Ordnance Factories Board

Ordnance Factories Board
Native name
 आयुध निर्माणी बोर्ड
Government Organisation
Industry Defence
Founded 1802[1]
Headquarters Ayudh Bhawan, Kolkata
Area served
 Worldwide
Key people
 P. K. Shrivastava, IOFS
(Director General Ordnance Factories & Chairman, OFB)
Products Small arms, aircraft weapons, anti-aircraft warfare, naval weapons, anti-ship warfare, anti-submarine warfare, anti-tank warfare, missiles, missile launchers, rockets, rocket launchers, bombs, grenades, mortars, mines, military vehicles, engines, armoured vehicles, chemical warfare, clothing, artillery, ammunition, propellants, explosives
Revenue $3 billion (₹19982.71 crores)
(2015-'16)[2][3][4]
Number of employees
 ~164,000[5]
Website ofb.gov.in

Ordnance Factories Board (OFB) (Hindi: आयुध निर्माणी बोर्ड; IAST: Āyudh nirmāṇī borḍ) consisting of the Indian Ordnance Factories (भारतीय आयुध निर्माणियाँ; Bhāratīya āyudh nirmāṇiyān), is an industrial organisation, functioning under the Department of Defence Production of Ministry of Defence, Government of India. It is engaged in research, development, production, testing, marketing and logistics of a comprehensive product range in the areas of air, land and sea systems. OFB comprises forty-one Ordnance Factories, nine Training Institutes, three Regional Marketing Centres and four Regional Controllerates of Safety, which are spread all across the country.[6][7]

OFB is the world's largest government-operated production organisation,[8] and the oldest organisation run by the Government of India.[9][10] It has a total workforce of about 164,000.[5] It is often called the "Fourth Arm of Defence",[11][12][13] and the "Force Behind the Armed Forces" of India.[14][15] It is amongst the top 50 defence equipment manufacturers in the world.[3][16] Its total sales were at $3 billion (₹19982.71 crores) in 2015-'16.[2] Every year, 18 March is celebrated as the Ordnance Factories' Day in India.[17][18]

History

Beginning

The history and development of the Indian Ordnance Factories is directly linked with the British reign in India. The East India Company considered military hardware to be a vital element for securing their economic interest in India and increasing their political power. In 1775, the British East India company accepted the establishment of the Board of Ordnance at Fort William, Calcutta. This marks the official beginning of the Army Ordnance in India.

In 1787, a gunpowder factory was established at Ichapore; it began production in 1791, and the site was later used as a rifle factory, beginning in 1904. In 1801, Gun Carriage Agency (now known as Gun & Shell Factory, Cossipore) was established at Cossipore, Calcutta, and production began on 18 March 1802. This is the oldest ordnance factory in India still in existence.[19]

Growth

The growth of the Ordnance Factories Board leading to its present setup has been continuous but sporadic. There were eighteen ordnance factories before India became independent in 1947 and twenty-three factories have been established after independence, mostly in the wake of defence preparedness imperatives brought about by the wars involving India.

Main Events
  • 1801 – Establishment of Gun Carriage Agency at Cossipore, Kolkata.
  • 1802 – Production begins at Cossipore on 18 March.
  • 1906 – The Administration of Indian Ordnance Factories comes under a separate charge as "IG of Ordnance Factories".
  • 1933 – Charged to "Director of Ordnance Factories".
  • 1948 – Placed under direct control of Ministry of Defence.
  • 1962 – Department of Defence Production was set up at Ministry of Defence.
  • 1979 – Ordnance Factories Board is established on 2 April.

