Topic particularly important for those appearing in CPF/CAPF interview.
- Why is CISF important?
- Background: CISF vs ASF
- Problem: Aviation Security Force (ASF)
- Arguments against creation of ASF
- Removal of CISF security Cover
Why is CISF important?
- The scene of operations has shifted from rural and jungle areas to highly populated centres.
- Nowadays the terrorist/extremists want to attack high profile targets like historical monuments, critical infrastructure and public transport.
- Thus CISF is crucial because it provides security to such prime installations in the country, including airports, Delhi Metro, steel, coal and power utilities.
Background: CISF vs ASF
- In the beginning, State Police was responsible for airport security in their respective states.
- But in 1999, Terrorists hijacked an Indian Airlines flight (IC-814) took it to Kandahar, Afghanistan.
- From then onwards, Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), was given the responsibility of airport security.
- CISF manages security at 59 airports across the country, deploying its nearly 21,000 personnel.
- The cost of maintaining CISF security is charged on passangers= Rs.150 to 250 per person as “passenger services fee”.
Problem: Aviation Security Force (ASF)
- In August 2012, Civil Aviation Ministry considered a proposal to create an exclusive Aviation Security Force (ASF) for airports across the country.
- Aviation Security Force will report to Civil Aviation Ministry (and not to Home Ministry)
Arguments against creation of ASF
- CISF is already deployed at the airports, akin to the Transport Security Administration (TSA) in the USA. This model is also beneficial when it comes to intelligence sharing with the central intelligence agencies who also report to the MHA.
- This system has worked quite well both at the central and local levels due to close coordination between CISF, Intelligence Bureau (IB) and state intelligence.
- Such an arrangement will not be possible if the force reports to the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
- CISF is a central armed police force, so its personnel cannot form association or join any kind of agitation or union activities.
- There is no clarity on whether ASF will be kept away from forming a union. If yes, that might lead to strikes and problems which are common with AirIndia=not good for security.
Removal of CISF security Cover
- In Nov 2012, Civil Aviation Ministry decided: Airports that are not “hyper-sensitive” should be secured by State Police personnel instead of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).
- CISF currently manages security at 59 airports across the country.
- Civil Aviation Ministry has decided to replace them from 47 airports that are not hyper sensitive.
- So CISF will handle only 59-47=12 airports only.
- Argument in favor: This will reduce airfares. Because payment for security is collected from passengers through a passenger services fee that ranges between Rs 150 to Rs 250 per ticket. State Police is cheaper than CISF.
- Argument against: In terms of weapons, tactics and training, State Police is no match to deal with terror / hostage crisis at airports.
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kichi kichi ya ya ta ta. hahaha
if so where will be the existing infrastructure and human resouce of cisf used? As mention ASF should be kept out from forming unions,one cannot afford a security force given that privilege in this challenging situations, giving which may seriously compromise security concerns
Mrunal, can you write on the different aspects of the following Cabinet-related bodies:
1. Cabinet Committee
2. Group of Ministers
3. Empowered Group of Ministers
4. Inter-Ministerial Group
Cabinet Committee(CC):
It is the committee of ministers involved in a specialized aspect. The members of each committee are the cabinet ministers involved in the implementation or are affected by the specific affair. It is done to have a high level meeting to resolve issues. Eg: CC on Security has Ministers of Defence, External Affairs, Home, Finance. All the cabinet committees are headed by the PM.
Group of Ministers(GoMs):
This can consist of all the ministers (including the Ministers of State, Deputy Ministers, Cabinet Ministers). Some of the GoMs have state ministers also in them. This is also for a specific issue and the members are the affected ministries.
http://cabsec.nic.in/files/allocation/listofgoms.pdf
Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoMs):
I was not able to find the difference to this… EGoMs are similar in composition to GoMs. They are different in their objective and I guess they are created for very important and immediate action plans. I guess the links will give a better idea of the different groups and their goals.
http://cabsec.nic.in/files/allocation/listofegoms.pdf
Inter Ministerial Group(IMGs):
This is a group of the secretaries,additional secretaries,etc (basically IAS officers) from the concerned departments which help in coordinating issues between the depts. The recent one being the IMG which recommended the deallocation of the coal blocks.
I appreciate your input Mr.Shiva Ram.
Thank you, Mr. Shiva Ram! Found some more points:
An empowered group of ministers (EGOM) may exercise the authority of the Cabinet, but a GOM’s recommendations go to the Cabinet, and only when the Cabinet approves it does it become final. http://www.tehelka.com/story_main53.asp?filename=Ne150912Coal.asp
The EGOM is a group of ministers empowered to handle a particular or a group of problems. There may be a EGOM for dealing with say, the Telengana issue. Cabinet committee is a permanent one dealing with all matters that will come up before the cabinet. For instance, there is a CCPA, Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs which will deal with all political matters as and when they arise. http://in.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20110718033604AACYPkN
The State Police Force is already burdened, why increase it by adding airport security to its duties.
I think, with the current situation ASF is not required at all.
CISF is well trained and well equipped to secure our airports. And as mentioned, there is a close co-ordination between CISF and local intel/police agencies. Why create a new force which reports to a different ministry and thereby creating another turf war?.