November 13, 2024: In a historic move, the Home Ministry has approved the formation of the first all-women battalion within the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), comprising over 1,000 personnel. The decision, sanctioned on Monday, marks a significant step towards increasing female participation in India's paramilitary forces.

The newly-established unit, called the "reserve battalion," will consist of 1,025 personnel, all of whom will be women, and will be led by a senior officer of the rank of Commandant. Currently, female personnel make up about 7 percent of the CISF's total strength of around 1.80 lakh.

The CISF has already initiated preparations for recruitment and training for the new battalion, which will be tasked with a wide range of high-level responsibilities, including VIP security, airport security, and protection of key infrastructure such as the Delhi Metro and historical monuments like the Taj Mahal and the Red Fort.

The force's leadership has emphasized that this all-women battalion will be specially trained to perform multifaceted roles, with a focus on elite commando-level capabilities, ensuring the unit is prepared to take on the most challenging assignments. To support this, the CISF is also in the process of finding a new headquarters for the battalion.

The proposal to create an all-women battalion within the CISF was first suggested by Home Minister Amit Shah during the 53rd Raising Day celebrations of the force in March 2023. Since then, the plan has gained momentum, and the approval has been seen as a major step in empowering women in India's security forces.

Currently, the CISF has 12 reserve battalions, which have a mix of male and female personnel, and it is the only paramilitary force with a significant female presence in operations, especially at public-facing locations. The CISF already employs female personnel in critical areas such as airport security at 68 civil airports, the Delhi Metro, and at prominent tourist destinations across India.

With the launch of the all-women battalion, the CISF aims to not only empower women but also enhance the professionalism and diversity of its force. This development is expected to inspire more women to consider careers in the security and defense sectors, which have traditionally been male-dominated.