MaritimeSecurity – Amit Shah Pushes Stronger Port Protection With CISF-Led Security Framework

MaritimeSecurity –  The Union government has outlined a series of measures to strengthen security at the country’s ports, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah directing that only personnel from licensed private security agencies trained by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) should be deployed for port protection. The directions were issued during a high-level review of the proposed Bureau of Port Security (BoPS), which is expected to play a central role in safeguarding India’s maritime infrastructure.

Focus on strengthening coastal security

Chairing the review meeting alongside Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal, Shah stressed that India’s coastal security network must be made more resilient against emerging threats. Senior officials, including the Union Home Secretary, the Director of the Intelligence Bureau, the CISF Director General, and secretaries from multiple ministries, participated in the discussions on the new security framework.

According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Home Minister instructed officials to ensure that private security personnel deployed at ports receive mandatory training from the CISF. He also asked authorities to begin operations at the Port Security Training Institute without delay by making use of the available infrastructure.

National database and advanced screening planned

To improve coordination and accountability, Shah directed officials to establish a nationwide database covering all personnel working under the proposed Bureau of Port Security. He also emphasized that every port should be equipped with container scanning facilities as part of the upgraded security mechanism.

The government believes these measures will help strengthen surveillance, improve cargo inspection capabilities, and create a more uniform security system across ports handling domestic and international trade.

Trial implementation at major ports

Before introducing the new model across the country, the Home Minister instructed the CISF to conduct pilot exercises at selected major ports. These include Visakhapatnam Port, Jawaharlal Nehru Port, and Mundra Port, where the proposed security architecture will be tested under real operating conditions.

The trial runs are intended to identify operational challenges and assess the effectiveness of the planned security procedures before they are adopted nationwide.

Bureau of Port Security to oversee regulation

The Bureau of Port Security is being established as a statutory authority under Section 13 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 2025. The organisation will be headed by a Director General and will supervise regulatory, inspection, and compliance-related functions concerning ships and port facilities.

Apart from physical protection, the Bureau will also be responsible for gathering, analysing, and sharing security-related intelligence among relevant agencies. A dedicated cyber security division will monitor and protect the digital infrastructure of ports against cyber attacks and other technology-driven risks, reflecting the growing importance of digital security in maritime operations.

Fishing harbour security also reviewed

During a separate review, Shah assessed security arrangements at fishing harbours and fish landing centres across the country. He directed the Fisheries Department to increase awareness of the Indian Space Research Organisation’s Nabhmitra mobile application so that more fishermen can receive weather updates and safety alerts directly on their mobile phones.

The Home Minister also instructed the department to collect detailed information from District Magistrates and Superintendents of Police regarding all fish landing centres within their respective districts.

Simplified registration and permanent security measures

Shah further called for simplifying the registration process for fishermen to improve accessibility and encourage wider participation in government systems. At the same time, he directed district police authorities to strengthen security at fish landing centres by ensuring the deployment of permanent police personnel wherever necessary.

The latest directions underline the Centre’s broader effort to reinforce maritime security through improved coordination, specialised training, enhanced surveillance, stronger cyber protection, and closer monitoring of both commercial ports and fishing infrastructure.