Central Industrial Security Force (CISF)

About Central Industrial Security Force (CISF):

• It is a Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) in India.
• It was set up under an Act of the Parliament of India on 10 March 1969 with a strength of 2,800. 
• CISF was subsequently made an armed force of the Republic of India by another Act of Parliament passed on 15 June 1983.
• The force has since grown into a premier multi-skilled organization with a present strength of more than 1,88,000 personnel.
• It is directly under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, and its headquarters are at New Delhi.
• The CISF at present provides security cover to 359 establishments across the country.
• Organisation Structure:
  • CISF is headed by an Indian Police Serviceofficer with the rank of Director-General, assisted by an IPS officer in the rank of Addl. Director-General.
  • The force is divided into seven sectors (Airport, North, North-East, East, West, South, and Training), and also has a Fire Service Wing.
• Functions:
  • The CISF security umbrella includes India’s most critical infrastructure facilities like nuclear installations, space establishments, airports, seaports, power plants, etc.
  • The specialized task of airport security was assigned to CISF in the year 2000 in the wake of the hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight IC-814 to Kandahar.
  • In addition, the CISF also protects important government buildings, iconic heritage monuments, Delhi Metro, Parliament House Complex, and Central Jails of Jammu and Kashmir.
  • The CISF also has a specialized VIP Security vertical, providing round-the-clock security to important protectees.
  • CISF is one of the largest Fire Protection Service providers in the country. CISF is the only force with a customized and dedicated fire wing.
  • Post the Mumbai terror attack in November 2008, the mandate of CISF was broadened to provide security cover to private corporate establishments also.
  • The CISF also provides security consultancy services to private entities and its services are much in demand.
  • The CISF is the only CAPF with a daily public interface - in the airports, in the Delhi Metro, and in the iconic monuments.

Q1: What is the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF)?

The Armed Police Organisations, referred to as Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), such as the Assam Rifles (AR), Border Security Force (BSF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), National Security Guard (NSG) and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), function under the administrative control of Ministry of Home Affairs, New Delhi. Though the AR functions under the administrative control of the MHA, its operational control rests with the Ministry of Defence. Of the CAPFs, the AR, BSF, ITBP and SSB are Border Guarding Forces. The NSG is a commando trained force Organisation in India and is used for special operations. The CISF provides security and protection to industrial undertakings and vital installations. The CRPF is deployed in aid of civil power in matters relating to maintenance of law and order, internal security and counterinsurgency. The CAPF’s are headed by DGP rank officers.

Source: Centre moves Supreme Court over 'poor arrangement' for CISF personnel at RG Kar