# Close Protection in Delhi Canonical page: https://closeprotectionhire.com/cities/delhi/ Close protection and security services in Delhi, India. PSARA-licensed operators, discreet executive security, and vetted transport for corporate and high-profile principals. ## Threats - **Terrorism**: The FCDO states that terrorists are very likely to carry out attacks in India. Active groups include Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), which have historic reach into major cities from their Kashmir base; Naxalite (Maoist) groups operating in eastern and central states; and Daesh and AQIS, assessed as planning attacks against Western and government targets. Target types include hotels, restaurants, markets, transport hubs, places of worship, and large public gatherings. Threat is heightened around Republic Day (26 January), Independence Day (15 August), Diwali, and Eid. Source: FCDO India travel advice, April 2026. - **Sexual Assault Risk**: The FCDO specifically documents sexual assault risk for female foreign nationals visiting India, including Delhi. Serious attacks involving British women have been reported across multiple Indian states. Avoid isolated areas at any time of day. Solo travel after dark is not advisable. Female principals require specific security planning, including female close protection officers where appropriate. Source: FCDO India travel advice, April 2026. - **Satellite Phone and GPS Restrictions**: Satellite phones and GPS devices are illegal in India without a licence from the Department of Telecommunications. British nationals have been arrested for carrying these devices without proper authorisation. Check all equipment before travel. Do not carry satellite communication devices as standard kit without verifying current Indian licencing requirements. Source: FCDO India travel advice, April 2026. - **Food and Drink Spiking**: FCDO documents cases where British nationals have been robbed or assaulted after accepting food or drinks from strangers. This applies in social settings, at transport hubs, and in apparently reputable venues. Do not accept food or drinks from people you do not know. - **Road Safety**: India has a high road death rate. Livestock on roads, unpredictable driving standards, and limited visibility at night make road travel a genuine operational hazard. Accidents involving cows can attract hostile crowds and create a secondary threat for vehicle occupants. Night driving outside secure corridors carries elevated risk. ## Regulations - **Licensing**: Private security agencies are licensed under PSARA by a Controlling Authority that each state government designates, an officer of at least Joint Secretary rank in its Home Department (section 3). No one may carry on the business of a private security agency without a licence (section 4). The Act licenses agencies, not individual guards: an agency must train its guards, verify their character and antecedents (sections 9 and 10) and issue each a photo identity card (section 17). In National Capital Territory of Delhi the licence is issued by the National Capital Territory of Delhi Controlling Authority. - **Firearms**: The Private Security Agencies (Regulation) Act 2005 (PSARA) contains no provision on arms. Under section 3 of the Arms Act 1959 no person may acquire, possess or carry a firearm without a licence, which the licensing authority grants after a police report (section 13). The Arms Act has no separate route for private security guards. - **Foreign operators**: Under section 6(2) a company, firm or association cannot be considered for a licence if it is not registered in India or has a proprietor, majority shareholder, partner or director who is not an Indian citizen. Under section 10 an agency may engage as private security guards only citizens of India or of a country the Central Government specifies. A foreign security company therefore works through an Indian agency licensed in the state concerned. Take local legal advice before a foreign team carries out protective duties. Sources, checked 2026-10-06: - [Private Security Agencies (Regulation) Act 2005, India Code](https://www.indiacode.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/2024/1/A2005-29.pdf) - [Arms Act 1959, India Code](https://indiacode.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/6791/1/arms_act-1959.pdf) - [Ministry of Home Affairs, Private Security Agency Licensing Portal](https://psara.gov.in/) ## Zones Lower-risk areas: - Lutyens Delhi: Diplomatic enclave with restricted access, dense security presence, and lower incident rates - Connaught Place: Central business district, strong security infrastructure during business hours - South Delhi (Hauz Khas, Defence Colony): Relative safety, established residential and commercial areas - Aerocity: Airport hotel district with strong private security and modern infrastructure Elevated-risk areas: - Paharganj: Budget tourist area with documented scams, petty crime, and elevated risk after dark - Old Delhi at night: High-density historic area with reduced police visibility and elevated street crime - Isolated areas and parks after dark: Significant assault risk, particularly for female travellers ## Emergency contacts - Police: 100 - Ambulance: 108 - Fire: 101 - Emergency services, ambulance / fire / police (single national number): 112 (source: gov.uk FCDO India travel advice, Getting help and Health pages, fetched 2026-08-31) - Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, Sarita Vihar, Delhi Mathura Road: +91 11 2692 5858 (source: gov.uk FCDO India hospital list prepared by the British High Commission New Delhi, reviewed 2025, fetched 2026-08-31) - Apollo emergency ambulance (Apollo Lifeline, dialable across India): 1066 (source: apollohospitals.com Delhi emergency and trauma centre page, fetched 2026-08-31) - Max Super Speciality Hospital Saket, Press Enclave Road: +91 11 4063 2004 (source: gov.uk FCDO India hospital list prepared by the British High Commission New Delhi, reviewed 2025, fetched 2026-08-31) - All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Ansari Nagar: +91 11 2658 8500 (source: gov.uk FCDO India hospital list prepared by the British High Commission New Delhi, reviewed 2025, fetched 2026-08-31) - FCDO consular assistance, London (24 hours): +44 20 7008 5000 (source: gov.uk FCDO India travel advice, Getting help page, fetched 2026-08-31) ## Warnings - The FCDO rates terrorism in India as very