Infrastructure and leadership

Headquarters

  • Armoured Vehicles Headquarters, Chennai (AVHQ)
  • Ordnance Equipment Factories Headquarters, Kanpur (OEFHQ)
  • Ordnance Factory Board, New Delhi Office (OFBNDO)
  • Ordnance Factory Cell, Mumbai (OFBMUM)
  • Ordnance Factories Recruitment Centre, Nagpur (OFRC)
  • Ordnance Factory Board, Kolkata (OFBHQ)

Apex Board

The Apex Board is headed by the Director General of Ordnance Factories (DGOF), who acts as the Chairman of the Board (ex officio Secretary to Government of India) and consists of nine other Members, who each hold the rank of Additional DGOF. Ordnance factories are divided into five operating divisions, depending upon the type of the main products/technologies employed. These are:

  • Ammunition and Explosives (A&E)
  • Weapons, Vehicles & Equipment (WV&E)
  • Materials and Components (M&C)
  • Armoured Vehicles (AV)
  • Ordnance Equipment Group of Factories (OEF)

Each of the above group of factories is headed by a member/additional DGOF. The four remaining members are responsible for staff functions, viz Personnel (Per), Finance (Fin), Planning & Material Management (P&MM), and Technical Services (TS), and they operate from Kolkata.

Ordnance factories

Each ordnance factory is headed by a General Manager who is in the rank of Additional Secretary to the Government of India.

Training institutes

  • National Academy of Defence Production, Nagpur (NADP)[20]
  • Ordnance Factories Institute of Learning Ambajhari, Nagpur (OFILAJ)
  • Ordnance Factories Institute of Learning Ambernath, Mumbai (OFILAM)
  • Ordnance Factories Institute of Learning Avadi, Chennai (OFILAV)
  • Ordnance Factories Institute of Learning Dehradun (OFILDD)
  • Ordnance Factories Institute of Learning Ishapore, Kolkata (OFILIS)
  • Ordnance Factories Institute of Learning Khamaria, Jabalpur (OFILKH)
  • Ordnance Factories Institute of Learning, Kanpur (OFILKN)
  • Ordnance Factories Institute of Learning, Medak (OFILMK)

Each OFIL is headed by a Principal Director, and NADP by a Senior Principal Director. NADP provides training to Group A officers, whilst the other eight institutes impart training to Group B and Group C employees of the ordnance factories.

Regional marketing centres

  • Regional Marketing Centre, Avadi, Chennai (RMCAV)
  • Regional Marketing Centre, Delhi (RMCDL)
  • Regional Marketing Centre, Pune (RMCPU)

Each regional marketing centre is headed by a Regional Director.

Regional Controllerates of Safety

  • Regional Controllerate of Safety Ambajhari, Nagpur (RCSAJ)
  • Regional Controllerate of Safety Avadi, Chennai (RCSAV)
  • Regional Controllerate of Safety, Kanpur (RCSKN)
  • Regional Controllerate of Safety, Pune (RCSPU)

Each Regional Controllerate of Safety is headed by a Regional Controller of Safety.

Indian Ordnance Factories Service

The Indian Ordnance Factories Service (IOFS) (Hindi: भारतीय आयुध निर्माणी सेवा) is a civil service of the Government of India. IOFS officers are Gazetted (Group A) defence-civilian officers under the Ministry of Defence.

IOFS is a multi-disciplinary composite cadre consisting of technical – engineers (Civil, Electrical, Mechanical, Electronics), technologists (Chemical, Metallurgical, Textile, Leather) and non-technical/administrative (Science, Law, Commerce, Management and Arts graduates). Technical posts comprise about 87% of the total cadre. The doctors (Surgeons and Physicians) serving in OFB belong to a separate service known as the Indian Ordnance Factories Health Service (IOFHS). IOFHS officers are responsible for the maintenance of health of the employees, and the hospitals of OFB. They report directly to the IOFS officers. IOFS and IOFHS are the only two civil services under the Department of Defence Production.[21]

