Government Establishes Bureau of Port Security to Strengthen Maritime Security

The Government of India has established the Bureau of Port Security (BoPS) under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, creating a dedicated body responsible for the security of vessels and port facilities across the country. 

The bureau has been constituted through a notification published in the Official Gazette and comes into effect from the date of publication. 

Leadership and Transition Framework 

The Directorate General of Shipping, which is being renamed as the Directorate General of Maritime Administration, will oversee the functioning of the Bureau of Port Security. 

Director General Shyam Jagannathan has been designated as the Director General of BoPS until further orders. He was recently granted a two-year extension in his current role. 

The government has stated that the bureau will eventually be headed by an Indian Police Service (IPS) officer at Pay Level 15, while the Directorate General of Maritime Administration will supervise its operations during the one-year transition period. 

Security and Cyber Security Functions 

According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the bureau will perform regulatory and oversight functions relating to the security of ships and port facilities. 

It will also be responsible for the collection, analysis and exchange of security-related information. A dedicated cyber security division will safeguard port IT infrastructure against digital threats. 

The Bureau of Port Security has been modelled on the lines of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS). 

CISF's Expanded Role 

To strengthen port security infrastructure, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has been designated as a Recognised Security Organisation (RSO) for port facilities. 

The CISF will undertake security assessments, prepare port security plans, and train Private Security Agencies (PSAs) engaged in port security. These agencies will be certified, with regulatory measures ensuring that only licensed PSAs operate in the sector. 

Read More: ESIC to Consider Draft Regulations for Bringing Gig and Platform Workers Under Social Security! 

Conclusion 

The establishment of the Bureau of Port Security creates a dedicated institutional framework for overseeing maritime security, supported by cyber security measures and an expanded role for the CISF in safeguarding India's port infrastructure.

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