likely. Delhi has been a potential target for LeT, JeM, and Daesh-linked activity. Hotels, markets, transport hubs, and public gatherings are the documented target types. Factor unpredictability into every itinerary. - Female travellers face documented, specific risk in Delhi. The FCDO advice reflects recorded incidents involving female foreign nationals, not general caution. Solo movement at night is not advisable under any circumstances. Female CP officers are available and appropriate for female principals. - Do not carry satellite phones or GPS devices into India without a Department of Telecommunications licence. British nationals have been arrested. Check all equipment before departure. - Do not accept food or drinks from strangers. Drink and food spiking resulting in robbery and assault is documented by FCDO. - Delhi Police has documented corruption. Judicial process is slow. Detainment for extended periods without resolution is a real possibility. Carry a copy of your passport and have legal contacts available. Delhi is India's capital and one of its largest cities. It draws corporate delegations, diplomatic visits, government-sector business, and an increasing volume of technology and financial services travel. The FCDO and US State Department both advise heightened vigilance. That advice is warranted. ## The terrorism picture The FCDO is explicit: terrorists are very likely to carry out attacks in India. That is not a diplomatic hedge. Active groups include Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, both with documented capability and intent; Naxalites operating in central and eastern states; and Daesh and AQIS, assessed as actively planning attacks against Western interests. Delhi has a lower direct attack history than Mumbai. The 2008 Mumbai attacks remain the most significant recent reference point. But Delhi's political profile, its concentration of international hotels, the government district, and its transport infrastructure make it a credible target. Security is visibly heightened at major hotels and transport hubs for this reason. The threat is not theoretical. ## Sexual assault risk This requires direct language. The FCDO documents sexual assault risk for female foreign nationals visiting India, including specific cases involving British women. This is not a general travel caution. It reflects documented incidents in multiple states including the capital. Female principals visiting Delhi require specific security planning. That means a detail including female close protection officers where appropriate. It means no solo movement after dark. It means advance assessment of every venue on the itinerary. This reflects the documented threat environment, not excessive caution. ## Satellite phones and GPS: a specific legal risk British nationals have been arrested in India for carrying satellite phones and GPS devices without a Department of Telecommunications licence. This catches people who treat sat-phones as standard travel kit without checking local law. Before any Delhi assignment, every piece of communications and navigation equipment needs to be verified against current Indian telecommunications regulations. Standard mobile phones on Indian GSM networks are not affected. The risk is specific to satellite-enabled devices. ## Ground movement The Delhi Metro is generally safe and practical for daytime movement in the central areas it serves. For business travel, app-based taxis (Uber, Ola) are the appropriate choice for road movement. On-street hailing at night is not advisable. Female travellers should avoid solo late-night movement by any transport. Road conditions present a real hazard outside planned corridors. Night driving is particularly dangerous. Accidents involving cows can escalate quickly, and vehicles stopped in confrontational situations on unfamiliar roads carry a secondary security exposure. ## The regulatory environment PSARA (2005) governs private security in India at the state level. Delhi-based operators hold Delhi state registration. Female close protection officers are available. The demand for them has increased in direct response to the documented threat environment for female principals. ## Our operators in Delhi We work with PSARA-licensed Delhi operators with documented close protection and secure transport experience. Every assignment begins with a briefing specific to the itinerary, covering current terrorism indicators, transport risk assessment, and, for female principals, a specific security plan that reflects the documented threat. *Source: FCDO India travel advice (April 2026). US State Department India advisory (April 2026). OSAC India 2026 Crime and Safety Report.* For comparable operating environments in our network, see our [Mumbai city briefing](/cities/mumbai/) and [Karachi city briefing](/cities/karachi/). ## Frequently asked questions ### How serious is the terrorism threat in Delhi? The FCDO rates terrorism in India as very likely, and that assessment applies to Delhi. The city has a lower direct attack history than Mumbai or Kashmir, but it remains a potential target given its political profile, international hotels, and government presence. Security heightens around Republic Day (26 January), Independence Day (15 August), Diwali, and Eid. Itinerary planning should factor this in. ### What security provision is appropriate for a female executive visiting Delhi? The FCDO specifically documents sexual assault risk for female foreign nationals in India. For female principals, a security detail including at least one female close protection officer is the appropriate baseline. Solo movement after dark is not advisable under any circumstances. All movement outside the secure districts (Lutyens, Aerocity, South Delhi) should be planned and accompanied. ### Can I bring my satellite phone to Delhi? Not without a licence. Satellite phones and GPS devices are illegal in India without authorisation from the Department of Telecommunications. British nationals have been arrested for carrying these devices. Standard mobile phones on Indian GSM networks are not affected. Check all kit before departure. ### Is close protection available for corporate visits to Delhi? Yes. India has a developed private security sector under PSARA (2005), with licensed operators and a range of capability levels available in Delhi. Armed close protection is available for higher-risk profiles. Contact us for a confidential assessment.