The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) Airport Sector has entered into an agreement with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Ropar to strengthen cyber security preparedness and build specialised cyber capabilities among its personnel. Under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed earlier this week, IIT Ropar will conduct a sixweek residential Cyber Security Training Programme for CISF personnel. The programme will be offered at no cost and marks the beginning of a structured institutional collaboration between the CISF and IIT Ropar’s SCALE Foundation.
 The initiative is in line with the vision outlined by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the DsGP/IsGP Conference-2024 and the directions of Union Home Minister Amit Shah to develop cyber-capable security forces and enhance dedicated cyber commando capabilities within Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and state police organisations. Under the leadership of CISF Director General Praveer Ranjan, the force has undertaken several measures to develop a specialised cadre trained to identify, respond to and manage emerging cyber security threats. The initiative is particularly significant for the Airport Sector, as aviation infrastructure is considered critical national infrastructure and cyber disruptions could have serious operational, economic and security consequences.
The MoU was signed in New Delhi by IIT Ropar Director Prof Rajeev Ahuja and CISF Inspector General, Airport Sector-I, Senthil Avoodai Krishna Raj S, IPS. The signing ceremony was attended by senior IIT Ropar officials, including Dr Sarang Gumfekar, Coordinator and Director, SCALE Foundation, and Dr Shashi Sekhar Jha, Dean and Head, Centre for Drone & Autonomous Systems, along with faculty members and CISF officers, including Santosh Kumar Suman, CASO, ASG Chandigarh. The six-week residential course will combine theoretical instruction with practical training in key areas of cyber security. The curriculum will cover cyber security foundations, critical information infrastructure, digital forensics, incident detection and response, disaster recovery, business continuity planning, emerging cyber threats and multisector crisis simulations.
The programme seeks to establish a specialised cyber security cadre within the CISF capable of enhancing cyber resilience, improving incident detection and response, assisting in cyber investigations and ensuring the continuity of critical aviation infrastructure in the event of cyber-related disruptions. The partnership with IIT Ropar is expected to enhance the CISF’s technical expertise and operational preparedness against increasingly sophisticated cyber threats, while supporting the force’s evolving responsibilities in aviation security and the protection of vital installations. The initiative is also expected to strengthen the broader national cyber security ecosystem by creating technically trained personnel capable of responding effectively to cyber threats targeting critical infrastructure.
