The Ministry of Home Affairs has approved a significant increase in the strength of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), allowing its personnel count to grow from 1.62 lakh to 2.2 lakh. This substantial enhancement entails the recruitment of 14,000 new officers each year until 2029, ultimately adding 70,000 personnel to address the nation’s escalating security requirements.
The bolstered CISF will focus on safeguarding vital sectors, including airports, ports, nuclear facilities, power plants, and the prison system in Jammu & Kashmir. Furthermore, with a decline in Left-Wing Extremism noted in states such as Chhattisgarh, the force intends to broaden its security coverage to emerging industrial hubs across the country.
In 2024, the CISF successfully inducted 13,230 personnel, while recruitment is currently underway for an additional 24,098 officers for 2025. This expansion is not only projected to increase the overall number of personnel but also aims to enhance gender representation within the force, thanks to gender-inclusive recruitment policies. Additionally, this expansion will facilitate the establishment of a new battalion specifically dedicated to internal security and various contingency operations.
Over the past year, the CISF has integrated seven new units under its Security Wing, tasked with securing important sites such as the Parliament House Complex, Ayodhya Airport, and several power projects, including NTPC’s Hazaribagh coal initiative, along with the ICMR-NIV laboratory in Pune. The Fire Wing has also seen the addition of two units at the Parliament House and in Etah.
Officials emphasize that this move is in line with the government’s broader strategy to enhance the protection of national assets amid the ongoing expansion of India’s infrastructure and the evolving landscape of security challenges. The proactive approach reflects the government’s commitment to ensuring a robust security framework for the nation.
