In a first, govt sanctions all-women reserve battalion for CISF

NEW DELHI: The Union government has sanctioned the creation of an all-women reserve battalion within the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), marking a first for the force. Comprising over 1,000 personnel, this newly approved unit is designed to address the expanding security demands at airports and other critical sites across the country.

Officials shared that the Union home ministry issued a formal sanction order this week for the battalion, which will have a strength of 1,025 personnel and will be led by a senior commandant.

Recruitment and specialised training preparations have already begun at the CISF headquarters in New Delhi. The battalion will be raised from the existing sanctioned strength of the CISF, which currently stands at around two lakh personnel.


This specialised training will equip the battalion with the skills required for diverse responsibilities, including VIP security, airport security, and duties within the Delhi Metro Rail.

The CISF currently operates 12 reserve battalions, which are often deployed as reinforcements for both temporary and permanent assignments, such as election duties or guarding key locations like the recently covered Parliament House complex.

The CISF, established in 1969, has long had a significant presence of women personnel, especially at facilities like the 68 civil airports, Delhi Metro, and historical sites like the Taj Mahal and Red Fort.

The need for an all-women reserve battalion was formally raised by the CISF and recently sanctioned by the home ministry.

Apart from these sites, the CISF provides counter-terrorist security for numerous sensitive installations in the nuclear and aerospace sectors, as well as major private sector facilities, including Infosys offices in Bengaluru and Pune and the Reliance refinery in Jamnagar, Gujarat.

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