarise different agencies with each other's roles and operational procedures, which are critical during multi-agency responses.
Officials noted that such initiatives are part of a broader effort to strengthen coordination between military and civilian agencies, particularly in dealing with complex and multi-dimensional security challenges.
They added that the Military Civil Fusion Abhiyan reflects an increasing focus on integrated planning and joint response frameworks to enhance overall preparedness.
