CISF: Its mandate, objectives and functions

The CISF contingent marching at their Passing out parade.

Central Armed Police Forces
* There are five CAPFs namely Border Security Force (BSF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and one Central Paramilitary Force (CPMF) namely Assam Rifles (AR) under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
* Border Guarding forces:
* Out of these, AR, BSF, ITBP and SSB are the Border Guarding Forces.

Internal Security Force

CRPF is deployed to assist the Civil Administration under the State Governments / UT Administrations in matters relating to maintenance of Public Order, internal security and counter insurgency.

The Rapid Action Force (RAF) and Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) are specialized wings of the CRPF to deal with the riots and Left Wing Extremism / insurgency respectively.

Security force for Important Installations

CISF provides security and protection to vital installations of national / strategic importance including Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), airports, atomic power plants, space organizations, industrial units, important national museums, Government buildings in Delhi and other important sensitive organizations.


Some important Information about CISF

When was CISF first raised?
• Raised in the year 1969

What is the Mandate of CISF

Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) is providing security cover to critical Infrastructure in the country.

For example CISF is currently providing

Security cover 61 domestic and international airports

The specialized task of airport security was assigned to CISF in the year 2000 in the wake of hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight IC-814 to Kandahar.

Fire protection cover to 102 Industrial Undertakings.

SO you can see that the task of CISF is not limited to security

It's services are extended to Energy Infrastructure ,Atomic Power Plants, Hydro Electric/Thermal Power Plants, Oil Fields and Refineries, Space Installations ISRO : Sri Harikota, Industrial establishments , Defence Production Units, Mines, Major Sea Ports, Heavy Engineering, Steel Plants, Fertilizer Units, Government security, Sensitive Government Buildings and Heritage Monuments (including the Taj Mahal and Red Fort)

The CISF also looks after the security of 46 sensitive and hyper-sensitive Government Buildings in New Delhi.

CISF has also been mandated to provide protection to the VIP protectees of various categories across the country.

Technical consultancy

The CISF provides technical consultancy services relating to security and fire protection to industries in public and
private sectors.

Foreign deployment

A contingent of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) is deployed at United Nations Stabilizations Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH)

You must have read a news regarding CISF guarding private citizens. How is that possible provided that CISF is a government agency?

The CISF Act was amended to enable the Force to provide security, on payment basis, to private/ joint venture industrial undertakings, which are vital for the security and economy of the country.

Hence the largest refinery of Reliance in Jamnagar is guarded by the CISF.