Ordnance Factories Day is observed all over India on 18th March every year. The production of the oldest Ordnance Factory of India, which is located at Cossipore, Kolkata was commenced on 18th March 1802. On this occasion, the Ordnance Factory, Field Gun Factory, Small Arms Factory, Ordnance Parachute Factory and Ordnance Equipment Factory acknowledge the day with great pomp.
The day is celebrated throughout the ordnance factories in which employees of all categories take part in various organized events. This day is commemorated by the display of guns, ammunition, rifles, artillery etc in exhibitions across India. The exhibitions are usually open for all.
The celebrations get started with a parade besides the exhibition also displays photographs of several mountaineering expeditions.
Ordnance Factories Day 2019 in India
Ordnance Factories Day 2019 was observed in India on Monday, 18th of March.
The day was observed across all the ordnance factories in the country. The program was started with hoisting of the National Flag and singing of the National Anthem. Discussions, seminars and talks on new defence technological developments were also conducted on the occasion. Employees and staffs of the factories also presented various cultural programs to mark the day.
Weapons exhibition was also held across the factories showcasing the major weapons manufactured in the factories. The exhibition was also opened for the public so that they can also experience and witness the defence weapons and technology of the factory.
Rewards and recognition ceremony was also organised on the day for the employees for their dedication and hard work. The felicitation of the prize was done by the hands of honorable chief guest and other dignitaries.
History of Ordnance Factories Day
It is a familiar fact that the Government of India had declared the celebration of Ordnance Factories Day on 18th of March every year. The Ordnance Factories Board is popularly called as the country’s “Fourth arm of Defense”. The remaining three arms – the Navy, the Air Force and the Army – each of them has their own celebration days and as the Ordnance Factories Board is the fourth arm, Government felt the need to observe a particular day as Ordnance Factories Day.
The day was declared on the 200th anniversary of the first ordnance factory i.e. Gun Carriage Agency that is now known as the Gun and Shell Factory which was established in the country in Cossipore, Kolkata in the year of 1801.
The history of Indian Ordnance Factories is straight connected with the British rule in India. The East India Company regarded military hardware as a crucial element for increasing their political strength in India and safeguarding their economic interest. In the year of 1775, East India Company acclaimed the foundation of the Ordnance Board at Fort William in Calcutta.
This represents the official commencement of the Indian Army Ordnance. Aim of the ordnance factories is to generate self-sufficiency in the production of defense and to create awareness about the ammunition and arms among the general public.
Why the Ordnance Factories Day is Celebrated
The occasion of the Ordnance Factories Day is regarded as an event to confirm the dedication of the Ordnance Board to the nation, by means of ensuring high quality products for the armed forces of India and also by ensuring superior quality of working life for the employees of the board.
On the occasion, the employees of the ordnance factories are commemorated for their work excellence. In proportion to the other national awards, the Board has instituted awards like Ayudh Shri/Devi, Ayudh Bhushan, Ayudh Ratna and so on.
Activities on Ordnance Factories Day
Ordnance Factories Day is celebrated to acknowledge the foundation of the very first ordnance factory in India. The day is celebrated with great enthusiasm in all the ordnance factories of the country. The celebration is commenced with flag hoisting by a general manager in each factory and there is administration of a pledge by all the workmen, staff and officers of the Ordnance Factory to serve their nation. The officers call upon the employees of their respective factories to dedicate their services for the betterment of their factories by keeping in line with the targets fixed by the corporation.
The event is celebrated in all the ordnance factories of the country by conducting programmes like conferences and seminars on productivity, quality and other subjects. This day also promotes a feeling of unity and togetherness between the employees. They heartily feel that they are a member of the big family. The ordnance factories, which are located in distinct far-flung spheres of the country, also organize welfare activities.
They provide schooling, healthcare and housing to their employees. The Women Welfare Association immensely contributes to the enhancement of the environment in the families of the employees of the ordnance factories and the estates of the factories.
There is also a sharing of the future modernization plans of different factories so that the employees work shoulder to shoulder in order to accomplish the set missions. Exhibition of the ordnance factory products is displayed which includes several types of pistols, light machine guns, guns and other weapons along with the multimedia presentations that are open to all employees. The event is generally attended by the staff, workmen, officers of the respective factories and also the representatives of several unions, associations and federations.
Ordnance Factories Board
Ordnance Factories Board had laid its foundation in the year of 1775 with headquarters in Ayudh Bhawan, Kolkata. It is the oldest industrial organization managed by the Indian Government and the world’s largest production organization that is operated by the government.
It is also one of the top 50 manufacturers of defense equipment in the world. The board is engaged in testing, production, research, development, logistics and marketing of comprehensive range of products in the field of land, sea and air systems.
