After complaints from MPs, CISF alters tenure and posting policy at Parliament

The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has revised the tenure of its staff serving in Parliament to at least four years. They are currently appointed for three years. A CISF official said that personnel with clean service records and only those who have passed psychological assessment tests will be deployed.

The revised policy follows complaints that many Members of Parliament were stopped or questioned by CISF personnel as they entered the building.

The extended mandate will enable CISF personnel to become more familiar with MPs and their movement patterns in Parliament, which is critical to ensure accurate identification, secure access protocols, layered threat detection and response, the official said.

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Following the security breach at the new Parliament building on December 13, 2023, the Union Home Ministry approved the deployment of CISF in the complex. Duties were previously given to the Parliamentary Security Service, which had been deployed since 1950 and was specifically trained to recognize and interact with MPs.

The Lok Sabha Speaker is responsible for the overall security of the Parliament complex, which houses many buildings. CISF works under the Ministry of Home Affairs.

In June 2024, DMK MP MM Abdulla wrote a letter to then Deputy Speaker Jagdeep Dhankhar, former Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, complaining about CISF personnel interrogating him for the purpose of his visit to the Parliament complex. Mr. Abdulla said in his letter that he was stopped and asked where he was:[he] “He was heading towards the building.”

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With the phased takeover completed on 20 May 2024, CISF assumed responsibility for all key layers of security at Parliament, including access control, perimeter and internal security, counter-terrorism and anti-sabotage response, bomb threat management and fire and disaster preparedness.

A contingent of more than 3,300 personnel, including more than 200 fire and disaster management experts, has been deployed to implement airport-style security protocols such as advanced searches, X-ray baggage checks and multi-level access verification. Nearly 300 of our staff are women.

“CISF has introduced a revised posting policy specific to security duties of Parliament. Under the new framework, the tenure of personnel has been increased from the existing three to four years and may be extended by another year depending on availability. A fixed proportion of the sanctioned force will be rotated every year to ensure operational continuity while ensuring optimum rotation for regular infusion of fresh blood,” the CISF official said.

The new policy includes stricter eligibility norms and multi-stage screening.

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“Staff selected for parliamentary duty must have a clean service record, be in the SHAPE-I medical category, have no disciplinary or reserve concerns, have completed at least two specialist courses and meet rank-specific age requirements,” the official said.

CISF has introduced a mandatory multi-stage screening process that includes psychological evaluation, combat physical efficiency test (BPET), Parliament-specific induction training and comprehensive security clearance.

“Only those who pass all the stages will be deployed for Parliamentary duties. Staff deployed in Parliament undergo regular on- and off-field training sessions during inter-session periods,” the official said.

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The training includes National Security Guard-specific training and counter-terrorism training with the Indian Army.

“To maintain high levels of preparedness, CISF conducts regular scenario-based exercises simulating bio-terrorism incidents, terrorist attacks, drone threats, cyber attacks, bomb threats, evacuation operations and air pollution situations. Fire emergency elements have been integrated into all exercises. Night firing drills are also conducted to increase accuracy and precision in low light conditions,” the official said.

All personnel will undergo annual psychological testing and BPET, while BPET for Rapid Response Team personnel will continue on a monthly basis.

It was published – 27 November 2025 20:06 IST