Archive · 1 Aug 2025
CISF Dues Remain Across Indian Airports
Imagine airports need money to pay for the security guards (CISF) who keep everyone safe.
The airports get this money from a fee called the PSF that passengers pay.
Sometimes, especially during the pandemic when fewer people flew, airports had trouble sending this money to the security guards on time.
Now, there's about 3,000 crore rupees still owed, but it's not one airport's fault.
To fix this, the government created a special account (NASFT) to collect and distribute the money, making sure the guards get paid on time.
Airports are now working to pay off what they owe as more people start flying again.
Pending dues to CISF for airport security services total around Rs 3,000 crore.
The backlog is a sector-wide issue, not attributable to any single airport operator.
Dues mainly accumulated during the COVID-19 pandemic when air travel declined.
The National Aviation Security Fee Trust (NASFT) was established in 2019 to centralize PSF collection.
Airport operators are expected to clear dues over the next 5-6 years as air traffic recovers.
- Who
- The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), airport operators (including Adani Group, GMR, GVK, and AAI), and passengers.
- What
- Pending dues to the CISF for airport security services.
- When
- Dues mainly accumulated during the COVID-19 pandemic; ongoing resolution expected over the next 5-6 years.
- Where
- Across Indian airports.
- Why
- Due to delayed payments of the passenger security fee (PSF) by airport operators, particularly during the pandemic.
- Pending Dues
- Approximately Rs 3,000 crore
- Cause of Backlog
- COVID-19 pandemic (2020-21)
- PSF
- Passenger Security Fee
- Established
- National Aviation Security Fee Trust (NASFT) in 2019
- Operators Involved
- Public and private, including Adani Group, GMR, GVK, and AAI
- CISF Deployment
- Approximately 70 civil airports in India