New Delhi, October 18, 2026: The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) will implement a major functional reorganisation of its administrative and operational command structure with effect from November 1, 2026. Approved by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the restructuring shifts the force from a primarily territorial supervision model to a domain-based, sector-specific framework. The objective is to strengthen specialised security management across India’s critical infrastructure and strategic establishments.
Under the revised structure, establishments belonging to the same economic or strategic sector will be brought under a common command, irrespective of geographical location. This is intended to improve operational oversight, develop sector-specific expertise, standardise security practices, and strengthen coordination with concerned ministries, departments, and installation managements.
Key Sector Redesignations
The reorganisation redesignates existing territorial sectors as follows:
- The National Capital Region Sector will become the Government Building Museums and Monuments and Mass Rapid Transit System (GBMM & 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 (New Delhi) will be restructured as the Power-I Sector, and the North Eastern Sector-II (Kolkata) as the Power-II Sector.
- The Eastern Sector (Ranchi) will become the Coal Sector.
- The Central Sector (Bhilai) will be converted into the dedicated Steel Sector.
- The North Eastern Sector (Guwahati) will be transformed into the Petroleum and Natural Gas Sector.
- The Western Sector (Mumbai) will become the West Coast Port Sector, and the South Sector (Chennai) the East Coast Port Sector.
- The existing Department of Atomic Energy and Department of Space (DAE & DoS) Sector in Bengaluru, Airport Sector-I in New Delhi, and Airport Sector-II in Bengaluru will continue under their existing specialised functional arrangements.
Rationale and Expected Benefits
A senior CISF officer explained that each energy and strategic sector has distinct operational processes, infrastructure, potential hazards, and security vulnerabilities. Grouping them under unified commands is expected to promote specialised supervision, focused training, sector-specific standard operating procedures, better utilisation of specialised personnel, and closer coordination with client organisations.
The force stated that the reorganisation will ensure India’s strategic and economic assets are guarded by a highly specialised, sector-specific security apparatus, improving operational accountability and uniformity in practices. It builds on the CISF’s experience with functional commands over the past 25 years in areas such as aviation security and establishments under the DAE and DoS.
Focus on Port Security and Expanding Mandate
The creation of the West Coast Port Sector (Mumbai) and East Coast Port Sector (Chennai) is particularly significant. India has around 250 large and small seaports. The CISF currently provides security to 13 major ports, including Jawaharlal Nehru Port in Maharashtra and Mundra Port in Gujarat. Last year, the Centre designated the CISF as the nodal seaports security force after recognising it as a Recognised Security Organisation (RSO) under the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code. The dedicated coastal sectors are expected to develop specialised port-security expertise, standardise procedures, and improve coordination with port authorities.
The restructuring also comes as the CISF’s responsibilities expand beyond conventional industrial security. The force has been entrusted with security at high-security correctional facilities in Jammu and Kashmir and designated as the nodal agency for aerial security of critical infrastructure. It is simultaneously strengthening cybersecurity, drone, and anti-drone capabilities through specialised training and collaboration with premier institutions.
The CISF, established in 1969 and headquartered in New Delhi, provides security to a wide range of critical installations, including airports, seaports, atomic energy and space facilities, power plants, steel plants, coal mines, petroleum and natural gas units, government buildings, monuments, and mass transit systems. The MHA-approved changes take effect from November 1, 2026.