Recruitment

The recruitment in the Indian Ordnance Factories as a Group A officer is done by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) based on the performance in the rigorous and prestigious Engineering Services Examination (ESE) and the Civil Services Examination (CSE).[22] Engineering posts are filled through the Engineering Services Examination, while technologists are selected through interviews by UPSC. Posts in the non technical streams are filled through the Civil Services Examination. IOFS is the only cadre in which candidates are selected by all four means – CSE, ESE, interviews and promotions. IOFHS officers are selected through the Combined Medical Services Examination, conducted by UPSC.[23][24][25] All appointments to the Group A Civil Services are made by the President of India.[26]

Hierarchy (Group A)
Grade Designation in the field Designation in headquarters Pay scale
Junior Time Scale Assistant Works Manager Assistant Director ₹15,600-₹39,100 plus grade pay of ₹5400
Senior Time Scale Works Manager Deputy Director ₹15,600-₹39,100 plus grade pay of ₹6600
Senior Time Scale (Non Functional) Deputy General Manager Joint Director ₹15,600-₹39,100 plus grade pay of ₹7600
Junior Administrative Grade (Functional) Joint General Manager Director ₹37,400-₹67,000 plus grade pay of ₹8700
Senior Administrative Grade Addl. GM / General Manager / Principal Director / Regional Director / Regional Controller of Safety Deputy Director General ₹37,400-₹67,000 plus grade pay of ₹10000
Higher Administrative Grade Senior General Manager / Senior Principal Director Senior Deputy Director General ₹67,000-₹79,000 plus grade pay-Nil
Higher Administrative Grade (+) Nil Addl. Director General & Member of the Board ₹75,500-₹80,000 plus grade pay -Nil
Apex Scale Nil Director General Ordnance Factories (DGOF) & Chairman of the Ordnance Factories Board ₹80,000 (fixed) plus grade pay-Nil[27]

Products

The type of ordnance material produced is very diverse, including various small arms to missiles, rockets, bombs, grenades, military vehicles, armoured vehicles, chemicals, optical devices, parachutes, mortars, artillery pieces plus all associated ammunition, propellants, explosives and fuses.[28]

Products available to civilians

Civilians are required to hold an Arms License (issued only for non-prohibited bore category weapons) in order to buy firearms in India. The following products of the Indian Ordnance Factories Board are available for civilians:

Arms

.32 Revolver

Ammunition

  • Cartridge Rimfire .22" Ball
  • Cartridge SA .32" Revolver
  • Cartridge SA .315" and 30 06 Ball
  • Cartridge SA 12 Bore 70mm
  • Cartridge SA 12 Bore 65mm Special

Products not available to civilians

These products are exclusively manufactured for use by the armed forces and are not sold to civilians.

Customers

Armed Forces

The prime customers of Indian Ordnance Factories are the Indian Armed Forces viz. Indian Army, Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force.[29][30] Apart from supplying armaments to the Armed Forces, Ordnance Factories also meet the requirements of other customers viz. the Central Armed Police Forces, State Armed Police Forces, Paramilitary Forces of India and the Special Forces of India in respect of arms, ammunition, clothing, bullet proof vehicles, mine protected vehicles etc.[31][32]

Civil trade

Customers are in the civil sector, central/state government organisations and departments such as Indian Railways, Indian Space Research Organisation, Defence Research and Development Organisation, Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre, Aeronautical Development Agency, Department of Telecommunications, and State Electricity Boards.[33][34][35][36] Public Sector Undertakings in India (PSUs) such as HMT Limited, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited, Bharat Dynamics Limited,[37] private companies and individuals etc. who purchase industrial chemicals, explosives, arms, ammunition, brass ingots, aluminium alloy products for aircraft, steel castings and forgings, vehicles, clothing and leather goods, cables and opto-electronic instruments.[38]

Exports

Arms and ammunition, weapon spares, chemicals and explosives, parachutes, leather and clothing items are exported to more than 30 countries worldwide.

