- The Ministry of Defence has released a revised Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to simplify and ease defence industry access to government-owned proof ranges and test facilities. - The move aims to boost domestic defence manufacturing, promote self-reliance (Aatmanirbhar Bharat), and encourage private sector participation by cutting bureaucratic delays in testing and certification. - It addresses long-standing industry demands for streamlined infrastructure sharing, enabling private players to validate ammunition, weapons, and equipment locally. - **Revised Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Defence Industry Access:** A streamlined administrative framework introduced by the Ministry of Defence to simplify, standardize, and expedite the domestic defence industry's access to government-owned proof ranges, field firing ranges, and laboratory test facilities. - **Directorate General of Quality Assurance (DGQA):** An inter-service organization under the Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence, responsible for quality assurance of military stores, equipment, and indigenous technologies for the armed forces. **Introduction** The Ministry of Defence has introduced a revised Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to facilitate easier and faster access for the domestic defence industry, particularly private players, to government-owned proof ranges and test facilities. This policy aims to overcome hurdles in testing and certification, thereby accelerating indigenous defence production, promoting the 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' initiative, and enhancing ease of doing business in the critical defence manufacturing sector. **Core Issue and Detailed Points** - The Ministry of Defence has released a revised Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to simplify and ease defence industry access to government-owned proof ranges and test facilities. - The move aims to boost domestic defence manufacturing, promote self-reliance (Aatmanirbhar Bharat), and encourage private sector participation by cutting bureaucratic delays in testing and certification. - It addresses long-standing industry demands for streamlined infrastructure sharing, enabling private players to validate ammunition, weapons, and equipment locally. **Key Statutory Bodies, Acts & Concepts** - **Revised Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Defence Industry Access:** A streamlined administrative framework introduced by the Ministry of Defence to simplify, standardize, and expedite the domestic defence industry's access to government-owned proof ranges, field firing ranges, and laboratory test facilities. - **Directorate General of Quality Assurance (DGQA):** An inter-service organization under the Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence, responsible for quality assurance of military stores, equipment, and indigenous technologies for the armed forces.