Ordnance Factory Day: Celebrating India's Defence Manufacturing Legacy
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Ordnance Factory Day | Observed annually on March 18 to commemorate the establishment of India's first ordnance factory in Cossipore, Kolkata (1802). |
| Historical Background | - 1775: Establishment of the Board of Ordnance in Fort William, Kolkata. <br> - 1787: First gunpowder factory set up in Ishapore. <br> - 1801: Gun Carriage Agency established in Cossipore, starting production on March 18, 1802. |
| Post-Independence Expansion | - 1947: India had 18 Ordnance Factories. <br> - Expanded to 41 factories, including Nalanda and Korwa. <br> - Government reclassified 275 products as non-core items. |
| Significance | - Known as the Fourth Arm of Defence, supporting the Army, Navy, and Air Force. <br> - OFB ranked 37th globally, 2nd in Asia, and largest in India in defence production. |
| OFB Restructuring (2021) | - October 2021: OFB dissolved, functions transferred to 7 new Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs). |
| New Defence PSUs & Specializations | 1. Advanced Weapons & Equipment India Ltd. (AWEIL): Small arms & military-grade weapons. <br> 2. Gliders India Ltd. (GIL): Parachutes & airborne defence equipment. <br> 3. Troop Comforts Ltd. (TCL): Defence clothing, boots, protective gear. <br> 4. Armoured Vehicles Nigam Ltd. (AVNL): Battle tanks & armoured vehicles. <br> 5. Munitions India Ltd. (MIL): Ammunition, explosives, artillery shells. <br> 6. Yantra India Ltd. (YIL): Engineering components & mechanical defence equipment. <br> 7. India Optel Ltd. (IOL): Optics, surveillance & night vision systems. |
| India's Defence Capabilities | - Self-reliant in arms & ammunition under Atmanirbhar Bharat. <br> - Exports defence equipment to 30+ countries. <br> - Continuous modernization & R&D for security challenges. |
| Key Achievements | - Development of 12.7 mm Stabilized Remote-Controlled Gun (SRCG). <br> - Introduction of 14.5/20 mm Anti-Material Rifle. <br> - Indigenous production of rifles, ammunition, and battle tanks. |
| Objectives of Ordnance Factories | - Manufacturing of defence equipment. <br> - Modernization of production processes. <br> - R&D in advanced technology. <br> - Expansion into global defence markets. |