Since May 7, including during ‘Operation Sindoor,’ senior Indian bureaucrats have been frequently referring to a highly confidential blue manual. This book, called the “Union War Book 2010,” is over 200 pages long and provides important guidance on how the government should respond in times of war or conflict. The book is kept secret and is only available to a select few officials from key departments like the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Home Affairs, and the Cabinet Secretariat. These officials help prepare and update the book every year, but they are not allowed to reveal who exactly is in charge of keeping it safe.
It is a crucial resource for planning and understanding how different parts of the government should work together during times of crisis. Each state’s chief secretary has a copy of the “Union War Book 2010,” along with key officials in Union ministries. Though not available to the public, this important manual is kept in the offices of chief secretaries across all states and in key ministries in the central government.
The book details the steps for emergency responses, like evacuations, fire drills, and siren tests. In recent days, it has been reviewed more carefully than ever, as authorities across the country have been conducting emergency drills and evacuation exercises. An official explained, “It guides key officers on what to do in case of a war, ensuring that there is no confusion and everyone knows the right steps to follow.” This manual is not shared widely within the government and is not available for public viewing. However, when needed, it serves as a crucial guide for coordinating the government’s response to emergencies.
About Union War Book
The Union War Book has been around for a long time. It started during British rule and has changed over the years. A new version is usually made every 15 years. The latest one was prepared in 2010 after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, which were carried out by Pakistan-based terrorists and killed 174 people, including security personnel. At that time, GK Pillai, who was the Union Home Secretary, led the team that put together the 2010 version.
This book is meant to guide government officials during times of war. It covers everything in detail—how to move large numbers of people, deal with fake news, and ensure that food, fuel, and medicine supplies keep running. It involves every part of the government, including the military, railways, airlines, shipping, transport, and health departments. It is also used by the military when planning their strategies.
Even though the main version was made in 2010, the book gets small updates every year. Three key ministries send in updates, which are added as notes in the book. These include new topics like cyber warfare, drones, and social media monitoring, so the book stays current with new technologies and threats.
The Union War Book says that during a war, it’s smart to use simple and old-fashioned tools that have always worked well. That’s why officials believe that “old is gold” in such situations. They say that radios and flashlights are still very useful because, in a war, mobile networks and the internet might stop working due to enemy cyber attacks. So, using basic tools becomes very important.
The book advises the government to keep radios, flashlights, and manual ways of communication ready at all times. It also has a plan to protect important things like the country’s communication systems and banks. The book gives clear steps on when to activate civil defense and how to keep the public calm and safe. One official said, “People should know that the Indian government is well-prepared for emergencies. We have a lot of experience, and everyone knows what to do.”
Secret War Manual Surfaces: ‘Union War Book’ Takes Command in Crisis
Even though the Union War Book is a secret manual and its full contents are not known to the public, many state governments are now openly referring to it. For example, the office of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis issued a statement (in Marathi) after a closed-door meeting. The note instructed officials to study the Union War Book and share its directions with all concerned departments. Some states have even made their own war handbooks based on this central guide.
What was once a rarely touched file on a shelf has now become central to planning and decision-making. Although the actual content is still hidden, the Hindustan Times got a look at a checklist from one state’s version of the book. It included points like:
- Making sure food supplies are stocked.
- Watching social media for fake or dangerous posts.
- Asking IT police teams to track and report online threats.
Another part of the checklist tells officers to keep staff duty charts updated, so that government work continues even during emergencies. Many officials still hope they won’t need to use the manual fully and that things will return to normal soon.
This sudden focus on the War Book comes after India’s Operation Sindoor, which was carried out to destroy terrorist bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). This action was a response to a terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22, where 26 Hindu tourists were killed.
Since then, Pakistan broke the ceasefire and attacked civilian areas in Jammu and Kashmir, Gujarat, and Rajasthan. But Indian forces successfully stopped these attacks and struck back at Pakistan’s key military sites.
Comments