As part of a significant initiative to enhance the ‘Ease of Doing Business’ and foster self-reliance in Defence, the Department of Defence Production, under the Ministry of Defence, has issued a notification for the restructuring of the Directorate General of Quality Assurance (DGQA). The objective is to streamline Quality Assurance processes and trials, as well as streamline decision-making processes. This restructuring also takes into account changes in Quality Assurance methodologies and the revised role of DGQA following the corporatization of Ordnance Factories.
With the corporatization of Ordnance Factories into new Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs), increased involvement of the private defence industry, and government initiatives towards indigenous production, there arose a necessity to revamp DGQA to better support the emerging defence manufacturing sector. DGQA has already initiated various organizational and functional reforms through active consultations with stakeholders in the defence manufacturing ecosystem.
The new structure being implemented will provide unified technical support for complete equipment and weapon platforms across all levels, ensuring consistency in product-based Quality Assurance. Additionally, it establishes a dedicated Directorate of Defence Testing and Evaluation Promotion to facilitate transparent allocation of Proof Ranges and testing facilities.
This reorganization, coupled with the automation and digitization of standardized Quality Assurance processes, is expected to significantly enhance the engagement of the Defence Industry with DGQA. The restructured setup and ongoing functional reforms will drive forward the indigenization agenda under ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’, providing Indian standards or equivalents to guide manufacturers domestically and fostering the export of high-quality, qualified defence products.
