Centre Moves to Bring All Seaport Security Under CISF’s Unified Watch

The Union government is moving to place security at India’s sea ports under the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), creating a unified, airport‑style protection framework across both major and non‑major maritime gateways.

Home Minister Amit Shah announced that CISF will “oversee security of sea ports across the country,” with the force designated as the lead agency and Recognised Security Organisation (RSO) under the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code. The move builds on earlier orders from the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways that tasked CISF with conducting Port Facility Security Assessments (PFSA) and preparing Port Facility Security Plans (PFSP) for all 80 key EXIM ports, with phased expansion to roughly 250 seaports nationwide.

Under a hybrid security model, CISF will handle core functions such as access control, perimeter and seafront patrolling, and cargo/passenger screening, while non‑core duties like traffic management and some gate operations may be undertaken by state police, state industrial security forces or private security agencies. The force is raising a dedicated port‑security vertical—with about 12,000 additional personnel—and standardised training to plug longstanding gaps arising from varied, non‑standard security arrangements at private and minor ports.

Officials say the overhaul aims to harden India’s maritime frontiers against terrorism, smuggling and drone threats, while supporting smooth and secure operations at ports that handle the bulk of the country’s trade.