Defence Minister Rajnath Singh approved the revised SOP on 7 October 2026, waiving testing charges for iDEX, TDF and Make projects to promote defence indigenisation.

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• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh approved a revised Standard Operating Procedure on 7 October 2026 for use of Ministry of Defence proof ranges, field firing ranges and test facilities.
• The SOP covers use of these facilities by the domestic defence industry and aims to make access simpler, transparent and industry-friendly.
• It lists the proof ranges, field firing ranges and laboratory test facilities available with DRDO, government quality assurance agencies and the three Services.
• Proof and testing charges are waived for iDEX, the Technology Development Fund, Make and other developmental projects of the Ministry of Defence.
• The waiver is meant to promote Atmanirbharta in defence by lowering testing costs for indigenous development.
• Where charges apply, the procedure for calculating and paying them is now built into the SOP, reducing documentation for industry.
• The SOP reserves a three-day slot each quarter at proof ranges for proof firing of government-sponsored developmental projects.
• It carries prescribed formats and detailed procedures for requesting and using the facilities.
• The revised SOP incorporates government initiatives on indigenisation, innovation and defence exports, besides giving proof and test support to industry-led developmental projects.
• Proof ranges are specialised facilities where weapons, ammunition and equipment are tested under controlled conditions for safety, reliability and performance.

Tags: DefenceIndustry, ProofRanges, iDEX