Centre Moves to Strengthen Port Security

On 19th December 2025, Union Home Minister chaired a high-level meeting to initiate the creation of a dedicated Bureau of Port Security to safeguard India’s ports and maritime assets.

The proposed Bureau of Port Security will be constituted as a statutory body under Section 13 of the newly enacted Merchant Shipping Act, 2025, providing it with a clear legal mandate.
The Bureau will function under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and will oversee regulation, coordination, and enforcement of security measures for ships and port infrastructure nationwide.
Chairing the meeting, the Home Minister stressed the need for a robust and future-ready port security architecture that responds to evolving threats and strategic challenges.
He directed that port security arrangements should be implemented in a graded and risk-based manner, taking into account vulnerabilities, trade volume, geographic location, and other critical parameters.
The Bureau of Port Security will be headed by a Director General of the rank of an IPS officer at Pay Level-15 and will be modelled on the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security framework.
During the initial one-year transition period, the Director General of Shipping will act as the Director General of the Bureau to ensure continuity and smooth operationalisation.
According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Bureau will prioritise timely collection, analysis, and sharing of security-related intelligence, with a strong focus on emerging cyber threats.