Company History
The Beginning:
The history and development of Indian Ordnance Factories is directly linked with the British reign in India. East India company of England for their economic interest in India and to increase their political hold considered military hardware as a vital element. During 1775 British authorities accepted the establishment of the Board of Ordnance in Fort William, Kolkata. This marks the official beginning of the Army Ordnance in India.
In 1787 a gunpowder factory was established at Ishapore which started production from 1791 ( at which location Rifle Factory was established in 1904). In 1801 a Gun Carriage Agency at Cossipore, Kolkata (presently known as Gun & Shell Factory, Cossipore) was established and production started from 18th March, 1802. This is the first Industrial establishment of Ordnance Factories which has continued its existence till date.
Evolution of Indian Ordnance Factories
The growth of the Ordnance Factories leading to its present setup has been continuous but in spurts. There were 18 ordnance factories before India became independent in 1947. 21 factories have been established after independence - mostly, in wake of defence preparedness imperatives caused by the three major wars fought by the Indian Armed forces. 40th Factory is under establishment at Nalanda, Bihar. Main Events
Main events in the evolution of Ordnance Factory can be listed as below:
1801 - Establishment of Gun Carriage Agency at Cossipore, Kolkata.
1802 - Production started from 18th March 1802 at Cossipore.
1906 - The Administration of Indian Ordnance Factories came under a separate charge as 'IG of Ordnance Factories'.
1933 - Charged to 'Director of Ordnance Factories'.
1948 - Placed under direct control of the Ministry of Defence.
1962 - Dept. of Defence Production was set up at the Ministry of Defence.
1979 - Ordnance Factory Board came into existence from 2nd April.
2021 - AWEIL came into existence from 1 Oct, 2021 post corporatisation of OFB
Company overview
Advanced Weapons & Equipment India Ltd. (AW&EIL) is one of the seven (7) new Defence PSUs formed by converting the Ordnance Factory Board into fully Government owned Enterprises. AW&EIL has been incorporated under the Companies Act 2013 on 14th August, 2021 however, its commencement of business took place on 1st October 2021 notified by DDP. It comprises of the following production and non- production units:
Rifle Factory Ishapore, Small Arms Factory, Kanpur, Gun & Shell Factory, Cossipore, Ordnance Factory Tiruchirapalli, Ordnance Factory, Kanpur, Field Gun Factory, Kanpur, Gun Carriage Factory, Jabalpur, and Ordnance Factory Project Korwa and non- production units at Ordnance Factories Institute of Learning Ishapore and Regional Controllerate of Safety, Kanpur.
Quality
CERTIFICATIONS AND ACCREDITATIONS
Integrated Management System (ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015 & OHSAS 18001:2007)
NABL Accredited Lab as per IS 17025:2005 (Chemical, Mechanical, Metallurgical & non-destructive
testing)
IS/ISO 50001:2011 Energy Management System (EnMS)
Equipped with extensive facilities for inspection and test of material at each stage of Manufacture at NABL Accredited Lab for Chemical/Mechanical/Metallurgical Tests, Ultrasonic Test, Magnetic Particle Testing, Dye Penetration Test, Spring Load Testing and Burst Test for Packing Boxes. Factory regularly interacts with reputed agencies and institutes like IIT, Kanpur for technical studies and quality improvements. It has Networked Quality Database Management System (NQDBMS) – a step towards transparency
Human Resource
Employee skill development (OFIL)
Vocational Training
Trade apprentice
Charter
AWEIL is committed towards standard, quality and time frame of service and product delivery, grievance redressal mechanism, transparency and accountability.
Target
The company has orders of ₹ ……. for the financial year 2021-22.
Board of Directors
Shri AK Maurya, IOFS, NDC
Director Operations
Chairman-cum-Managing
Director (Addl. Charge)
Shri A. K. Maurya is a 1987 batch officer from the Indian Ordnance Factories Service (IOFS) having experience of over 36 years in the field of manufacturing, maintenance, quality control, project management, marketing & export. Shri Maurya has worked in Ordnance Factory Kanpur, Rifle Factory Ishapore, Vehicle Factory Jabalpur, OFB Headquarters Kolkata, Ordnance Factory Project Korwa, Amethi and Small Arms Factory, Kanpur before joining the AWEIL Board.
Shri A. K. Maurya, IOFS, ndc took over as founder Director (Operations) in Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Limited (AWEIL), a newly formed Defence Public Sector Undertaking carved out of erstwhile Ordnance Factory Board under the Ministry of Defence w.e.f. 01st October'2021.
