UP Blackout Mock Drill on January 23: The government of Uttar Pradesh has made the bold decision to conduct a statewide blackout mock drill in all 75 districts on January 23, 2026, as a part of an unprecedented preparedness exercise. This step, which is intended to increase the alertness of civil defence and check the emergency response systems, will have the entire state in darkness and at the same time will be an alert sounding at a particular time in the night.
UP Blackout Mock Drill on January 23: Why?
The upcoming blackout mock drill is being held as part of a broader push to ensure civil defence preparedness across Uttar Pradesh. The exercise comes at a time when emergency readiness from responding to hostile threats to managing large-scale evacuations is being emphasised by both state and national authorities. Officials say that such drills help test coordination among various departments, including police, disaster management teams, medical responders, fire services, and electricity providers, under simulated stress conditions.
Rather than confining the exercise to a few districts, the decision to involve all 75 districts of the state at once reflects a focus on statewide readiness and uniform application of response mechanisms. Administrators will closely observe how quickly and effectively local systems can enact blackout procedures and respond to alerts.
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What Will Happen on January 23?
According to district announcements and official preparations, the mock drill will involve the following key elements:
At the designated time in the evening, all participating districts will trigger a blackout alert signified by sirens and coordinated shut-off of lights in public buildings and optionally advised in private settings.
Citizens will see lights being switched off in certain areas as part of the preparedness protocol; authorities will also monitor how quickly response teams mobilise.
Local governing bodies are requesting the people to keep their cool and refrain from making trips that are not necessary during the drill, which is purely for testing and spreading awareness.
In the case of Maharajganj and Sultanpur, the district officials have first carried out their checks and practised the things to be done, besides that they have also surveyed the places for the drill and have had the proper communications with the important persons involved to make the drill smooth and efficient.
In Maharajganj, senior officials reviewed disaster management arrangements at the police lines ahead of the drill, emphasising cooperation and public calm. Similarly, Sultanpur authorities held inter-departmental meetings to finalise roles for police, health, and emergency services during the mock blackout
