Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah and Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Shri Sarbananda Sonowal conducted a comprehensive review of the progress made in establishing the Bureau of Port Security (BoPS). The meeting was attended by senior officials including the Union Home Secretary, Director of Intelligence Bureau, Secretary of Border Management, Secretary of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Secretary of Department of Fisheries, and Director General of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).
Bureau of Port Security Framework
The Bureau of Port Security is being established as a statutory body under Section 13 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 2025, and will function under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways headed by a Director General. The BoPS will be responsible for regulatory and inspection functions relating to security of ships and port facilities, ensuring timely analysis, collection, and sharing of security-related information with special focus on cyber security. The Bureau will include a dedicated division to safeguard port IT infrastructure against digital threats.
Security Implementation Directives
Union Home Minister directed that only licensed private security agencies should be entrusted with port security, and only CISF-trained private security personnel should be deployed. He emphasized that training for the Port Security Training Institute (PSTI) should commence immediately using existing infrastructure. A comprehensive database of all security personnel to be deployed under BoPS must be created, and all ports covered under BoPS must have container scanning facilities. The CISF was directed to conduct trial runs of proposed security arrangements at major ports including Visakhapatnam Port, Jawaharlal Nehru Port, and Mundra Port.
Fisheries Security Enhancements
Separate meetings were held with Department of Fisheries officials to strengthen security at fishing harbours and fish landing centres. The 'Nabhmitra' app developed by ISRO should be promoted more extensively to increase downloads among fishermen. District Magistrates and Superintend of Police of all districts must submit to the Central Government a complete list of all fish landing centers in their jurisdictions. The registration process for fishermen should be simplified and made more accessible. District Superintendents of Police must ensure adequate security arrangements at fish landing centres using only permanent police personnel.
The government reaffirmed its commitment to making India's coastal security impregnable under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership.