APSC Class I Home Guard exam: Compendium of Instructions – Civil Defence (2011)
1. Background & History
Civil Defence policy formally began after the Chinese aggression (Nov 1962).
Revived further after the Indo-Pak conflict (Sept 1965) — first air attacks on India post-independence.
Country faced further Pakistani attacks in December 1971.
Up to 1985, CD preparedness was only against conventional weapons; from 1985, nuclear threat preparedness for categorised towns began considered.
Civil Defence Act, 1968 (Act 27 of 1968) — passed May 1968, published in Gazette 24 May 1968, effective 10 July 1968. Provides legal status for CD (replaced the defunct Defence of India Act, 1962).
Civil Defence (Amendment) Act, 2009 (Notification No. 3 of 2010) added Disaster Management as an additional role of CD Corps, while retaining its primary (war) role.
2. Definition & Aims
“Civil Defence” definition [Sec 2(a), CD Act 1968]: Measures, not amounting to actual combat, for protecting any person, property, place or thing against hostile attack (air, land, sea, etc.), before, during, or after such attack.
Aims of Civil Defence: (a) To save life (b) To minimise damage to property (c) To maintain continuity of production (d) To keep up high morale of the public
3. Policy Highlights
CD is an integral part of national defence; scale to be sustainable long-term.
CD arrangements confined to selected places and vital plants/installations.
CD organised primarily on voluntary basis.
No large-scale shelter construction/camouflage programmes.
No trench-digging at public expense.
No large-scale sponsored evacuation; evacuation plans only for border areas.
Ex-gratia funeral grant for deceased Home Guards/CD volunteers: Rs. 1000/- per individual.
CD & Home Guards volunteers with ≥3 years’ service + trained in Basic/Refresher courses may get preference for Group ‘C’ & ‘D’ govt. posts.
4. Symbols
CD Logo: released by Home Minister L.K. Advani on 6 May 2002 at National CD College, Nagpur — bicolour triangle at centre of olive-green wreath with State Emblem; motto “सर्व भूत हिते रत:” (welfare of all beings). Colours signify: Green–Warden, Machine-blue–Rescue, Red–Fire Fighting, White–First Aid, Light blue–Rescue & Incident control.
CD Flag: designed by DGCD, released by Deputy PM L.K. Advani on 21 March 2003 at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi. Maroon background, size 6ft x 4ft.
Car Flag: Maroon, red & blue diagonal stripes, size 15×26 cm.
5. Organisation at Centre
Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) — responsible for CD policy, coordination.
Home Minister’s CD Advisory Committee — Chairman: Union Home Minister; Members include Finance, Defence, Agriculture Ministers, State Home Ministers, NDMA member, Union Home Secretary, DG NDRF & CD (Member & Ex-officio Secretary).
Civil Defence Committee — Chaired by Home Secretary.
Civil Defence Joint Planning Staff — Chaired by DGCD.
Director General of Civil Defence (DGCD) — part of MHA; handles CD, Home Guards, and Fire Service matters; assisted by Deputy DGs, Fire Advisor, ADGs, SSOs, JSOs.
6. State/UT Level Setup (CD Act provisions)
Director of Civil Defence – appointed by State Govt to coordinate Controllers [Sec 4(2)].
Controller of Civil Defence – appointed by State Govt, not below rank of District Magistrate [Sec 4(1)].
Deputy Controller – rank up to Deputy Collector, not below Sub-Divisional Magistrate.
Civil Defence Corps – body constituted by State Govt for any area [Sec 4(1)].
District Magistrate = ultimate CD authority in district; Sub-Divisional Officer = ultimate authority in sub-division.
Home Guards & Civil Defence are complementary; combined wherever possible.
7. Categorisation of CD Towns/Districts
Category I & II towns – full CD measures – 12 services: Headquarters, Communication, Warden, Casualty, Fire-Fighting, Training, Rescue, Depot & Transport, Supply, Salvage, Welfare, Corpse Disposal.
Category III towns/districts – partial CD measures – 6 services: Headquarters, Communication, Warden, Casualty, Fire-Fighting, Training.
Remaining 6 services (Rescue, Depot & Transport, Supply, Salvage, Welfare, Corpse Disposal) to be provided as required using Home Guards.
225 categorised CD towns notified vide MHA letter dated 15.12.2005.
100 Multi Hazard Prone Districts identified and categorised as Category-III CD Districts vide letter dated 24.09.2010.
WARP equipment to be installed in Category I & II CD towns/districts.
8. Enrolment & Eligibility (Ch. VIII)
Minimum age for enrolment: 15 years.
Must have passed at least Primary Standard, be physically fit & mentally alert.
Serving members of Armed Forces, Police, Fire Service are not ordinarily eligible.
No fixed authorised strength — varies yearly based on sliding scale of population (checked via Household Register updated every April, or census growth rate).
