CISF Introduces Specialised Security Commands to Protect India’s Critical PSU and Industrial Infrastructure

The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has introduced a major organisational restructuring to strengthen the protection of India’s critical industrial infrastructure, replacing its traditional geographical command system with specialised sectors dedicated to power generation, coal mining, steel production, petroleum and natural gas, seaports and other strategically important installations. The new structure became operational on 1 November 2026 following approval from the Ministry of Home Affairs.

The restructuring is intended to improve operational efficiency, strengthen coordination with public sector undertakings (PSUs) and other infrastructure operators, and enable faster responses to emerging security threats. By grouping installations according to their industrial functions rather than geographical locations, the CISF aims to develop specialised security capabilities tailored to the operational requirements and vulnerabilities of different sectors.

According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the revised command structure will facilitate more effective supervision, standardised security procedures and closer cooperation between the CISF, government ministries and organisations responsible for operating critical national infrastructure. The changes are also expected to support the adoption of advanced surveillance systems, counter-drone technologies, cyber-risk management and specialised emergency response procedures.

From Territorial Commands to Specialised Industrial Security Sectors

Under the earlier organisational arrangement, individual CISF sector headquarters were responsible for supervising installations located within designated geographical territories. A single sector headquarters could oversee more than 50 operational units serving different industries, including coal mines, thermal power plants, ports and other critical facilities. These installations frequently came under different government ministries and required substantially different security procedures.

The geographical arrangement created complex administrative requirements because the security challenges associated with a coal mine are not identical to those encountered at a petroleum refinery, steel manufacturing facility or seaport. Each category of infrastructure operates under distinct technological conditions, regulatory requirements and operational risks, making specialised knowledge increasingly important for effective security planning.

The new functional system addresses these differences by organising security supervision around specific industries. Sector commanders will be able to concentrate on the operational characteristics of the installations under their responsibility, enabling the development of more consistent security protocols and stronger coordination with the organisations operating those facilities.

The Ministry of Home Affairs expects the restructuring to reduce administrative bottlenecks and improve the speed of operational decision-making, particularly during incidents requiring coordination between security personnel, industrial management and government authorities.

Dedicated Security Commands Established for Power, Coal and Steel Industries

The new structure establishes two dedicated sectors for power infrastructure, headquartered in New Delhi and Kolkata. The Power-I and Power-II sectors will provide specialised supervisory arrangements for installations associated with electricity generation and related infrastructure under CISF protection.

A dedicated Coal Sector headquartered in Ranchi will oversee security arrangements for coal-sector installations, while the Steel Sector based in Bhilai will focus on facilities associated with steel manufacturing. These commands are intended to improve the consistency of security operations across installations that share similar industrial processes and operational requirements.

The creation of specialised commands is particularly relevant to India’s public sector enterprises, many of which operate large industrial complexes, mining areas and power generation facilities. Organisations working in these sectors face security challenges ranging from unauthorised access and theft to sabotage, operational disruption and threats involving emerging technologies.

By concentrating expertise within industry-specific commands, the CISF intends to strengthen preventive security arrangements and improve the ability of security personnel to understand the technical and operational environments in which they are deployed.

Petroleum, Natural Gas and Ports Receive Dedicated Security Supervision

A specialised Petroleum and Natural Gas Sector has been established in Guwahati to strengthen security supervision for installations associated with the country’s hydrocarbon industry. Petroleum refineries, oil and gas processing facilities and related infrastructure require carefully coordinated security arrangements because disruptions can have consequences for industrial operations, fuel availability and public safety.

The revised structure also establishes separate maritime security sectors for India’s western and eastern coasts. The West Coast Port Sector will operate from Mumbai, while the East Coast Port Sector will be headquartered in Chennai. These commands will provide specialised supervision for port installations protected by the CISF.

Ports occupy an important position in India’s international trade and logistics networks, handling cargo movements involving industrial raw materials, energy products, manufactured goods and other essential commodities. Their security requirements include controlling access to sensitive areas, protecting cargo-handling infrastructure and maintaining readiness for incidents that could disrupt port operations.

The creation of dedicated port sectors is expected to facilitate stronger coordination between CISF personnel, port authorities and other agencies responsible for maritime infrastructure security. It also provides an organisational framework for developing security procedures suited to the operational characteristics of major port installations.

Government Buildings and Urban Transit Infrastructure Included

The restructuring also establishes a Government Buildings, Museums and Monuments, and Mass Rapid Transit System Sector headquartered in New Delhi. This sector brings together security responsibilities for important government facilities, cultural institutions and urban transportation systems under a specialised supervisory arrangement.

Government buildings and nationally significant institutions require security measures designed to protect sensitive premises, employees, visitors and public assets. Museums and monuments present additional considerations involving the protection of cultural heritage, visitor management and the preservation of historically important properties.

Mass rapid transit systems operate in a different security environment, characterised by substantial passenger movement, interconnected stations and the need to maintain continuous public transportation services. Dedicated supervision is intended to help the CISF address these requirements through more consistent planning, personnel deployment and incident-response arrangements.

