Standard security clearance across sectors on cards

Protocols to be similar to those in shipping; MHA to finalise guidelines in consultation with MoD

Security clearance across sectors is set to become easier, with the government working on a plan to streamline and standardise procedures across the board. The protocols will be similar to those prevalent in the shipping sector.

In a discussion in July, a Committee of Secretaries chaired by the Cabinet Secretary, has proposed to chart a comprehensive guideline for the same. The committee has also asked the Ministry of Home Affairs to finalise the guidelines in consultation with the Ministry of Defence (MoD).

The draft guidelines have already been prepared. The committee has also asked other ministries to finalise the guidelines for respective sectors within the broad guidelines, which was to be prepared by the MHA within six weeks from the meeting of the committee that was held on 14 July.

The ministries are free to consult MHA and the MoD. The MHA will send its comments on the security clearance proposals of all the ministries within 12 weeks of their receipt, according to the discussion. The MoD and other intelligence agencies will also have to give their comments on these within this period.

The security clearances will be valid during the entire licence period granted by the ministries respective to the sectors. However, for contracts, the security clearances will have a validity of three years as it is followed in the shipping sector. The companies will have to mandatorily inform changes in management control and ownership pattern to their respective ministries.

According to the discussion, the committee has informed that Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Ministry of Power and Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion have already finalised the scope of security clearance and the same for other ministries will be finalised by MHA in consultation with respective ministries or departments.

Meanwhile, the security clearance guidelines will have a provision permitting the ministries to cancel or withdraw the permission if MHA objects in any particular case.In order to ensure a monitoring mechanism, the MHA will hold meetings with other ministries once in every two months to review pending cases. While MHA will be the nodal ministry for security clearances, it will get inputs from the MoD regularly.