सर्व भूत हिते रत:
Shri Bhajan Lal Sharma
Hon'ble Chief Minister, Rajasthan
Dr. Kirodi Lal Meena
Hon'ble Cabinet Minister, Rajasthan
Sh. Otaram Dewasi
Hon'ble State Minister, Rajasthan
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Website last update: 09/08/2025 16:30:47
The concept of civil defence in India originated from the Air Raid Precautions Committee established during the Second World War. Its main objective was to protect the lives and property of citizens during wartime crises and to maintain the continuity of production and economic activities. In view of the heavy loss of life and property caused by air raids on Indian cities during the Indo-China war in October 1962, the Government of India issued a notification for the establishment of the Civil Defence Department in November 1962. Subsequently, the Government of Rajasthan issued a notification on 13 November 1962, establishing civil defence units in 12 border towns of the state, which could be affected by air raids (external aggression).
The Civil Defence Organization played an active role during the Indo-Pak wars of 1965 and 1971 and contributed commendably in minimizing the loss of life and property in the state through effective search and rescue operations. In view of the increasing incidence of natural and man-made disasters, as well as loss of life and property in the country due to the Gujarat earthquake in 2001 and the tsunami in the southern states in 2004, the Government of India enacted the Disaster Management Act in 2005. To ensure effective use of disaster management trained officers/staff/volunteers of the Civil Defence Department in case of air strikes and disasters, the Government of India partially amended the Civil Defence Act, 1968 in 2009 and assigned the important role of disaster management to the Civil Defence Department.
On 27 July 2015, the State Government issued a notification separating the Civil Defence Department from the Home Guard Department and placing it under the Disaster Management and Relief Department. On 12 July 2017, all the districts of the State were declared as Civil Defence Districts, thereby extending the scope of Civil Defence from urban limits to the entire district. Thus, Rajasthan became the first state in the country to ensure the establishment and activation of civil defence units in all the districts of the state.
