Indian Ordnance Factories Service

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 106.205.10.96 (talk) at 18:09, 16 May 2020 (T). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Revision as of 18:09, 16 May 2020 by 106.205.10.96 (talk) (T)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)

**Indian Ordnance Factories Service**
Service Overview

Abbreviation	I.O.F.S.
Formed	1935
Country	India
Training Ground	National Academy of Defence Production, Nagpur
Controlling Authority	Ministry of Defence Department of Defence Production
Legal personality	Governmental Civil Service
General nature	Research & Development General Management Public Administration Defence Production
Cadre Size	1760 members
Association	IOFS officers Association (IOFSA)
Service colour	Red, Navy Blue and Sky Blue
Service Chief
	DGOF & Chairman, OFB Current: Hari Mohan	Head of the Civil Services
	Cabinet Secretary Current: Rajiv gauba

The Indian Ordnance Factories Service (IOFS) is a civil service of the Government of India. IOFS officers are Gazetted (Group A) defence-civilian officers under the Ministry of Defence. They are responsible for the management of the Indian Ordnance Factories, which provide the defence production capabilities of India.

Composition

During the colonial times, the administrative service of Ordnance was known as the Indian Ordnance Service. It was constituted in the year 1935. It had only European officers in the years that followed. They were engineering graduates who had to undergo specialised training prior joining the service. In 1939, there was only one Indian officer and the remaining forty-four officers were of European origin.

IOFS was reconstituted in its present form in 1954 with the cadre controlling authority of Ministry of Defence – Department of Defence Production with a cadre size of 1760 posts. The source of recruitment was through direct recruitment 60%; by promotion 40% and no lateral entries.

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.

OFB's background

Ordnance Factories Board is engaged in research, development, production, testing, marketing and logistics of a comprehensive product range in the areas of air, land and sea systems. It 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.

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

Recruitment

The recruitment in the Indian Ordnance Factories as a Group A and group B gazetted officer is done by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) based on the performance in the Engineering Services Examination (ESE) and the Civil Services Examination (CSE). 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 officials are selected by all four means – CSE, ESE, interviews and promotions. IOFHS officers are selected through the Combined Medical Services Examination, conducted by UPSC. All appointments to the Group A Civil Services are made by the President of India.

Training

National Academy of Defence Production (NADP), Nagpur provides training to the IOFS officers in areas of technology, management, public administration as induction and re-orientation courses.

The induction training programme of probationary officers is of 64 weeks, comprising technical, managerial and administrative modules of theoretical, practical and field nature. Classes are held at specialised educational institutions across India. Officer Trainees (OTs) are then sent on Bharat Darshan (Tour of India), which includes visits to the nuclear, defence, space, industrial and other technical installations of India. To understand the nuances of bureaucracy, they are familiarised with the functioning of district, state, national and international bodies, including the Parliament of India. Armed Forces attachment with the Army, Navy, Air Force and with the Police, Paramilitary and Special Forces for better understanding of needs of their customers. To get acquainted with the Indian legal system, they visit the Supreme Court of India. Thus, giving them exposure to all the three arms of the Government of India. Following which, they are sent for on-the-job training to various Ordnance Factories and are expected to apply the knowledge and experience gained. Examinations are held at the end of the training. The training concludes with interactions with the Members of Parliament, Ministers in-charge of the Home, Foreign and Defence ministries, Prime Minister, Vice-President and the President of India.

IOFS officers are allowed to continue their higher studies at various national institutions such as the IITs, NITs, IIMs, IISc, NITIE, NDC, DSSC and DIAT under the sponsored category. They are also trained at these institutes, at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, Administrative Staff College of India and the Indian Institute of Public Administration, while in service. The officers are sent to countries which have friendly relations with India, such as the countries of erstwhile USSR, United States, UK, Sweden, Japan, Austria, Germany, Russia, France, Israel, Canada, Czech Republic, South Korea, Singapore etc.

Notable officers

Narinder Singh Kapany – Former IOFS officer, FREng, "Father of Fibre Optics", also known as "The Man who Bent Light", invented fibre optics that revolutionalised telecommunication, power transmission, etc. Named as one of the seven "Unsung Heroes of the 20th century" by Fortune magazine . Former Professor at Stanford, Universities of California at Berkeley, Santa Barbara and Santa Cruz. Has more than 150 patents to his credit.
Nalini Ranjan Mohanty – Former IOFS officer. Secured All India 2nd Rank in the Engineering Services Examination of 1965, served as the Chairman & Managing Director of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Director of Kudremukh Iron Ore Company, Mahanadi Coalfields, National Aluminium Company (NALCO), Bharat Earth Movers (BEML). Awarded Padma Shri in 2004 by the Government of India for his role in the development of LCA – Tejas.
H. P. S. Ahluwalia – Former IOFS officer, FRGS. Author, mountaineer, social worker, first Indian to climb Mount Everest. Founder & Chairman of Indian Spinal Injuries Centre. Awarded Arjuna Award, Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan by the Government of India. Also served as a Commissioned officer in the Indian Army and Member of Planning Commission (India).