Shri Maurya holds a B.E. (Hons) Degree in Electrical Engineering. He joined the Indian Ordnance Factories Service on 08.08.1988 through the Indian Engineering Services Examination of UPSC. Shri A.K. Maurya has done Senior Defence Management Course from the College of Defence Management, Secunderabad & Strategic Defence Security Course from National Defence College, New Delhi. He specializes in Manufacturing, Supply Chain Management, Indigenisation, Strategic Planning and National Security.
Shri Maurya has played a crucial role in the project management of OFP Korwa and was at the helm of affairs related to the formation of the Joint Venture Company, Indo Russian Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL). He was a lead member of the OFB technical team to visit Concern Kalashnikov, Izhevsk, Russia to study the feasibility of indigenisation of AK-203 rifles in India. Shri A. K. Maurya is also a Director on the IRRPL Board since 01.10.2021.
During his stint of over 36 years in Ordnance Factories, he has worked in different fields of Production, Maintenance, Civil Trade & Export, Coordination and other areas. He was working as Executive Director of Small Arms Factory, Kanpur before taking over as the founder Director of AWEIL.
Shri Maurya has a workaholic nature and he has played a key role in the transformation of a more than 200 years old Govt. Organisation into a corporate entity, which is performing better than it did during the pre-corporatisation period, mitigating all challenges.
Shri Maurya, took over as Additional Charge of Chairman and Managing Director at AWEIL on 16th December, 2024.
Shri Jai Gopal Mahajan, CMA, CS, MBA (Finance)
Director (Finance)
Director/HR (Addl.
Charge)
Shri Jai Gopal Mahajan (DIN: 10824241) took charge as Director (Finance) and Member on the Board of Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Limited (AWEIL) on 30.10.2024. Before joining the AWEIL, he was serving as Corporate Head of Finance as Executive Director (Finance) & Company Secretary in BEML Limited (7 years), a leading multi-technology 'Schedule A' CPSE under the Ministry of Defence. Prior to that he has served as Corporate Head of Finance & Company Secretary in National Handlooms Development Corporation Ltd. (14 years), a CPSE under Ministry of Textiles and before that in Ludhiana based Vardhman Group of Industries (11 years), a leading Textile Group in India.
Shri Mahajan is a 1991 batch Cost & Management Accountant with Company Secretary, MBA (Finance) and PG Diploma in Marketing Management (Gold Medalist). He secured scholarship in M.Com for standing First in H.P. University, Shimla. He has also undergone the Management Development Program on 'Interpersonal Effectiveness & Leadership Excellence' from Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta and completed 'Executive Diploma in Project Management' from 'International Institute of Project & Program Management'.
He brings with him 32 years of rich & versatile experience of Public sector (21 years) as well as Private sector (11 years) in Defence & Aerospace, Rail & Metro, Mining & Construction Equipment, Handlooms, Textile and Pharmaceutical Industry in all aspects of Financial Management, Accounts, Audit, Vigilance, Digitalisation and Company Law matters involving treasury & fund management, FOREX management, export credit, accounts finalization, internal audit, direct & indirect taxation, insurance, target costing, commercial, MIS, systemic improvements, policy formulation and compliances under Companies Act & SEBI Regulations. He firmly believes that commitment to work is the key to success.
Shri Mahajan, also took over the Additional Charge of Director/HR with effect from 01st December, 2024.
Dr. Garima Bhagat, IRS-IT
Government Nominee Director
Dr. Garima Bhagat (DIN:10881164), Joint Secretary (Land System) has been appointed as Part-Time Official Director (Government Nominee Director) of Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Limited w.e.f. 24 Dec 2024.
Dr. Bhagat is a B.Tech (Gold Medalist), M.Tech, MA (Economics), LLB (Gold Medalist) and a PhD from IIT Delhi. She secured Rank 1 in the Higher Secondary Examination (1990) and Rank 1 in the Engineering Service Exam, UPSC (1994). She is a 1996 batch Indian Revenue Service Officer (IRS-IT).
With over 28 years of public service experience in the Government of India, Dr. Bhagat has accumulated extensive expertise in areas such as taxation, anti-corruption, public procurement, administration and competition law. She has held several significant positions within the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) and the Government of India. She has also served as the Chief Vigilance Officer at the Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) and as Joint Director General at the Competition Commission of India. Dr. Bhagat has also been a regular visiting faculty member at various apex educational and training institutions. She is the author of several research papers in leading international journals as well as 3 books on taxations. Prior to her current role as Joint Secretary (Land System) in the Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence, Government of India, she served as Commissioner of Income Tax in Delhi.
She has no inter-se relationship with other Directors in the Company. Further, she doesn't hold any equity share of the Company.