The Home Ministry has approved two new battalions with more than 2,000 personnel for the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), which guards vital installations like airports and nuclear power plants. With the formation of the new battalion, the strength of the force will reach nearly 2 lakh personnel. This decision will not only increase the capacity of CISF, but will also strengthen national security.

More than 2,000 youth will get employment

A CISF spokesperson said on Tuesday, "The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has approved significant expansion of CISF by sanctioning creation of two new battalions." He said, "This decision, coupled with the recently sanctioned Mahila battalion will enhance the capacity of the force, strengthen national security and generate new employment opportunities for over 2,000 individuals." The spokesperson said the approval was received on Monday.

Last year, women battalion was approved

A women battalion was approved for the force late last year. The force currently has 12 reserve battalions, each comprising 1,025 personnel. The new battalions will also be crucial in meeting the “growing” demands of CISF by creating a pool of trained personnel to meet immediate requirements related to internal security. Apart from guarding 68 civil airports in the country, CISF, formed in 1969, provides counter-terror security to several installations in the nuclear and aerospace sector and historical monuments such as the Taj Mahal and the Red Fort.