Ordnance Factories Board includes 41 Ordnance Factories, 4 Regional Safety Controllerates, 3 Regional Marketing Centers and 9 Training Institutes, that are spread across India. It is regarded as the “Force behind the Armed Forces” and the “Fourth Arm of Defense” of India.
The board is managed by the Ministry of Defense. Indian Ordnance Factories deliver products to all three Armed Forces of India- Indian Air Force, Indian Army and Indian Navy. Weapon spares, parachutes, chemicals and explosives, arms and ammunition, clothing and leather items are exported to around 30 countries across the world.
Indian Ordnance Factories Service (IOFS)
Indian Ordnance Factories Service is a civil service of the Indian government. Officers of the IOFS are Gazetted Defense – civilian officers secondary to the Ministry of Defense. They are accountable for managing the Indian Ordnance Factories.
The major functions executed by the officers of the IOFS include project management, product development and research, quality control, materials management, supplies management, production control and planning, industrial safety, personnel management, labour welfare, industrial relations, maintenance and management of residential estates and various others.
In the discharge of these functions, IOFS officers extensively interact with several research and development organizations, educational institutes, quality control agencies, public sectors undertakings under the Ministry of Defense, ministries, trade and industrial organizations etc.
The recruitment part of the IOFS officers is executed by the Union Public Service Commission while the National Academy of Defense Production in Nagpur imparts training to these officers in fields of public administration, management, technology as re-orientation and induction courses.
List of Ordnance Factories in India
- Cordite Factory Aruvankadu
- Ammunition Factory Khadki, Pune
- Ordnance Factory Kanpur
- Field Gun Factory, Kanpur
- Ordnance Factory Dumdum, Kolkata
- Engine Factory Avadi, Chennai
- Ordnance Factory Bolangir
- Ordnance Factory Bhusawal
- Ordnance Factory Chandrapur
- Ordnance Factory Ambernath, Mumbai
- Ordnance Factory Dehradun
- Ordnance Factory Bhandara
- Ordnance Factory Dehu Road, Pune
- Gun Carriage Factory, Jabalpur
- Ordnance Factory, Itarsi
- Gun and Shell Factory, Kolkata
- Ordnance Factory Katni
- Grey Iron Foundry, Jabalpur
- Ordnance Factory Khamaria, Jabalpur
- High Explosives Factory, Pune
- Ordnance Factory Project Medak
- Metal and Steel Factory, Kolkata
- Ordnance Factory Project Korwa
- Heavy Vehicles Factory, Chennai
- Ordnance Factory Project Nalanda
- Ordnance Equipment Factory, Hazratpur
- Ordnance Factory Muradnagar
- Machine Tool Prototype Factory, Mumbai
- Ordnance Factory Tiruchirappalli
- Ordnance Cable Factory, Chandigarh
- Opto Electronics Factory, Dehradun
- Heavy Alloy Penetrator Project, Tiruchirappalli
- Ordnance Factory Varangaon
- Ordnance Clothing Factory, Avadi, Chennai
- Ordnance Parachute Factory, Kanpur
- Ordnance Equipment Factory, Kanpur
- Small Arms Factory, Kanpur
- Ordnance Factory Ambajhari, Nagpur
- Rifle Factory Ishapore, Kolkata
- Ordnance Clothing Factory, Shahjahanpur
- Vehicle Factory Jabalpur
List of Ordnance Training Institutes
- Ordnance Factories Institute of Learning in Ambajhari, Nagpur
- National Academy of Defense Production in Nagpur
- Ordnance Factories Institute of Learning in Avadi, Chennai
- Ordnance Factories Institute of Learning in Khamaria, Jabalpur
- Ordnance Factories Institute of Learning in Medak
- Ordnance Factories Institute of Learning in Ambernath, Mumbai
- Ordnance Factories Institute of Learning in Dehradun
- Ordnance Factories Institute of Learning in Kanpur
- Ordnance Factories Institute of Learning in Ishapore, Kolkata
List of Ordnance Regional Marketing Centers
- Regional Marketing Center, Delhi
- Regional Marketing Center Avadi, Chennai
- Regional Marketing Center, Pune
List of Ordnance Regional Controllerates of Safety
- Regional Controllerate of Safety, Kanpur
- Regional Controllerate of Safety Avadi, Chennai
- Regional Controllerate of Safety, Pune
- Regional Controllerate of Safety Ambajhari, Nagpur
Conclusion
As Ordnance Factories Board plays a very crucial role in the development of the Armed Forces of India, the Ordnance Factories Day must be given due importance. Not only does this, the organization supplies armaments to various armed forces, it also meets the desires of other customers viz. the State Police Forces and Central Paramilitary Forces in regard to ammunition, arms, mine protected vehicles, bullet proof vehicles, clothing etc. Ordnance Factories Day imparts general awareness about the essence of Ordnance Board across India. Common people are also welcomed in grand celebrations where they can see the exhibitions, parades etc.
