CENTRAL INDUSTRIAL SECURITY FORCE (CISF) – DEFENCE & SECURITY

News: CISF set to take over Parliament security

 

What's in the news?

       The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has asked the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) to take security charge of the Parliament building from the Delhi Police.

       The CISF will first conduct a survey of the premises prior to the deployment of its security and fire wing.

 

Key takeaways:

       This comes a week after the December 13 Parliament security breach, in which two individuals jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber from the visitors’ gallery, and opened canisters emitting yellow smoke.

 

Central Industrial Security Force (CISF):

       The CISF is a central armed police force under the aegis of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

       It was initially established in 1969 under CISF Act, 1968 to protect major PSUs.

       However, it was converted to armed force with a larger ambit under an amendment to the Act in 1983.

 

Comes under Central Armed Police Forces:

       It is one of seven Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) under the MHA — the other six being the Border Security Force, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police, the Sashastra Seema Bal, the Assam Rifles, the National Security Guard, and the Central Reserve Police Force.

 

Features:

       CISF is tasked with providing security to various government installations including country’s airports, metros etc.

       CISF provides security to industrial ventures and establishments, VIPs and engages in disaster management amongst others.

       It also has a Fire Wing to respond to fire emergencies/accidents.

       With a force larger than 1,65,000 it is the largest security force in the world.