Why is it in news?
- The Centre has constituted the Bureau of Port Security (BoPS) as a statutory body under Section 13 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 2025 to strengthen port and coastal security amid rising maritime, smuggling, piracy, and cybersecurity threats.
- The move coincides with major reforms in India’s maritime governance — including the Indian Ports Act, 2025, Coastal Shipping Act, 2025, and Modernised Merchant Shipping Legislation, 2025 — aimed at modernising port regulation, improving security oversight, and supporting trade efficiency.
Relevance
- GS-III: Internal Security & Infrastructure
- Port security architecture, cyber-maritime threats, anti-smuggling, trafficking control
- GS-II: Federalism & Regulation
- Centre–State powers, regulation of non-major ports, governance reforms
What is the Bureau of Port Security (BoPS) and what is its role?
- Institutional design
- Statutory body under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways
- Modelled on the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS)
- Legal mandate to enforce International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code and global security standards
- Core functions
- Single-point regulatory oversight & coordination across ports and ships
- Standardised security audits, risk assessments, certification & compliance
- CISF designated as Recognised Security Organisation (RSO) → prepares security plans, trains private & State port agencies
- Graded security implementation across major and non-major ports
- Cyber & intelligence role
- Dedicated division for cybersecurity of port IT/OT systems
- Collection & exchange of security intelligence; coordination with national cyber agencies
- Scope of threat coverage
- Maritime terrorism, smuggling (arms/drugs), human trafficking, illegal migration, poaching, piracy
- Digital intrusions & cyber-sabotage in port operations
What challenges in coastal and port security does India face, and how will BoPS address them?
- Multi-agency fragmentation
- Roles split across Coast Guard, Navy, CISF, State Marine Police, Customs, Port Authorities → gaps in coordination
- Non-uniform standards
- Varied security protocols across major vs. non-major ports
- Rising maritime-crime footprint
- Increased drug & arms smuggling via sea routes, illegal migration, and grey-zone activities
- Cyber-vulnerability
- Growing digitisation of ports → exposure to ransomware, data breaches, navigation system tampering
- Trade scale-risk mismatch
- Rapid growth in cargo & port capacity outpacing legacy security frameworks
How BoPS mitigates these ?
- Unifies command & oversight → reduces duplication and response delays
- Standardises security architecture across all ports via CISF-led plans
- Integrates intelligence & cyber defence within port systems
- Ensures continuous compliance with ISPS & international benchmarks
- Creates nationwide port-security ecosystem supporting trade + safety together
Key Legislative Reforms (2025)
- Indian Ports Act, 2025 → replaces 1908 Act
- Modernises regulation, safety, environmental norms, port conservancy
- Aims to improve ease of doing business & sustainability
- Coastal Shipping Act, 2025
- Simplifies licensing, boosts domestic coastal trade & Indian-flagged vessels
- Modernised Merchant Shipping Legislation, 2025
- Aligns India with global maritime safety & operational standards
- BoPS Act / provisions (2025)
- Establishes statutory port-security regulator
Maritime Growth — Data Signals
- Cargo handled: ↑ from 974 MMT (2014) → 1,594 MMT (2025)
- Port capacity: ↑ 57% (last decade)
- Ship turnaround time: ↓ to ~48 hours (≈ global benchmarks)
- Coastal shipping volumes: ↑ 118%
- Inland waterways cargo: ↑ from 18.1 MMT (2014) → 145.5 MMT (2025) (≈ 8x rise)
- Global recognition: 9 Indian ports in World Bank Container Port Performance Index
What criticisms exist?
- Centralisation concerns
- Greater Union control over non-major (State-run) ports → termed a “silent cost to maritime federalism” by some States
- Procedural safeguards
- Powers of port, conservancy, and health officers for entry/inspection seen as broad, with unclear judicial guardrails
- Note: Critiques target the legislation & governance design, not the BoPS institution per se.