References

"OF Beat" (PDF). Ofbindia.gov.in. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
"Archived copy". Archived from the original on 4 October 2013. Retrieved 3 October 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
"Our Factories : Indian Ordnance Factories". ofbindia.gov.in. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
"OFB in Brief : Indian Ordnance Factories". ofbindia.gov.in. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
"Factories of graft". Indiatoday.intoday.in. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
"Ministry of Defence, Govt of India". Mod.nic.in. Archived from the original on 4 July 2012. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
Pike, John. "Ordnance Factories". Globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
"Trends in Defence Production: Case of Ordnance Factories". Idsa-india.org. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
"Two Centuries of Guns and Shells". Mod.nic.in. Archived from the original on 7 February 2012. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
"WHAT". Indiadefence.com. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
"Gun Carriage Factory". ofbgcf.nic.in. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
"Indian Ordnance Factories: About Us". Ofb.gov.in. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
"Archived copy". Archived from the original on 14 November 2014. Retrieved 2 July 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
"Archived copy". Archived from the original on 24 May 2011. Retrieved 13 May 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
"Three Indian entities – HAL, BEL and OFB among world's top 100 arms manufacturers – Economic Times". Articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com. 27 February 2012. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
"About the DDP – Department of Defence Production". ddpmod.gov.in. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
"Archived copy". Archived from the original on 3 July 2015. Retrieved 2 July 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
"Business Line : Industry & Economy News : Ordnance Factory to invest Rs 15,000 cr for modernisation". Thehindubusinessline.com. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
"Indian Ordnance Factories: Recruitment Rules". Ofb.gov.in. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
"Archived copy". Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 2 July 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
"UPSC announces CMSE 2010 results". The Times of India. 3 September 2010.
"Archived copy". Archived from the original on 15 April 2014. Retrieved 28 April 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
"Archived copy". Archived from the original on 4 October 2013. Retrieved 2 July 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
"Official Web Site of NADP, Nagpur:: Academy". nadpindia.gov.in. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
M. Tech. Programme :: Admission :: Defense Institute of Advanced Technology. Diat.ac.in. Retrieved on 31 August 2012.
"Archived copy". Archived from the original on 4 October 2013. Retrieved 5 June 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
"Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 February 2014. Retrieved 28 April 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
"Management guru peps up ordnance factory officers – The Times of India". The Times of India.
"Archived copy". Archived from the original on 5 October 2013. Retrieved 5 June 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
"Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 April 2012. Retrieved 5 June 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
Indian Institute of Management Indore – Customised Exe Edu Archived 6 September 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Iimidr.ac.in. Retrieved on 31 August 2012.
^ "The Tribune – Windows – Main Feature". Tribuneindia.com. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
"How India missed another Nobel Prize". Rediff.com. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
"First Indian group to scale Mt Everest feted". Zeenews.india.com. 9 April 2015. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
"Youngest and first: Indian Everest conquerors meet". Rediff.com. Retrieved 22 August 2017.

External links

v t e Civil service
Concepts	Public sector Government agency Bureaucracy Bureaucrat Technocracy Merit system / Spoils system Diplomat Public administration Public policy Public service Regulatory agency
By country/territory	Australia Bangladesh Brazil Canada China Hong Kong France Germany Greece India Ireland Italy Japan Malaysia New Zealand Nigeria Pakistan Russia Singapore Sri Lanka United Kingdom Northern Ireland United States European Union
Categories	National civil service commissions Government occupations Civil service by country
See also: Civil service reform in developing countries

v t e Ordnance Factories Board
Administration	Indian Ordnance Factories Service
Ordnance factories	Field Gun Factory, Kanpur Gun Carriage Factory Jabalpur Heavy Alloy Penetrator Project Heavy Vehicles Factory Ordnance Cable Factory Chandigarh Ordnance Clothing Factory Ordnance Factory Medak Ordnance Factory Tiruchirappalli Rifle Factory Ishapore Vehicle Factory Jabalpur
Training institutes	National Academy of Defence Production
Products	Amogh carbine Excalibur rifle INSAS rifle IOF .22 sporting rifle IOF .30-06 sporting rifle IOF .315 sporting rifle IOF .32 Revolver Pistol Auto 9mm 1A Ashani pistol Nidar Nirbheek IOF .22 revolver Ishapore 2A1 rifle Vidhwansak Joint Venture Protective Carbine ARDE Under Barrel Grenade Launcher Multi Caliber Individual Weapon System

Categories: