CISF to Reorganise Supervisory Structure From November 1, Creates Sector-Specific Wings
The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) will roll out a reorganisation of its administrative and operational structure from 1 November, the Force said in a statement. The revised arrangements, approved by the Ministry of Home Affairs, are aimed at aligning supervision more closely with the specific security requirements of the sectors it guards.
According to the statement, the objective is to improve operational oversight, promote sector-specific expertise, ensure greater uniformity in security practices and strengthen coordination with the concerned ministries, departments and installation managements.
The Force protects a wide range of establishments — airports and seaports, atomic energy and space installations, power plants and power grids, steel plants, coal mines, petroleum and natural gas facilities, currency note presses, government buildings, iconic monuments and mass rapid transit systems. Each of these sectors has distinct operational processes, infrastructure, potential hazards and security vulnerabilities.
Under the earlier arrangement, administrative and operational supervision was largely organised along geographical lines. Over the past 25 years, the CISF has progressively adopted a functional approach in selected sectors, with aviation and the strategic establishments under the Department of Atomic Energy and the Department of Space cited by the Force as the earliest examples of this model.
What changes from November 1
The National Capital Region Sector has been reorganised as the Government Building, Museums and Monuments and Mass Rapid Transit System (GBMM & MRTS) Sector, New Delhi. The North Sector (New Delhi) and the North Eastern Sector-II (Kolkata) have been restructured as the Power-I and Power-II Sectors respectively. The Eastern Sector (Ranchi) has been transitioned into the Coal Sector, the Central Sector (Bhilai) into the dedicated Steel Sector, and the North Eastern Sector (Guwahati) into the Petroleum and Natural Gas Sector.
To strengthen security management at maritime trade infrastructure, the Western Sector (Mumbai) and the Southern Sector (Chennai) will function as the West Coast Port Sector and the East Coast Port Sector respectively.
The Department of Atomic Energy and Department of Space Sector in Bengaluru, Airport Sector-I in New Delhi and Airport Sector-II in Bengaluru will continue under their existing functional arrangements.
The reorganisation comes as the CISF's mandate expands beyond conventional industrial security. The Force has been designated a Recognised Security Organisation for port facilities under the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code. The functional realignment of port-sector supervision is expected to support the development of specialised port-security expertise and better coordination with port authorities and other stakeholders.
The CISF has also been entrusted with security responsibilities at high-security correctional facilities in Jammu and Kashmir, and designated as the nodal agency for aerial security of critical infrastructure. The Force said these responsibilities require specialised training, clear operational accountability and a coordinated approach to emerging security challenges.
In addition, the CISF is strengthening its cyber-security and drone and anti-drone capabilities through specialised training and collaboration with premier institutions. These initiatives are intended to enhance preparedness against cyberattacks, digital threats and hostile unmanned aerial systems that may endanger vital installations.
