India gets its first standard for bomb disposal systems to boost security infrastructure

The standard specifies requirements for test equipment, test range conditions, and evaluation procedures to objectively assess system effectiveness, according to the Consumer Affairs Ministry.

The need for an Indian standard arose because existing international standards are either restricted in access or not fully aligned with the threat profiles and operational conditions faced by Indian forces, the ministry said.

Indian armed forces, central armed police forces, state police, and civilian agencies increasingly encounter threats from unexploded bombs, improvised explosive devices, and hand grenades in conflict zones, cantonment areas, and public places.

Three categories of bomb disposal systems, bomb blankets, bomb baskets, and bomb inhibitors, are commonly deployed to mitigate these risks. While several public and private agencies manufacture such systems in India, their safe deployment requires rigorous and standardised performance evaluation.

The standard serves as a reference for test sponsors, manufacturers, and accredited testing agencies by defining test methodologies, apparatus, test specimens, and acceptance criteria to verify compliance with performance benchmarks.

While developing IS 19445:2025, consideration was given to international best practices and globally accepted performance concepts, suitably adapted to Indian threat scenarios and operating environments. This approach promotes global alignment while maintaining national relevance and supports Indian manufacturers in achieving international competitiveness, the ministry said.