Question : RESPONSIBILITY OF QUALITY ASSURANCE ORGANISATIONS

(a) whether the Quality Assurance Organisations for the Army and Air Force i.e. DGAQA are under the Department responsible for defence production;

(b) whether the various High Powered Committees in the past have recommended against such an arrangement as it leads to conflicts of interests and interferences with their independent working; and

(c) if so, the reasons for continuing the existing arrangement ignoring the recommendations of the High Power Committees and not constituting an autonomous Defence Quality Assurance Board?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (SHRI BIJOY KRISHNA HANDIQUE)

(a) Yes, Sir.

(b) A committee set up under Chairmanship of Dr. V.G.Rajadhyaksha in its interim Report had recommended greater autonomy to Quality Assurance Agencies including setting up of Defence Quality Assurance Board.

(c) The Quality Assurance organizations under the Department of Defence Production assure the quality of equipment and stores supplied to the Armed Forces including the imported equipment and supplies from private sector. They work in close coordination with Armed Forces in order to meet their quality requirement and have adequate autonomy for discharging their duties.