References

  1. ↑ "Indian Ordnance Factories: History". Ofb.gov.in. 1 April 1999. Retrieved 2012-07-17.
  2. 1 2 "About Department of Defence Production - Department of Defence Production". ddpmod.gov.in. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
  3. 1 2 "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 24 May 2011. Retrieved 2012-05-13.
  4. ↑ "Antony reviews Ordnance Factory Board work". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 2012-04-17.
  5. 1 2 "Trends in Defence Production: Case of Ordnance Factories". Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  6. ↑ "Indian Ordnance Factories: Our Factories". Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  7. ↑ "Indian Ordnance Factories: OFB in Brief". Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  8. ↑ "Factories of graft". Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  9. ↑ "Ministry of Defence, Govt of India". Mod.nic.in. Archived from the original on 4 July 2012. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
  10. ↑ John Pike. "Ordnance Factories". Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  11. ↑ "Two Centuries of Guns and Shells". Mod.nic.in. Archived from the original on 7 February 2012. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
  12. ↑ "WHAT". Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  13. ↑ "Gun Carriage Factory". Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  14. ↑ "Indian Ordnance Factories: About Us". Ofb.gov.in. Retrieved 2012-07-17.
  15. ↑ "Page Not Found". Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  16. ↑ IANS (27 February 2012). "Three Indian entities – HAL, BEL and OFB among world's top 100 arms manufacturers – Economic Times". Articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 2012-07-17.
  17. ↑ "The Hitavada: Latest News from India,Politics,Bollywood,Business,Sport". Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  18. ↑ Our Bureau. "Business Line : Industry & Economy News : Ordnance Factory to invest Rs 15,000 cr for modernisation". Thehindubusinessline.com. Retrieved 2012-07-17.
  19. ↑ "Indian Ordnance Factories: Gun and Shell Factory". Ofb.gov.in. Retrieved 2012-07-17.
  20. ↑ National Academy of Defence Production, Nagpur (NADP)
  21. ↑ http://www.persmin.nic.in/DOPT/CSWing/CRDivision/Mail%20List%20of%20Secretaries.htm
  22. ↑ "Indian Ordnance Factories: Recruitment Rules". Ofb.gov.in. Retrieved 2012-07-17.
  23. ↑ "Union Public Service Commission". Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  24. ↑ "UPSC announces CMSE 2010 results". The Times Of India. 2010-09-03.
  25. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 15 April 2014. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
  26. ↑ "Sorry for the inconvenience". Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  27. ↑ "Indian Ordnance Factories: Employees in different pay bands with grade pay". Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  28. ↑ "Indian Ordnance Factories: Products". Ofb.gov.in. Retrieved 2012-07-17.
  29. ↑ "Weapons – Indian Navy". Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  30. ↑ "Defense & Security Intelligence & Analysis: IHS Jane's – IHS". Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  31. ↑ "Indian Ordnance Factories: OFB in Brief". Ofb.gov.in. Retrieved 2012-07-17.
  32. ↑ "Indian Ordnance Factories: Small Arms Factory". Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  33. ↑ "Indian Ordnance Factories: Grey Iron Foundry". Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  34. ↑ "Indian Ordnance Factories: Ordnance Factory Ambajhari". Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  35. ↑ "Indian Ordnance Factories: Ordnance Cable Factory Chandigarh". Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  36. ↑ "Indian Ordnance Factories: Ordnance Factory Itarsi". Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  37. ↑ "Indian Ordnance Factories: Heavy Alloy Penetrator Project". Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  38. 1 2 "Indian Ordnance Factories: Customers". Ofb.gov.in. Retrieved 2012-07-17.
  39. ↑ Pratim Ranjan Bose (29 September 2011). "Business Line : OTHERS / EDITORIAL FEATURE : We're making Ordnance factories future ready, says OFB Chairman Dimri". Thehindubusinessline.com. Retrieved 2012-07-17.
  40. ↑ "Indian defence exports valued at Rs.997 crore". Yahoo News India. 12 December 2012. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  41. ↑ http://armstrade.sipri.org/armstrade/html/export_toplist.php
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