Bureau of Port Security | 22 Dec 2025

Source: PIB 

The Government of India has decided to set up a dedicated statutory body, the Bureau of Port Security (BoPS), to ensure comprehensive and risk-based security of ports and vessels across India. 

• Bureau of Port Security (BoPS): It will be constituted as a statutory body under Section 13 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 2025. 
  • BoPS will function under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) and perform regulatory and oversight functions for the security of ships and port facilities. 
  • The BoPS shall be headed by the Director General (an IPS officer of Pay Level-15). During the one-year transition period, the Director General of Shipping (DGS/DGMA) shall function as the Director General, BoPS. 
  • The Bureau is modelled on the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), indicating sectoral best practices transfer. 
  • Under BoPS, a dedicated cyber security division will be established to protect port IT and digital infrastructure, highlighting the growing relevance of maritime cyber threats. 
• Central Industrial Security Force (CISF): Earlier, to strengthen port security infrastructure, the CISF has been designated as a Recognised Security Organisation (RSO) for ports, with the responsibility of conducting security assessments and preparing port security plans. 
  • Under the new arrangement, the CISF is mandated to train and certify Private Security Agencies (PSAs) engaged in port security, with regulatory safeguards to ensure that only licensed agencies operate in the sector. 
• Broader Significance: Experiences and best practices from BoPS-led maritime security are intended to be replicated in the aviation security domain, strengthening integrated internal security governance.