Central Government approves first women's reserve battalion, increasing CISF's power

Now women soldiers' participation will increase in the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). With over a thousand members, the first fully women reserve battalion has been authorized by the central government. The decision was made with the growing requirement for CISF personnel to serve in airports and other critical facilities in mind.

According to the officers, the reserve battalion will be prepared with the strength of two lakh personnel already approved. There will be 1025 women soldiers in the reserve battalion. While it will be led by a senior commandant-level officer. The Union Home Ministry has issued an approval order regarding this this week.

Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has 12 reserve battalions. Officials said that whenever CISF gets the responsibility of security in elections or any new institution, the reserve battalion is deployed.

Officials added that CISF was responsible for the security of 68 airports of the country, including Delhi Metro, Red Fort, and Taj Mahal. More women soldiers are needed there in large numbers. For that, a proposal was forwarded to the government to form a full women's reserve battalion. Other than that, the CISF extends anti-terrorism security to private sector institutions and nuclear as well as aerospace-related institutions. This involves the Bangalore and Pune offices of Infosys and the Jamnagar refinery of Reliance.

The central government had handed over the security responsibility of the country's Parliament in July this year to CISF. Prior to that, the responsibility of Parliament security was given to CRPF. CISF has deployed over 3,300 soldiers here. 29 officers have also been deployed to lead them. These officers include one Deputy Director General, one Senior Commandant, two Commandants, seven Deputy Commandants, and 18 Assistant Commandants. Two of these officers are from the fire wing.