Full body scanners trialled at four airports; installation pushed for Srinagar, Jammu, Ayodhya
The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), India's civil aviation security regulator, has directed airport operators in Srinagar, Jammu, and Ayodhya to prioritise the installation of full body scanners, a senior government official confirmed on Wednesday. The development coincides with ongoing trials of the same technology at four major airports.
The trials, which began in May 2026 and will last three months, involve scanners deployed at the Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Kochi airports. The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), responsible for security at 73 civil airports, is assessing the technology’s performance. Full body scanners use advanced imaging to detect both metallic and non-metallic items concealed under clothing, potentially reducing the reliance on physical pat-downs and making security checks less invasive.
On April 2, the BCAS issued standard operating procedures for the use of these scanners at pre-embarkation security hold areas. According to the official, the deployment is intended to “significantly enhance threat detection capabilities by minimising physical frisking.” The trial is evaluating multiple parameters: operational effectiveness, passenger convenience, privacy safeguards, and integration with existing security protocols. Findings from this evaluation will shape future policy and the wider deployment of the technology.
Notably, the BCAS has also mandated that all airports handling an annual passenger volume exceeding 50 lakh install the scanners, signalling a phased national rollout. The priority request for Srinagar, Jammu, and Ayodhya indicates a heightened security focus at these airports, though no specific reason was disclosed.
In parallel, other security measures have been reinforced. Bomb detection and disposal squads are now operational at 25 airports, and bomb detection teams have been activated at 35 additional locations. Dog squads, specialised in explosive detection, have been deployed at most airports to supplement security operations.
The CISF also released data on contraband seizures. In the calendar year 2025, its personnel intercepted around 31.46 kg of gold, 114.13 kg of silver, and cash totalling Rs 52.91 crore suspected to be illegally transported. Between January and May 31, 2026, the force seized 12.779 kg of gold, 23.825 kg of silver, and Rs 14.49 crore in cash. Additionally, from 2021 through June 17, 2026, there were 63 cases of narcotics seizures involving substances like tramadol, methaqualone, cannabis, charas, heroin, brown sugar, marijuana, and hashish.
Furthermore, the CISF is digitising its operational records, including data on explosive detection system checks and prohibited item detections. The integration of these digitised registers with integrated command centres is expected to enhance efficiency, accountability, and data-driven decision-making.
