From November 1, 2026, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) will begin operating under a new functional setup approved by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). The change replaces the force’s mainly territorial command pattern with a sector-based structure intended to bring similar kinds of protected assets under one administrative and operational umbrella.
The announcement signals a broad shift in how the CISF will supervise sensitive installations across the country. According to the force, the revised model is meant to improve specialisation, streamline oversight, and align security practices more closely with the needs of each sector and the organisations that run those facilities.
What the new structure changes
Under the reorganisation, establishments that belong to the same economic or strategic field will be grouped together even if they are located in different parts of India. The CISF says this should help build sector-specific expertise, standardise procedures, and improve coordination with ministries, departments, and client organisations.
Several existing territorial sectors have been redesignated. The National Capital Region Sector will now function as the Government Building Museums and Monuments and Mass Rapid Transit System (GBMM & MRTS) Sector, headquartered in New Delhi. It will handle government buildings, museums, historical monuments, and mass rapid transit systems, including the Delhi Metro.
Redesignated sectors
- The North Sector (New Delhi) will become the Power-I Sector.
- The North Eastern Sector-II (Kolkata) will become the Power-II Sector.
- The Eastern Sector (Ranchi) will become the Coal Sector.
- The Central Sector (Bhilai) will become the Steel Sector.
- The North Eastern Sector (Guwahati) will become the Petroleum and Natural Gas Sector.
- The Western Sector (Mumbai) will become the West Coast Port Sector.
- The South Sector (Chennai) will become 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 in their current specialised arrangements.
Why CISF says the move is needed
A senior CISF officer said that each energy and strategic sector has different operating processes, infrastructure, risks, and security vulnerabilities. Bringing them under common commands is expected to support more focused training, sector-specific standard operating procedures, better use of specialised personnel, and closer coordination with client organisations.
The force also said the reorganisation would help protect India’s strategic and economic assets through a more specialised security system while improving accountability and consistency in operations. It noted that the move builds on the CISF’s experience with functional commands over the past 25 years, including aviation security and establishments under the DAE and DoS.
Port security gets sharper focus
The creation of the West Coast Port Sector in Mumbai and the East Coast Port Sector in Chennai stands out as a major part of the restructuring. India has around 250 large and small seaports, and 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 new coastal sectors are expected to help the force build dedicated port-security expertise, standardise procedures, and work more closely with port authorities.
Broader responsibilities beyond industrial security
The restructuring comes at a time when the CISF’s role is expanding beyond its traditional industrial security mandate. The force has been assigned security duties at high-security correctional facilities in Jammu and Kashmir and has also been named the nodal agency for aerial security of critical infrastructure.
In parallel, the CISF is strengthening its capabilities in cybersecurity, drone, and anti-drone areas through specialised training and cooperation with premier institutions. Founded in 1969 and headquartered in New Delhi, the force guards 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 will take effect from November 1, 2026.
