The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) will implement a major restructuring of its administrative and operational command structure from November 1, shifting from territorial supervision to a domain-based model to strengthen security at India's critical infrastructure and strategic establishments.
Approved by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the reorganisation will bring establishments belonging to the same economic or strategic sector under a common command, irrespective of their geographical location. The move aims to improve operational oversight, develop sector-specific expertise, standardise security practices and strengthen coordination with ministries, government departments and facility managements.
The CISF, established in 1969 and headquartered in Delhi, has around 2.70 lakh personnel. Under the existing arrangement, its regional units largely operate according to territorial jurisdiction, meaning a single office may oversee facilities from different sectors, such as power and coal.
A senior CISF officer told news agency Press Trust of India (PTI) that the force recognised that different energy and strategic sectors had distinct operational processes, infrastructure, potential hazards and security vulnerabilities. These sectors therefore needed to be grouped together under specialised commands, regardless of their geographical locations.
NEW SECTOR-BASED COMMAND STRUCTURE
Under the restructuring, several existing sectors will be redesignated to provide specialised supervision of specific industries and establishments.
The National Capital Region Sector will become the Government Building Museums and Monuments and Mass Rapid Transit System (GBMM and MRTS) Sector, headquartered in New Delhi. It will oversee government buildings, museums, historical monuments and mass rapid transit systems, including the Delhi Metro.
The North Sector, headquartered in New Delhi, will become the Power-I Sector, while the North Eastern Sector-II, based in Kolkata, will become the Power-II Sector. The changes will place power-related establishments under dedicated commands to improve security oversight and coordination.
The Eastern Sector in Ranchi will be converted into the Coal Sector, while the Central Sector in Bhilai will become the dedicated Steel Sector. The North Eastern Sector in Guwahati will be redesignated as the Petroleum and Natural Gas Sector.
The Western Sector, headquartered in Mumbai, will become the West Coast Port Sector, while the Southern Sector, based in Chennai, will become the East Coast Port Sector. Both will focus on strengthening security at seaports along India's western and eastern coasts.
The existing DAE and DoS Sector in Bengaluru, Airport Sector-I in New Delhi and Airport Sector-II in Bengaluru will continue under their specialised functional arrangements.
TWO COASTAL SECTORS TO OVERSEE PORT SECURITY
The creation of two dedicated coastal sectors assumes particular significance as the CISF strengthens its role in securing India's maritime infrastructure.
India has around 250 large and small seaports. The CISF currently guards 13 major ports, including Jawaharlal Nehru Port in Maharashtra and Mundra Port in Gujarat.
The Centre designated the CISF as the country's nodal seaport security force after recognising it as a Recognised Security Organisation (RSO) under the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code.
The new coastal commands are expected to help develop specialised port-security expertise, standardise procedures and improve coordination with port authorities and other stakeholders.
The restructuring builds on the CISF's experience with functional commands over the past 25 years. The force has already adopted specialised arrangements for aviation security and establishments under the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) and the Department of Space (DoS).
GROWING SECURITY RESPONSIBILITIES
The reorganisation comes as the CISF takes on responsibilities beyond conventional industrial security. The force has been entrusted with security duties at high-security correctional facilities in Jammu and Kashmir and designated the nodal agency for aerial security of critical infrastructure.
The CISF is also strengthening its cybersecurity, drone and anti-drone capabilities through specialised training and collaboration with premier institutions. These efforts aim to improve preparedness against cyberattacks, digital threats and hostile unmanned aerial systems that could endanger critical installations.
The force said the restructuring would ensure that India's strategic and economic assets receive specialised, sector-specific security. The new framework is intended to improve accountability, promote uniform security practices and strengthen coordination with the ministries and organisations concerned.
The reorganisation will take effect on November 1, following approval from the Ministry of Home Affairs.
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