Centre to set up a dedicated body to protect ports, ships, Pg10

Key Highlights:

• The government will establish the Bureau of Port Security (BoPS) to enhance the security of vessels and port facilities.
• The decision to form BoPS was taken at a meeting convened by Home Minister Amit Shah, with the participation of the Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal, and Minister of Civil Aviation Ram Mohan Naidu.
• BoPS will include a dedicated division to address cybersecurity threats to port IT infrastructure.
• The bureau will operate under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and be structured as a statutory body as per the Merchant Shipping Act, 2025.

Detailed Insights:

• The establishment of BoPS is modeled after the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), indicating a standardized approach to security across different sectors.
• Amit Shah stressed the importance of a strong port security framework and directed officials to implement security measures based on risk assessment and vulnerabilities.
• BoPS will be responsible for the analysis, collection, and exchange of security-related information, ensuring a comprehensive security apparatus.
• During a transition period of one year, the Director General of Shipping (DGS/DGMA) will also serve as the Director General of BoPS.
• Previously, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) was designated as a Recognised Security Organisation (RSO) for security assessments and planning for ports.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Statutory Body: An organization created by a government statute and given legal powers to operate.
• Cybersecurity: Measures taken to protect computer systems and networks from digital attacks.
• Risk-Based Security: An approach where security measures are proportionate to the identified risks and vulnerabilities.