Rajnath Singh Clears Revised SOP for Indian Defence Industry Access to MoD Test Facilities
Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh has approved a revised Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) that will govern how the Indian defence industry accesses and uses Ministry of Defence (MoD) proof ranges, field firing ranges and test facilities. The new framework is meant to make allotment and utilisation of these facilities simpler, more transparent and easier for industry to navigate.
The revised SOP lays out a detailed but streamlined procedure for seeking access to MoD proof ranges and laboratory testing facilities, along with the prescribed formats to be used. According to the source material, the intent is to remove procedural complexity and improve industry-friendly access to testing infrastructure under the Ministry of Defence.
A major change in the new SOP is the waiver of proof and testing charges for iDEX, Technology Development Fund (TDF), Make and other developmental projects of the Ministry of Defence. This exemption is designed to encourage Atmanirbharta in Defence and support developmental work being carried out by India’s indigenous defence industry.
The SOP also identifies the Proof Ranges, Field Firing Ranges and laboratory test facilities available with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Government Quality Assurance agencies and the three Services for use by the Indian defence industry. By bringing these facilities within a single revised procedure, the ministry aims to improve access to the testing ecosystem needed for development and validation work.
For cases where charges do apply, the revised SOP spells out the method for calculating and paying proof and testing fees. The source says this is intended to reduce ambiguity and simplify the documentation and administrative process involved in using these facilities.
Another notable revision is the replacement of the arbitration provision in the existing SOP with a Conciliation Agreement Clause. This change is meant to provide a simpler and more industry-friendly mechanism for resolving disputes, and to support Ease of Doing Business by enabling faster resolution of issues faced by the indigenous defence industry.
The revised framework also reserves a three-day slot every quarter at proof ranges for proof firing of developmental projects sponsored by the Government. These include iDEX, TDF, Make and other developmental projects of the Ministry of Defence, as well as developmental projects undertaken on the initiative of the indigenous defence industry itself.
Taken together, the revised SOP is intended to make access to proof ranges, field firing ranges and laboratory test facilities easier for Indian defence companies engaged in developmental activity. The ministry’s stated goal is to create a more transparent, structured and industry-friendly system for the use of these resources.
The new provisions also align with wider government efforts aimed at facilitating indigenisation, innovation and defence exports. By improving access to proof and test support across facilities under the MoD, DRDO, Government Quality Assurance agencies and the three Services, the SOP is meant to strengthen indigenous defence development.