The new sector joins the functional command structure already established for aviation security in 2001 and for installations associated with the Department of Atomic Energy and Department of Space in 2018. The latest restructuring therefore extends an existing model of specialised supervision across additional categories of national infrastructure.

Counter-Drone Systems and Cybersecurity Become Important Priorities

The Ministry of Home Affairs has identified emerging technological threats as an important consideration in the reorganisation. Critical infrastructure facilities increasingly depend on interconnected digital systems, automated industrial processes and electronic surveillance networks, creating security requirements that extend beyond conventional perimeter protection.

Unauthorised drones, cyberattacks, sabotage and other forms of operational disruption are among the threats specifically identified in the government’s announcement. The revised sector-based structure is intended to support more focused assessments of these risks and encourage the adoption of security measures appropriate to each category of installation.

The restructuring will facilitate improvements in standard operating procedures, access-control arrangements and the deployment of Quick Reaction Teams. It is also expected to support the integration of advanced security technologies, including counter-drone systems and sector-specific emergency response mechanisms.

These measures are particularly relevant to facilities where an interruption could affect essential services or industrial production. Power plants, refineries, ports and other strategically important installations require security arrangements that can detect threats, coordinate responses and support the continuity of critical operations.

The CISF has been expanding its capabilities in these areas through specialised training and technology-oriented initiatives. In June 2026, the Ministry of Home Affairs announced that the force was developing a Centre of Excellence for Drone and Anti-Drone Technology at its Regional Training Centre in Behror, Rajasthan. The CISF has also been designated as a nodal agency for protecting critical infrastructure against rogue drone threats.

Coal Sector Security Builds on Earlier Measures Against Illegal Mining

The establishment of a dedicated Coal Sector comes amid government efforts to strengthen security across coalfields and prevent illegal extraction, theft and unauthorised transportation of coal. Earlier in 2026, the Ministry of Home Affairs directed closer coordination between the CISF, the Ministry of Coal, coal-producing enterprises and law enforcement agencies to address these challenges.

During a high-level review on 5 July 2026, Union Home Minister Amit Shah emphasised the need to improve surveillance and strengthen enforcement against illegal coal mining and theft, particularly in vulnerable coal-producing regions. The government called for the implementation of a coordinated Zero Coal Leakage Plan, including the deployment of Quick Reaction Teams and the use of modern surveillance technologies.

The initiative involved greater coordination between the CISF and coal-sector organisations, including Coal India Limited and its subsidiaries. Authorities were also directed to strengthen monitoring of coal movement and improve the use of technological systems to identify suspicious activities and unauthorised transportation.

The new functional Coal Sector provides a dedicated command arrangement for supervising security operations across coal-related installations. Although the restructuring does not itself constitute a new enforcement law, it is intended to strengthen the organisational capacity required to coordinate preventive security, surveillance and incident-response activities.

Closer Coordination with Public Sector Enterprises

One of the principal objectives of the restructuring is to improve coordination between the CISF and the organisations whose infrastructure it protects. The new sector headquarters will provide more clearly defined supervisory arrangements, enabling public sector enterprises and other infrastructure operators to engage with specialised CISF commands familiar with their operational requirements.

For industrial organisations, effective security depends on coordination between facility management, technical departments, security personnel and government authorities. Decisions concerning access control, emergency response, surveillance infrastructure and operational continuity must often account for complex industrial processes and the need to maintain essential services.

The functional command model is expected to make this coordination more efficient by establishing specialised channels of communication between CISF sector headquarters and the relevant industries. It will also facilitate the development of security procedures suited to particular sectors rather than relying on arrangements designed primarily around geographical administrative boundaries.

According to the CISF Director General, the restructuring is intended to establish clearer points of contact for client organisations, reduce operational delays and enable timely decisions during emergencies. The changes are also expected to strengthen accountability and professional expertise across the force’s security operations.

Strengthening the Protection of India’s Strategic Industrial Assets

The restructuring represents an important development in India’s approach to industrial and critical infrastructure security. The CISF is responsible for protecting a wide range of strategically important facilities, including airports, seaports, power plants, nuclear establishments, space installations and major industrial complexes operated by public and private organisations.

As India’s industrial infrastructure expands and technological systems become increasingly interconnected, security requirements are becoming more specialised. Different sectors face distinct operational risks, making it important for security personnel and supervisory authorities to possess the technical understanding required to respond effectively.

The transition to functional commands is intended to address these requirements through industry-specific expertise, improved coordination and more consistent security planning. The integration of counter-drone technologies, cyber-risk management and specialised emergency response arrangements will also become increasingly important as security threats evolve.

With the new structure operational from 1 November 2026, the CISF has begun a significant reorganisation of its command system. Its effectiveness will depend on the implementation of specialised procedures, training, technology integration and cooperation with the organisations responsible for India’s critical infrastructure.

The initiative marks a shift towards a more specialised model of industrial security, with the objective of protecting essential infrastructure and maintaining the continuity of services that support India’s economy, industrial production and national security.

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