New Delhi: The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has shifted from a territorial command structure to a sector-specific functional model to strengthen the security of India’s critical infrastructure.
The restructuring, implemented with the concurrence of the Ministry of Home Affairs, reorganises supervisory responsibilities according to the type of installation being protected. The move is intended to improve operational specialisation, inter-agency coordination and preparedness against emerging security threats.
The new arrangement brings installations such as power plants, coal mines, steel facilities, petroleum infrastructure, ports and government buildings under dedicated functional commands.
CISF Establishes Seven New Functional Sectors
Under the earlier territorial arrangement, a single Sector Headquarters could supervise more than 50 units belonging to different industries and ministries. The new structure assigns supervisory responsibilities based on the nature of the installation.
Read Also: Delhi Metro Security Alert: CISF Catches Passenger After Suspicious Object Is Detected
The newly operationalised functional sectors are:
- Power-I Sector: New Delhi
- Power-II Sector: Kolkata
- Coal Sector: Ranchi
- Steel Sector: Bhilai
- Petroleum and Natural Gas Sector: Guwahati
- West Coast Port Sector: Mumbai
- East Coast Port Sector: Chennai
- Government Buildings, Museums and Monuments and Mass Rapid Transit System (GBMM & MRTS) Sector: New Delhi
These commands join the existing specialised arrangements for aviation security, which have been functional since 2001, and the Department of Atomic Energy and Department of Space (DAE & DoS) Sector, operational since 2018.
With this expansion, CISF is bringing its supervisory architecture under a unified functional model.
Why CISF Is Moving Away from Territorial Supervision
The restructuring reflects the changing nature of threats to critical infrastructure. The force has identified risks such as:
- Drone-based attacks and surveillance
- Precision weapons
- Cyberattacks
- Sabotage and coordinated disruptions
- Temporary shutdowns of essential industrial operations
According to the Ministry of Home Affairs release, disruptions to electricity generation, petroleum supplies or port operations could have consequences extending beyond the affected installation.
The rationale behind the reform is that different infrastructure facilities require different security approaches. Although a refinery, coal yard and seaport may all need perimeter protection, their operational processes, vulnerabilities and potential consequences of disruption vary considerably.
The new arrangement is designed to align security supervision with the specific functions and risks associated with each sector.
Dedicated Sector Commanders to Improve Security Coordination
Under the functional model, client organisations will have a dedicated Sector Commander familiar with the operational requirements and security challenges of their respective industries.
The specialised supervisory structure is expected to support improvements in:
- Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
- Access control arrangements
- Quick Reaction Team (QRT) deployments
- Coordination between CISF units and infrastructure managements
- Tactical and strategic decision-making
- Crisis response and management
The dedicated sector-level leadership is also expected to reduce operational bottlenecks and establish clearer channels of communication between CISF and the organisations it protects.
Focus on Cybersecurity, Counter-Drone Systems and Technology
The restructuring is also intended to support a more intelligence-led and risk-based approach to infrastructure protection.
Dedicated Sector Headquarters are expected to facilitate the integration of physical security with technology-based risk management, including:
- Operational Technology and Industrial Control Systems (OT/ICS): Better coordination of physical security with cyber-risk management for industrial control infrastructure.
- Counter-drone technologies: Sector-specific measures to address threats from unmanned aerial systems.
- Incident response planning: Tailored contingency plans to help restore operations quickly following a security incident.
- Risk-based security procedures: Security arrangements designed around the vulnerabilities and operational requirements of individual sectors.
These are areas the new structure is intended to strengthen; the release does not provide details of specific technology deployments or implementation timelines.
CISF DG Highlights Three Organisational Benefits
Explaining the benefits of the restructuring, CISF Director General said the functional model would strengthen coordination between multiple stakeholders, particularly through dedicated points of contact for CISF and client organisations.
He identified three major organisational advantages:
- Improved inter-agency coordination: Dedicated sector leadership is expected to improve communication with the managements of infrastructure organisations.
- Faster decision-making: A nodal head for each functional sector would help reduce operational bottlenecks and support timely decisions during routine operations and crises.
- Greater accountability: The revised structure is intended to strengthen efficiency, professionalism and accountability across the force.
The restructuring marks an organisational shift in how CISF supervises security across India’s industrial and strategic installations. By aligning command responsibilities with the functions and vulnerabilities of critical infrastructure, the force aims to strengthen protection of essential services and support the country’s broader infrastructure security requirements.
Read Also: CISF Restructures Steel, Coal and Power Sectors, New System Effective October 15, 2026
