The Union Government decided to constitute the Bureau of Port Security as a statutory body under Section 13 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 2025. Its core purpose is to create a clear, legal and coordinated framework for the security of ships and port facilities in India. The Bureau will function under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and will handle regulatory and oversight functions linked to port security.
For exam preparation, the topic connects national security, the maritime economy, goods movement, port administration and institutional reform. India’s major and minor ports are important for trade, energy supply and coastal security, so coordination among multiple security agencies becomes a governance priority. The Bureau of Port Security is being modelled on the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, indicating an attempt to create a specialized security regulator for the port sector as well.
The Bureau will be headed by a Director General. During the one-year transition period, the Director General of Shipping will function as the Director General of the Bureau of Port Security. The government has emphasized that security measures should be graded and risk-based, taking into account vulnerabilities, trade potential, location and other relevant parameters. The Bureau will also work on timely collection, analysis and exchange of security-related information, with special focus on cybersecurity and protection of port IT infrastructure. The draft rules also describe its role as regulatory oversight over security of vessels and port facilities. In static GK, this should be linked with the Merchant Shipping Act, 2025, maritime security, coastal security architecture and port governance.