SYLLABUS

GS-3: Challenges to internal security through communication networks, role of media and social networking sites in internal security challenges.

Context: On the occasion of National Consumer Day 2025, held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, the  Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution released IS 19445:2025 – Bomb Disposal Systems — Performance Evaluation and Requirements, an Indian Standard aimed at strengthening safety and standardisation in bomb disposal operations.

More on the News

• The standard focuses on performance evaluation and operational requirements of bomb disposal equipment.

• The initiative was undertaken by the Bureau of Indian Standards to strengthen public safety and national security.

• IS 19445:2025 has been developed through a consensus-based process under the Arms and Ammunition for Civilian Use Sectional Committee (PGD 28). For this purpose, the Bomb Disposal Systems Panel (PGD 28/P1) was constituted under the convenorship of TBRL, DRDO.

• While developing IS 19445:2025, due consideration was given to international best practices and globally accepted performance concepts, suitably adapted to Indian threat scenarios and operating environments.

Need for the Standard

• The formulation of IS 19445:2025 was initiated following a request from the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Terminal Ballistic Research Laboratory (TBRL), DRDO, in view of the following factors:

o Increasing deployment of bomb disposal systems across security and civilian agencies

o Absence of a dedicated Indian Standard for performance evaluation of such systems

o Limited access to international standards and their partial misalignment with Indian threat profiles, munitions, and operational conditions

Key Provisions of IS 19445:2025

• The standard provides a comprehensive framework for evaluating bomb disposal systems, particularly with respect to blast loads and splinter effects. It specifies:

o Requirements for test equipment and test range conditions

o Evaluation procedures to objectively assess system performance

o Defined test methodologies, apparatus, test specimens, and acceptance criteria

• The standard is expected to provide the following benefits:

o Clearly defined and objective performance evaluation criteria

o Enhanced safety of operators, first responders, and bystanders

o A transparent and uniform basis for procurement, testing, and certification

o Support for indigenous development and innovation under Make in India

o Improved reliability and interoperability of equipment across agencies

Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)

• Indian Standards Institution (ISI) was established in 1947 and registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 later ISI was renamed as Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). 

• Indian Standards Institution started operating the Certification Marks Scheme under the Indian Standards Institution (Certification Marks) Act, 1952.

• The Scheme formally launched by ISI in 1955-56, enabled it to grant licenses to manufacturers producing goods in conformity with Indian Standards and to apply the ISI Mark on their products. 

o BIS allot the ISI mark to any product as a third-party guarantee after ensuring its quality, reliability and safety.

• The formulation of standards and other related work were not governed by any legislation. A Bill with this objective was therefore introduced in the Parliament in 1986.

• The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) came into existence under the BIS Act, 1986. The standards established by the Bureau shall be the Indian Standard

Source: 
Economic Times 
PIB