• The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has sanctioned two fresh battalions comprising more than 2,000 personnel for the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) guarding vital installations like airports and nuclear power plants.

• This decision, coupled with the recently-approved mahila (women) battalion, will augment the force’s capacity, strengthen national security and create new employment opportunities for over 2,000 persons.

• Late last year, an all-women battalion was sanctioned for the force.

• These upcoming battalions will also be vital in catering to the increasing demands on the CISF by creating a pool of trained personnel to fulfill immediate induction requirements relating to internal security.

• The force currently has 12 reserve battalions on ground with a strength of 1,025 personnel in each.

• The reserve battalions consist of personnel specifically trained and equipped who are experienced in handling security of high security hails and other undertakings.

Central Industrial Security Force (CISF)

• The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) was raised through an Act of Parliament in March 1969. It was established with a strength of 3,129 personnel. The strength of the Force has grown exponentially to about 1,88,355 personnel. 

• It is a part of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) under the Ministry of Home Affairs. 

Functions of CISF:

• The CISF is providing security cover to 359 establishments including 68 domestic and international airports and fire protection cover to 115 industrial undertakings.

• It has become a premier multi-skilled security agency of the country, mandated to provide security to major critical infrastructure installations of the country in diverse regions including terrorist and naxal affected areas. 

• CISF is currently providing security cover to atomic power plants, space installations, defence production units, mines, oil fields and refineries, major sea ports, heavy engineering/steel plants, fertilizer units, airports, hydro electric/thermal power plants, sensitive government buildings and heritage monuments (including Taj Mahal and Red Fort) and important private sector units. 

• CISF is one of the largest Fire Protection Service providers in the country. It provides fire protection and fire safety coverage to 115 establishments. Fire wing is an integral part of CISF, managed by professionally trained personnel with science and engineering backgrounds. First fire wing unit was inducted at Fertilizer and Chemical Travancore (FACT), Kochi in 1970 with a sanctioned strength of 53 personnel. CISF is the only Central Armed Police Force having a full-fledged fire service wing.

• In 1999, CISF was authorised to extend technical and fire consultancy services on the payment basis to establishments even in the private sector where CISF is not deployed.

• The specialised task of airport security was assigned to CISF in 2000 following the  hijack of Indian Airlines Flight IC-814 to Kandahar. The Force has since been deployed at 68 airports across the country. 

• The CISF was inducted in Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) in 2007. DMRC is a Hyper Sensitive Unit and is the largest unit of CISF.

• CISF has been mandated to provide protection to the VIP protectees of various categories across the country. The VIP Security Wing of CISF, called Special Security Group (SSG), is looking after the security of VVIPs/VIPs.

Central Armed Police Forces

Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) refers to the common nomenclature of seven security forces. It is under administrative control of the Ministry of Home Affairs. 

The CAPF consists of:

1) Border Security Force (BSF)

2) Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)

3) Central Industrial Security Force (CISF)

4) Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP)

5) Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB)

6) Assam Rifles (AR) 

7) National Security Guard (NSG).

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