This article discusses the current status of the private security industry in India and highlights the need for its personnel to meet international standards. It explores the challenges faced by the industry and provides insights into the measures that can be taken to enhance the quality of private security services in India.
The Indian private security sector is the largest in the world and has witnessed phenomenal expansion in the past few years. The Private Security Agencies (Regulation) Act of 2005 was passed in order to regulate private security services and simplify their activities within a legal framework. The CAPSI (Central Association of Private Security Industry) is a federal organisation that represents the whole Indian Private Security Industry (PSI). The Indian personal security sector was worth INR 57,000 crore (USD 8.8 billion) in 2016, and it is expected to increase to USD 15.2bn (INR 99,000 Cr) by 2020, and USD 23.1Bn (INR 1.5 lakh crore) by 2022. The pandemic epidemic brought a surprise set of prospects for the country’s industry, which had previously taken a setback owing to the closure of several firms.
Nonetheless, the manufacturing sector and corporate offices increased their demand for personal protection since personal security became the first line of defence against COVID-19. Because of increased sanitation demands, facility management sectors received increased demand. The adoption of AI technology, biometrics, and a zero-touch approach are among the most significant advancements in personal security throughout the world. In the Internet of Things environment, AI technology enables linked objects to become intelligent, while greater perception skills such as radar, temperature measurement, gas leak detection, and humidity sensing are added to security systems and devices to make them more potent. Biometrics and the zero-touch methodology have been enthusiastically accepted by security businesses.
To compete with the world’s best personal security firms, Indian enterprises will need to invest time and resources in educating their employees and making them more tech-savvy. The industry has grown at a CAGR of more than 25% during the last 6-7 years. There are more than 5 million private security guards accessible compared to 3.2 million cops, which is one of the key causes leading to the industry’s increased demand. A personal security officer’s annual income in India is INR 4.8 lakhs, with a monthly take-home salary of roughly INR 36,000. The business is developing at a 40% annual rate, and the need for blue-collar workers to be recognised is critical.
With the improvement in the economy, there has been a significant increase in the number of blue-collar people engaged in the private security business across the country. To properly manage activities and ensure intelligent workflow and output, new age occupations need a certain amount of digital literacy. Employee retention and morale require upskilling, and organised training given by organisations will assist broaden their skill sets and drive them to be more productive while enhancing their problem-solving and analytical thinking ability.
