India to form Bureau of Port Security to strengthen maritime safety, cyber protection, and port infrastructure nationwide.
In a major step toward bolstering India’s maritime safety framework, Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah on Friday, 19 December 2025, convened a high-level meeting to initiate the creation of a new statutory body, the Bureau of Port Security (BoPS).
The bureau, dedicated to securing vessels and port facilities across India, will function under the provisions of Section 13 of the new Merchant Shipping Act, 2025.
The meeting was attended by senior leadership including the Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways and the Minister of Civil Aviation.
A New Era in Maritime Security
Shah emphasised the urgent need to establish a robust national port security framework, especially in light of growing trade activity, infrastructural expansion and emerging security challenges.
He directed authorities to roll out enhanced protection measures in a graded and risk-based manner, based on each port’s vulnerabilities, geographic location, commercial potential and risk profile.
The BoPS will be modelled on the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), serving as an independent maritime security oversight body. Headed by a Director General from the IPS cadre (Pay Level-15), the organisation will fall under the aegis of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW).
During the first year, the Director General of Shipping will temporarily take charge as the Director General of BoPS.
Cyber Security Takes Centre Stage
With port systems becoming increasingly digitised, cyber protection will be a cornerstone of the bureau’s function. BoPS will create a specialised cyber division to safeguard port IT systems against digital threats and ensure seamless data exchange and monitoring.
The bureau will also facilitate systematic collection, analysis, and exchange of security-related information across maritime networks, a move expected to significantly elevate India’s situational awareness.
CISF to Lead Port-Level Security Planning
A major structural announcement in the meeting confirmed that the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has been designated as the Recognised Security Organisation (RSO) for port facilities.
This empowers CISF to:
- Conduct security assessments
- Develop port security plans
- Train and build capacity among Private Security Agencies (PSAs)
Only licensed PSAs, certified under CISF guidance, will be permitted to operate in the port security environment, ensuring higher compliance, professionalism, and accountability.
The government also proposed that lessons drawn from maritime security be replicated across aviation security infrastructure, strengthening India’s multi-sectoral defence preparedness.
Forward Outlook
The formation of BoPS is expected to significantly elevate India’s maritime risk preparedness and pave the way for standardised security protocols across commercial and strategic ports.
As India’s maritime trade footprint expands and port modernisation accelerates, the new framework positions the nation strongly to counter evolving challenges, from piracy and terrorism to cybercrime and infrastructure vulnerability.
The government aims to ensure that each port, regardless of scale or location, operates under a unified, intelligence-driven, future-ready security fabric.
With this decision, India moves one step closer to transforming port safety into a national strategic priority.
Source: PIB