CD is a voluntary, non-uniformed organisation — no fixed “uniform,” but a dress code exists:
Bib: fluorescent yellow, V-neck, “CIVIL DEFENCE” printed, two side pockets.
Jacket for CD Warden: same material, 3 pockets, metallic chain, shoulder flaps.
Grey sports cap with CD logo.
Cost of uniform/insignia borne by State Govt (Rule 11, CD Regulations 1968); may be corporate-sponsored.
Lapel for CD & HG personnel: cost borne by individual (or optionally State Govt).
9. Role of Warden (Backbone of CD Organisation)
Scale: 2 Sector Wardens per 4,000 population; 1 Post Warden per 20,000 population (5 sectors); 1 Divisional Warden per 10 Warden Posts / 2 lakh population.
10. Financial Policy (Ch. IV)
Central assistance share (from 1996-97 onwards):
North-Eastern States (Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura): 50%
All other States incl. Assam: 25%
Expenditure first incurred by State Govts, then reimbursed via quarterly claims.
Poolable & shareable items include: dress/overall for training, pay & allowances of authorised posts, equipment/stores procurement, POL, Annual Day expenditure, medals & cash awards (50:50 Centre-State), pensionary benefits, condemned equipment replacement, etc.
Annual Day for Home Guards & CD: 6th December (expenditure poolable & shareable).
Duty/Training Allowance: transportation charges of Re. 1/- or actual (whichever higher) if training is beyond 8 km from residence — Duty and Training Allowance are treated as the same under Sec. 9 of CD Act (training = part of duty).
11. Reports & Returns (Ch. VI)
Half-Yearly Progress Report on CD Preparedness – due 30 June & 31 Dec; to reach Ministry within 1 month (by 31 July / 31 Jan).
Half-Yearly Report on Paid Staff Position – same schedule.
Quarterly Report on important CD activities – due for quarters ending March, June, Sept, Dec; to be submitted within 15 days.
Certificate for Review of CD Plans – submitted by first week of May every year (review done in April).
Annual Report on Officers’ names/addresses – submitted in January every year.
12. Awards & Medals (Ch. VII)
President’s Home Guards & CD Medal — instituted October 1974 (Gazette notification 19 Oct 1974).
Gallantry monetary grant: Rs. 3000 (first award), Rs. 1500 (subsequent) for Distinguished/Meritorious service similarly tiered.
No limit on gallantry medals/year; 75 max for distinguished/meritorious service medals each per year.
Announced on 26th January (Republic Day) and 15th August (Independence Day).
Recommendations due by 26 October and 15 May respectively.
Cost shared 50:50 Centre-State.
Director General Civil Defence Commendation Certificate/Disc — instituted 1975; no monetary grant; can be awarded posthumously; recommendations due by last week of October annually.
25th Independence Anniversary Silver Medal (for those on strength 15 Aug 1972) & 50th Independence Anniversary Golden Jubilee Medal (for those on strength 15 Aug 1997) — cost borne 100% by Govt. of India.
Sangram Medal — for HG/CD personnel deployed in 1971 Indo-Pak conflict operations.
Compensation: A Corps member suffering damage to person/property on duty is compensated by competent authority, unless caused by own negligence/willful act [CD Regulations 1968, Paras 2 & 12].
13. Training (Part II)
Training responsibility rests with CD Controllers.
Training comprises individual, team, and combined training.
Staffing scale: 2 whole-time instructors + 1 clerk + 1 messenger per 2 lakh population (minimum 1 instructor, 1 clerk, 1 messenger per CD town).
NCC cadets are trained in CD as part of their syllabus; did commendable CD work in the 1965 Indo-Pak War.
National Service Scheme (NSC) pilot colleges also include CD training (theory + practical).
CD Exercises/Rehearsals: Blackout exercises within 25 miles of Pakistan border require 15 days’ prior MHA permission; other towns require 7 days’ notice.
Disposal of Unexploded Bombs (UXBs) — responsibility of Ministry of Defence (via Army Bomb Squad).
Training locations:
National Civil Defence College (NCDC), Nagpur — founded 29 April 1957 as CERTI; renamed NCDC 1 April 1968. No course fee (boarding/lodging borne by candidate). Recognised as nodal training institute for CBRN emergencies (2002).
College of Military Engineering (CME), Pune — CD Bomb Disposal Course (Gazetted Officers), Camouflage & Concealment course.
Central Training Institute (CTI), Bangalore, Karnataka — Waterman ship course.
State-level Central Training Institutes (CTIs).
14. Ministry-wise CD Responsibilities (extension of peacetime functions)
MHA: CD organisation/planning, Fire Services, Wardens/Communication/Depot/Training/Rescue/Casualty/Supply/Welfare Services, CD legislation, shelter policy, warning system.
Defence: CD in cantonments/aerodromes/ordnance factories; UXB & crashed aircraft disposal.
Health & Family Welfare: Emergency hospitals, public health, epidemic control.
HRD (Education): CD in schools/colleges/universities, museums, laboratories.
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