NEW DELHI, Jul 10: The Centre has stepped up efforts to strengthen India’s maritime security architecture, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah directing authorities to ensure robust security arrangements at fishing harbours, fish landing centres and major ports across the country. During a high-level review meeting on Friday, Shah underlined that safeguarding India’s coastline remains a national priority and called for coordinated action by both the Centre and state governments.
The meeting focused on enhancing coastal surveillance, improving port security infrastructure and accelerating the establishment of the proposed Bureau of Port Security (BoPS), which is expected to become the country’s dedicated regulatory body for maritime security.
Shah stressed that district administrations and police departments have a critical role in maintaining vigilance along the coastline. He instructed Superintendents of Police (SPs) to personally monitor security arrangements at fishing harbours and ensure that only permanent police personnel are deployed at these strategically important locations.
The Home Minister observed that fishing harbours serve as vital economic hubs while also forming an essential component of India’s coastal security network. Effective monitoring of these facilities, he said, would help strengthen surveillance against illegal activities, including smuggling, infiltration and other maritime threats.
To improve oversight of coastal infrastructure, Shah directed the Department of Fisheries to coordinate with District Magistrates and Superintendents of Police across coastal districts. Officials have been asked to prepare and submit a comprehensive inventory of all fish-landing centres operating within their jurisdictions, enabling the Centre to develop a more integrated security framework.
The government also intends to make technology a central pillar of coastal security. Shah called for wider promotion of the ‘Nabhmitra’ mobile application developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The application is designed to support fishermen by providing communication and location based services while they are at sea, helping authorities maintain better connectivity during emergencies and adverse weather conditions.
Officials were instructed to increase awareness campaigns so that more fishermen install and actively use the application. The Home Minister noted that greater digital participation among fishing communities would improve emergency response capabilities and strengthen coordination between coastal authorities and fishermen.
Another important issue discussed during the meeting was the registration process for fishermen. Shah directed officials to simplify registration procedures, making them more accessible and user friendly. Easier registration, he said, would help create a reliable database of fishermen while improving delivery of government services and enhancing coastal monitoring mechanisms.
The review meeting also examined the progress made in establishing the Bureau of Port Security, a new statutory institution proposed under the Merchant Shipping Act, 2025. The bureau will function under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and will oversee security standards at ports and shipping facilities across the country.
Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal participated in the meeting along with senior officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Department of Fisheries, the Intelligence Bureau, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and other concerned agencies.
During the discussions, Shah directed that only licensed private security agencies should be engaged for port security operations. He further instructed that private security personnel deployed under the Bureau of Port Security must receive specialised training from the CISF before being assigned operational responsibilities.
To improve accountability and monitoring, the Home Minister also ordered the creation of a central database containing details of all trained security personnel deployed under the Bureau. Such a database, officials believe, will help standardise security practices across ports while ensuring proper verification of personnel.
Shah further instructed authorities to begin training activities for the proposed Port Security Training Institute (PSTI) at the earliest by utilising existing infrastructure. The institute is expected to become the country’s specialised centre for capacity building and skill development in maritime security.
Recognising the growing importance of technology in protecting critical infrastructure, the Home Minister emphasised that cyber security should receive equal attention alongside physical security. The Bureau of Port Security will include a dedicated cyber security division responsible for protecting the digital infrastructure of ports against cyber attacks and other emerging technological threats.
Officials informed the meeting that the bureau will also facilitate collection, analysis and sharing of maritime security intelligence among various agencies, improving coordination during emergencies and strengthening national preparedness.
Shah additionally instructed that all ports covered under the Bureau’s security framework should be equipped with modern container-scanning facilities to improve cargo inspection and detect prohibited or suspicious consignments.
To ensure that the proposed security arrangements function effectively before full implementation, the CISF has been directed to conduct trial runs at several major ports. These exercises will evaluate operational readiness and identify any gaps in the security framework before responsibility is transferred to the Bureau of Port Security.
Among the ports identified for initial trial operations are Visakhapatnam Port, Jawaharlal Nehru Port and Mundra Port, all of which handle significant cargo volumes and play an important role in India’s maritime trade.
Officials said the Bureau of Port Security, once operational, will be headed by a Director General and will oversee regulatory inspections, compliance monitoring and implementation of national security standards across ports and shipping facilities.
The Centre believes that stronger coordination between law enforcement agencies, port authorities, fishermen and maritime regulators will significantly enhance India’s coastal security ecosystem while protecting strategic infrastructure and supporting safe maritime commerce.
With India’s coastline stretching over 7,500 kilometres and maritime trade continuing to expand, the government’s latest measures are aimed at creating a more resilient, technology-driven and integrated coastal security framework capable of responding to both conventional and emerging threats.