New Delhi: The Department of Defence Production under the Ministry of Defence has issued notification for re-organisation of Directorate General of Quality Assurance (DGQA) in a major reform towards ‘Ease of Doing Business’ and to achieve Aatmnirbharta in Defence. This change is aimed at speeding up Quality Assurance processes and trials and reducing layers of decision-making and also factors change in the Quality Assurance methodology and revised role of DGQA post corporatisation of Ordnance Factory Board (OFB).

A need was felt to re-organise DGQA for an effective and efficient support to emerging defence manufacturing industry with the corporatisation of Ordnance Factories into new DPSUs, increased participation of private defence industry and impetus by the government towards indigenisation. DGQA has already been steering various organisational and functional reforms after active discussions with all stakeholders in the defence manufacturing ecosystem.

The new structure under implementation will enable single point technical support for complete equipment/ weapon platforms at all levels and also ensure uniformity in product-based QA, according to an official statement issued by the Ministry of Defence on March 28, 2024. The new structure also provides for a separate Directorate of Defence Testing and Evaluation Promotion to facilitate transparent allocation of Proof Ranges and testing facilities.

Coupled with automation and digitisation of standardised QA processes, this arrangement is likely to significantly improve the engagement of the Defence Industry with DGQA. The re-organised structure and ongoing functional reforms will give a push to indigenisation drive under ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ with availability of Indian standards/ equivalent to guide manufacturers within the country and will also boost export of high Quality qualified defence products.