Total Defence
Total Defence involves every Singaporean playing a part, individually and collectively, to build a strong, secure and cohesive nation. When we are strong, we are able to deal with any crisis.
Last updated 27 February 2026
Introduction
The theme for this year's Total Defence campaign - "Together We Keep Singapore Strong" - focuses on Singaporeans' readiness for crises and disruptions, and the many ways we can put Total Defence into action in our everyday lives.
Total Defence remains relevant to deal with the ever-evolving hybrid threats and challenges to Singapore. These include misinformation, supply chain disruptions and food security that affect communities and Singaporeans' way of life.
Every Singaporean has a part to play in our daily lives to ensure that Singapore is prepared for crises or disruptions, and that we remain resilient and united.
Download the logo and Corporate Identity (CI) guide here.
Exercise SG Ready 2026
Following the inaugural run of Exercise SG Ready in 2024, the Total Defence exercise returns in 2026 with the theme "Are you ready for disruptions?". The exercise will be held at various locations across the island between 1 and 15 Feb 2026 to activate thinking and increase Singaporeans' readiness for crises and disruptions. It encourages everyone to Plan for disruptions, Prepare to respond, and Play your part to keep Singapore strong.
Co-led by MINDEF and key partners, the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), Energy Market Authority (EMA), People's Association (PA) and the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), the exercise focuses on readiness for degraded digital connectivity and prolonged power outages.
Access Exercise SG Ready resources here, including MDDI-IMDA and EMA's guides and infographics on what to do during digital connectivity and power disruptions, and self-facilitation guides for power disruption and cybersecurity table-top exercises.
Exercise SG Ready Scenario Video
Set against the backdrop of an energy security crisis triggered by geopolitical uncertainties, our households, businesses, and communities are crippled by prolonged power outages, as critical IT systems struggle to maintain operations under the strain. Digital connectivity is progressively disrupted as the prolonged outage worsens. Amidst the disruptions, fake news and phishing attempts from unknown sources spread online, sowing distrust between social groups and eroding public trust. With the nation distracted and divided, the opportunity arises for foreign actors to strike at public areas. Security agencies are put on high alert against threats across our physical, digital, and social fronts.
Total Defence Day 2026 Message
Watch the Total Defence 2026 message by Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs K. Shanmugam that was broadcasted on all local radio stations and free-to-air TV channels, after the Public Warning System (PWS) sounding on 1 February 2026 (Sunday) at 3.00pm.
Resources
Total Defence NE Engagement Packages
Digital Defence
How can we play our part to strengthen Singapore’s cyber and digital defences?
Other Resources
Total Defence Community Table-top Exercise (TTX)
The Total Defence Community TTX aims to bring individuals across different ages and walks of life together to discuss potential impacts of pertinent issues affecting Singapore, and develop community drawer plans that can be implemented during times of crises and disruptions to our essential supplies and services.
Download the Total Defence TTX Scenario Video as well as the facilitation materials here.
The Total Defence Sandbox seeks ground-up proposals from Singaporeans, especially youths, to start initiatives that put Total Defence into action. Individuals/groups whose proposals are shortlisted will get the chance to work with us and relevant partners to prototype their ideas and even fully implement them!
The Total Defence Programme for Uniformed Groups (UGs) aims to promote awareness of and participation in Total Defence among secondary school students in UGs.
N.E.mation!
N.E.mation! is an annual national digital animation and storyboard competition for students and youths to express their thoughts about Total Defence.
View all N.E.mation! videos from past seasons here. You may also use this guide to facilitate discussions based on the N.E.mation! clips.
Carry Forth the Fire - A Song for Total Defence
In commemoration of 40 years of Total Defence, we collaborated with The Songwriter Music College (TSMC) to get their students to write a song in support of Total Defence. The song, "Carry Forth the Fire", written and sung by AEONA, a 21-year old homegrown singer-songwriter, emerged as the winner.
Singapore's Total Defence Framework has helped to rally the country and facilitated a whole-of-country response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The wide-ranging and multi-sectoral effects brought about by the pandemic underscores Singapore's need for a coordinated, cross-domain response to national security threats. Total Defence remains salient and critical to Singapore's national defence posture.
Commentary: The Spirit of Total Defence, by Mr Chew Sutat
Crises and disruptions often have a disproportionate impact on the vulnerable. During peacetime, we have to inculcate a culture of giving as a way of living. To support and champion the potential of the differently-abled in our midst. To commit not just resources in writing a cheque, but also to volunteer our time and talent in the community. In establishing habits that have been time-honoured since our forefathers' days of community self-help, we can foster a whole-of-society resilience and not be easily shaken by the next crisis.
How a nation responds in times of crisis and disruption is critical for the survival and success of vulnerable small states such as Singapore.
Commentary: Sports and National Defence, by Mr Nicholas Fang
George Orwell famously wrote that sports is "war minus the shooting". While the celebrated writer meant that sports at the highest levels was similar to war in that it was about winning, almost at all costs, it is worth exploring the value that sporting contests have in the context of national defence.
ciNE65 Short Film Competition
The competition aims to capture our Singaporean identity through the lenses of local budding film-makers. Launched by Nexus in July 2011, it encourages aspiring film-makers to tell their Singapore story and what Singapore means to them. Through ciNE65, Nexus hopes to harness the potential of short films to touch the hearts and minds of Singaporeans.
Total Defence Tower Defence Game
The Total Defence Tower Defence Game (TDTDG), an online strategy game, adds a Total Defence-themed twist to the classic tower defence game where players need to allocate resources to build towers to defend their territories against enemy attacks. In the TDTDG, players have to defend Singapore against various threats.
Total Defence Murder Mystery Role-playing Game (MMRPG) Video Series
6 players, 1 murder. Who can it be? The Total Defence MMRPG video series is an immersive social deduction game developed into a three-part video series. This is a ground-up initiative, implemented under the Total Defence Sandbox.