The government has established the Bureau of Port Security (BoPS) under the shipping ministry, notifying its constitution in the Official Gazette. According to reports from Business Standard, the bureau will be headed by the Director General of Maritime Administration, designated as the Director General of BoPS, until further orders. The Directorate General of Shipping, now being renamed the Directorate General of Maritime Administration, will oversee the bureau's operations.
Director General Shyam Jagannathan has been designated to head the security body, who was recently given a two-year extension in his role. As reported by Business Standard, the bureau will be modelled on the lines of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security and will eventually be headed by an Indian Police Service officer in Pay Level 15. During the one-year transition period, the Directorate General of Maritime Administration will oversee its functioning.
According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the bureau will be responsible for regulatory and oversight functions relating to the security of ships and port facilities. According to Business Standard, the BoPS will ensure the timely analysis, collection and exchange of security-related information, with a special focus on cyber security. The home ministry stated that this includes through a dedicated division to safeguard port information technology infrastructure from digital threats.
The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has been designated as a Recognised Security Organisation (RSO) for port facilities, with responsibility for undertaking security assessments and preparing security plans for ports. As reported by Business Standard, the CISF has also been mandated to train and build the capacity of private security agencies (PSAs) engaged in port security. The home ministry stated that these agencies shall be certified and appropriate regulatory measures shall be introduced to ensure that only licensed PSAs operate in this sector.
The government will also replicate lessons learnt from establishing the maritime security framework in strengthening India's aviation security framework. According to Business Standard, this comprehensive approach aims to enhance overall security infrastructure across India's maritime and aviation sectors through coordinated oversight and regulatory measures. The establishment of the BoPS represents a significant step in India's broader maritime security strategy, addressing vulnerabilities in critical shipping corridors and port facilities.
