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Indian Ordnance Factories Service

Service Overview
Abbreviation	I.O.F.S.
Formed	1954
Country	India
Training Ground	National Academy of Defence Production, Nagpur
Controlling Authority	Ministry of Defence Department of Defence Production and Supplies Ordnance Factories Board
Legal personality	Governmental: Government service
General nature	Product development Project management Materials management Production planning and control Quality control Supplies management Industrial safety Labour welfare Personnel management Industrial relations Management and maintenance of residential estates
Service colour	Red, Dark Blue and Light Sky Blue
Service Chief
	DGOF & Chairman, OFB Current: Sudhir Kumar Beri
Head of the Civil Services
	Cabinet Secretary Current: Ajit Seth

The Indian Ordnance Factories Service (IOFS) (Hindi: भारतीय आयुध निर्माणियाँ सेवा) was formed in 1954 with the cadre controlling authority of Ministry of Defence – Department of Defence Production and Supplies with a cadre size of 1760 posts. The source of recruitment (in percentage) was through direct recruitment 60%; by promotion 40% and no lateral entries. It is one of the constituent Central Civil Services of India. The officers recruited, enter the Indian Ordnance Factories Service (IOFS) and serve at the pleasure of the President of India.

IOFS is a multi-disciplinary composite cadre consisting of technical - Engineers (Civil, Electrical, Mechanical, Electronics), Technologists (Chemical, Metallurgical, Textile, Leather) and non technical (Science, Law, Commerce, Management and Arts streams). Technical posts comprise about 87% of the total cadre. IOFS officers are group "A" Defence civilian officers under the Ministry of Defence. They are responsible for the management of the Indian Ordnance Factories, which provide the sinews of self-reliant, indigenous, defence production capabilities of the nation.

OFB's background

Ordnance Factories Board is engaged in the production of arms, ammunition and other equipments for military and civilian applications. Headquartered at Ayudh Bhawan, Kolkata, it consists of forty-one Factories, nine Training Institutes, three Regional Marketing Centres and four Regional Controllers of Safety.

OFB is the largest and the oldest industrial organisation run by the Government of India. It has a total workforce of about 150,000. It is often called the "Fourth Arm of Defence" and the "Force Behind the Armed Forces" of India. It is also amongst the top 100 arms manufacturers in the World and was ranked at #46 in the list released by disarmament watchdog SIPRI for 2010, up from #55 in 2009. Its total sales were at $2.4 billion, with arms sales bringing in about 80 percent of its revenue. Every year, 18 March is celebrated as the Ordnance Factories Day in India.

Recruitment

The recruitment in the 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). Engineering posts are filled through the Engineering Services Examination and technologists are selected through interview by UPSC. Posts in the non technical streams are filled through the Civil Services Examination held by UPSC. All appointments to Central Civil Services (CCS) Group "A" are made by the President of India.

Training

National Academy of Defence Production, Nagpur provides training to the IOFS officers. The academy is headed by a Principal Director. It has its own teaching complex housing the library, lecture halls, labs, hostels, mess, sports and recreational facilities. It provides training to the officers on the topics of engineering, management, production, Government rules and regulations, human relations, organisational behavior, personal and environmental safety as short term, induction, refresher and re-orientation courses. IOFS officers are allowed to continue their higher studies at various national institutions such as the IITs, IIMs, NITs, IISc and DIAT under the sponsored category. Interestingly, most of the officers who join the ordnance factories are graduates of these institutes as the recruitment in the ordnance factories is considered quite tough, only the brightest students make it through the whole process. They are also trained at these institutes, at the Administrative Staff College of India and at the Indian Institute of Public Administration while in service. The officers are even sent for higher education to the countries which have defence friendly relations with India such as the USA, UK, Sweden, Austria, Germany, Russia, France, Israel and Canada.

Functions

The main functions performed by IOFS officers include product development, project management, materials management, production planning and control, quality control, supplies management, industrial safety, labour welfare, personnel management, industrial relations, management and maintenance of residential estates etc.

In discharging these functions, the IOFS officers interact extensively with R&D organisations such as the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO), quality controlling agencies such as Bureau of Indian Standards and Directorate General of Quality Assurance, Military Engineering Service, educational institutes such as IITs, IIMs, NITs, National Laboratories such as those of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Ministry of Home, Ministry of Labour and others. Besides, in order to meet the day to day operational requirements of the organisation, fulfill various statutory obligations, and ensure the welfare of the workforce employed in the ordnance factories, these officers also interact with the officers of the Indian Army, Indian Navy, Indian Air Force, Central Armed Police Forces, State Armed Police Forces, Paramilitary forces of India, Special Forces of India, Indian Administrative Service, Indian Police Service, Indian Audits and Accounts Service, Central Board of Excise and Customs, Indian Defence Accounts Service, Indian Revenue Service, Indian Railway Traffic Service etc.

Hierarchy

See also

Ordnance Factories Board

External links

• National Academy of Defence Production
• Indian Ordnance Factories (official website)

References

1. "Ministry of Defence, Govt of India". Mod.nic.in. Retrieved 2012-07-17.
2. http://mod.nic.in/samachar/1aug2000/html/ch8.htm
3. "Two Centuries of Guns and Shells". Mod.nic.in. Retrieved 2012-07-17.
4. "Indian Ordnance Factories: About Us". Ofb.gov.in. Retrieved 2012-07-17.
5. IANS Feb 27, 2012, 04.18PM IST (2012-02-27). "Three Indian entities - HAL, BEL and OFB among world's top 100 arms manufacturers - Economic Times". Articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 2012-07-17.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
6. Our Bureau. "Business Line : Industry & Economy News : Ordnance Factory to invest Rs 15,000 cr for modernisation". Thehindubusinessline.com. Retrieved 2012-07-17.
7. "Indian Ordnance Factories: Recruitment Rules". Ofb.gov.in. Retrieved 2012-07-17.
8. http://www.diat.ac.in/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=71&Itemid=75
9. http://www.iimidr.ac.in/iimi/pages/programmes_main/customised-exe-edu.php
10. http://drdo.gov.in/drdo/English/index.jsp?pg=policies.jsp
11. http://mod.nic.in/product&supp/body1.htm#d3a
12. http://oa.csirexplorations.com/index.php/record/view/75217
13. "UPSC Exam india : Indian Civil Services Exams :IAS,IFS,IES Exam,UPSC India,UPSC syllabus,ias topper interview,ias exam tips,book list". Threeauthors.com. Retrieved 2012-07-17.

• Civil service in India