Full Form of CISF
Central Industrial Security Force
CISF Full Form is Central Industrial Security Force. CISF refers to a Central Armed Police Force established in its current form in India in the year 1983. It was established vide a Parliamentary Act in the year 1969, having the strength of 2800 back then. CISF was eventually made part of the armed force by another Parliamentary Act which was passed in the year 1983. Its present sanctioned strength stands at 142,526. CISF functions directly under the aegis of the Ministry of Home Affairs, with its headquarters established in National Capital, New Delhi.
The CISF offers protection to about 300 industrial units and other related establishments situated across the country. Industrial sectors where protection is provided include space installations, refineries, heavy engineering, barrages, atomic power plants, airports, hydroelectric power plants which are owned and controlled by the Central Public Sector Undertakings (abbreviated as PSUs). CISF also provides protection to currency note presses that produce Indian Currency.
Additionally, CISF also offers consultancy services to several private enterprises within the Indian government. Some of its consulting clients include TISCO, Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corp, Orissa Mining Co., SEBI headquarters, etc. The scope and extent of the consulting facilities include fire protection and security consulting services. CISF is basically a peculiar organization functional in paramilitary forces of the country that works for airways, seaways, and other major installations in the country.
There are specifically reserved battalions within CISF that coordinate with the state police for the purpose of the protection of law and order. It undertakes major responsibilities in Disaster Management. Another interesting feature of the CISF is that it is equipped with a Fire Wing that provides help during fire accidents in installations where CISF is deployed. Thus, the role and responsibilities of the CISF are very critical for national security.
History behind the CISF
CISF was established in the year 1969 for the purpose of providing protection to critical industrial units in the country. Initially, the scope of powers and responsibilities of the CISF were limited to those installations and other industrial units which were owned and controlled by the Union of India however, the same has been modified and the scope has been extended to provide protection to other industrial units as well. The role of CISF has gone through major diversification enabling it to provide protection to seaports, government buildings, airports, heritage monuments, alkaloids and opium extractions, space installations, and nuclear power plants.
Structural Organization of the CISF
The CISF is commanded by an Indian Police Service (abbreviated as IPS) officer having the rank of a Director-General who is assisted by another IPS Officer coming from the rank of Additional Director-General. The unit is divided into 7 sectors, namely: Training, North, East, North-East, West, Airport, and South. It also has operational a Fire Service Wing.
The Airport sector is spearheaded by an IPS officer having the rank of an Additional Director-General and the Inspector General provides assistance. The sector is divided into numerous Field Formation Units allotted to every airport. The other 6 sectors are commanded by Inspector general each.
The 5 regional sectors have been divided into various Zones, which are spearheaded by a Deputy Inspector-General. Within each zone, there are many units that are commanded by a DIG or a commandant. In the training sector, an Inspector General heads the National Industrial Security Academy (abbreviated as NISA). The Deputy Inspector-General heads the Fire Service Training Institute (abbreviated as FSTI) and the other six recruit training units. An Indian Revenue Service (abbreviated as IRS) officer having the rank of a Director acts as the financial advisor to the CISF.
Extension of services to the Corporate or Non-nationalized industry
By virtue of the passage of the CISF (Amendment) Bill, 2008 in the year 2009, the CISF was authorized to provide security cover to cooperative and private establishments in the country in exchange for a fee. The Bill additionally provides that the CISF may be deployed for the purposes of protecting Indian Missions abroad as well as its participation in the United Nations Peacekeeping operations. CISF has begun providing security cover to the Infosys Pune and Bangalore campus ever since the year 2009.
Fire Wing
Apart from providing security to industrial establishments, CISF is involved in the protection from fire hazards. It operates a highly functional, specialized, and fully equipped fire wing. The current strength of the Fire Wing is about 7000 approximately. The Fire Wing is an integral component of the CISF and is presently the biggest and well-equipped firefighting force under the control of the Government of India. It is said to have maintained an outstanding record and has been thus deployed in various important industrial settlements such as power plants, Petro-chemicals, heavy industries, Steel Plants Surface transport, and Space Application centres.
Special Security Group
In the year 2006, the CISF, on the suggestions of the Intelligence Bureau (abbreviated as IB), created a special unit known as Special Security Group (abbreviated as SSG) for the purpose of providing security to persons who are nominated by the Ministry of Home Affairs. It was established on 17 November 2006. It provides physical protection, mobile as well as static security cover and evacuations services. As an eligibility criterion, the IB and other agencies are mandated to designate the danger upon a thorough analysis of threat, and accordingly the covers are provided.
Airport Security
The CISF is responsible for providing security to all commercial airports in the country. Previously, this was the job of the airport police which functioned under the relevant state government, however, in the wake of the hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight 814 in the year 1999, the idea for transferring the security responsibility to the CISF was mooted. In the aftermath of the 2001 terrorist attack in the United States, the idea was formally adopted. Following this, one by one all commercial airports were included within the domain of the CISF, with the Jaipur Airport being the first one.