Bhubaneswar, March 5 The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) will enhance its capacity to address potential threats from drone and cyber attacks on vital installations, a senior officer said here on Thursday.
"In the next modernization plan, we will significantly focus on drone and anti-drone training," said CISF Director General (DG) Praveer Ranjan, referring to drone attacks during 'Operation Sindoor' and the ongoing conflict in Iran.
Addressing media persons on the eve of the 57th Raising Day of CISF, Ranjan said they have established a drone training and anti-drone capability training center in their unit in Behror, Rajasthan, and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has approved the establishment of a Remote Pilot Training Organisation (RPTO) for training on drone operation and anti-drone systems.
The CISF has been designated as the nodal agency for aerial threats at vital installations, he added.
Similarly, in the current era, every sector is facing cyber threats. Therefore, the security of systems (software applications) has become very important, as everything is done through these systems, he said.
"The CISF is also significantly developing its capacity in cyber security. We have already trained some cyber commandos," the DG said.
Under its modernization plan for 2026-30, the CISF has identified 76 items, amounting to Rs 819 crore, which include training on drone solutions, establishing an integrated cyber security lab, a dedicated data center, and a zero-trust network to safeguard its digital infrastructure, officials said.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah will grace the Raising Day celebration at CISF's Mundali unit and inaugurate two residential projects of the force.
Shah is scheduled to inaugurate a modern residential complex in Rajarhat, Kolkata (Rs 72.46 crore), and another housing project in Maidan Garhi, Delhi (Rs 253.10 crore).
He will also lay the foundation stones for the 9th Reserve Battalion at Nagarbera, Assam (Rs 124.73 crore); the 11th Reserve Battalion at Nashik, Maharashtra (Rs 195.29 crore); and the 12th Reserve Battalion at Sehore, Madhya Pradesh (Rs 243.73 crore).
Today, with a strength of two lakh personnel, the central force provides security to 361 vital installations spread across 25 states and five Union Territories.
The CISF is guarding 71 airports, the Delhi Metro Rail, 10 chemical & fertilizer plants, 105 power plants, 18 nuclear installations, 16 establishments of the Department of Space, 47 government buildings housing major ministries of the Government of India, 15 seaports, 6 defence units, 36 oil & natural gas units, 17 steel plants and 10 coal mines, 9 private sectors, etc, he said.
The Special Security Group (SSG) of CISF provides security to over 156 protectees. The CISF's special fire wing, with nearly 9,700 personnel, provides fire management services to 114 units spread across 23 states of the country.
CISF personnel saved eight lives during medical contingencies, fire incidents, and by preventing suicide attempts across the country during the last year, he said.
During Operation Sindoor, amidst heavy shelling by Pakistani forces, CISF personnel analyzed shell trajectories and evacuated nearly 250 civilians—including women, children, and NHPC staff—to safety, Ranjan said.
To strengthen the force, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has increased the strength of the CISF from 2 lakh to 2.2 lakh personnel in the last year.
This 10 per cent increase in strength, approved in August 2025, aims to strengthen the security of critical infrastructure like airports, seaports, and industrial hubs. Approximately 14,000 personnel will be recruited annually for the next five years, he stated.
While 32,733 personnel were recruited in the force in 2025, 21,790 personnel will be recruited this year, he further said.
