Government mulls unified airport security akin to Transportation Security Administration in U.S.

• The Indian government is considering the creation of a unified security force for all airports in the country which will also combine immigration and customs.
• This will be created along the lines of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) of the U.S.
• This issue was also raised at the recently held 37th Raising Day of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS).

Key highlights

• India is considering the creation of a unified security force for all airports in the country along the lines of the TSA of the U.S.
• The concept has received a green flag from PM Modi during the annual Director General of Police conference held in January 2023.

Why does India want to create security architecture for its airports along the lines of the TSA?

• Increased Threats
  • India should have a seamless security system across all 148 airports, which will grow to 220 airports in the next three to four years.
  • While the Central Industrial Security Force is deployed at 66 out of the current 148 airports to carry out security functions, State police oversee security at the remaining airports.
• Seamless coordination with a multitude of agencies
  • In a fast-growing aviation market, a robust system is needed in India.
    • India is pegged to be the third largest aviation market in the world by 2024.
    • It is already the third largest domestic aviation market after the U.S. and China.
    • It is also the world’s fastest growing market at 9%, though it accounts for only 2% of the global passenger traffic.
  • However, today, coordination with a multitude of agencies becomes difficult.
    • The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, which is the security watchdog for civil aviation, falls under the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
    • The Central Industrial Security Force, which guards the airports, falls under the Ministry of Home Affairs, as does the Bureau of Immigration.
    • The Customs department falls under the Finance Ministry.
  • Once the proposed system becomes functional, all stakeholders would be on a common platform.
• Integrating functions
  • The move would also help in integrating policy, regulations and implementation by bringing them under one body.
  • Today, for instance, if the BCAS frames regulations for aviation, the implementation body is either the CISF or the airports.
  • Airports, which have to procure security infrastructure, have often cited financial constraints and delayed upgradation.
  • The proposal for a unified agency means it will also be tasked to buy security infrastructure such as x-ray machines and full body scanners.

Prelims take away

• Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
• Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS)