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Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) | Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution | Ministry of Home Affairs | DRDO
On National Consumer Day 2025, Union Minister Shri Pralhad Joshi released IS 19445:2025 – Bomb Disposal Systems — Performance Evaluation and Requirements. This standard provides a comprehensive framework for testing and certifying critical mitigation equipment such as bomb blankets, baskets, and bomb inhibitors, which are increasingly deployed across civilian and security agencies.
Key highlights of the new standard include:
Customized Threat Profiles: Formulated by TBRL, DRDO, the standard addresses the specific misalignment between international norms and Indian threat scenarios, munitions, and operational environments.
Blast and Splinter Resilience: It specifies rigorous requirements for test equipment and range conditions to evaluate how systems withstand blast loads and fragmented splinters.
Objective Acceptance Criteria: Provides a uniform basis for procurement, testing, and certification, enabling accredited agencies to verify the reliability of equipment from both public and private sector manufacturers.
Inter-Agency Interoperability: Developed through a consensus-based process involving DRDO, NSG, CAPFs, and State Police, ensuring that the equipment meets field-level safety requirements for first responders and bystanders.
What is a Bomb Inhibitor? It is a specialized bomb disposal system designed to suppress or contain the energy released during an accidental explosion of a suspect device. Unlike blankets which cover the threat, inhibitors often work by chemically or physically disrupting the explosive reaction or providing a reinforced enclosure (basket) that vents the blast upward, thereby protecting the operator and minimizing collateral damage to the surrounding public infrastructure.
Policy Relevance
The release of IS 19445:2025 fills a critical regulatory gap in India’s internal security architecture. By transitioning from a reliance on foreign standards to an indigenous framework, the government is strengthening the “Make in India” ecosystem for advanced defense equipment. For policy stakeholders, this standard ensures that procurement is quality-driven rather than just cost-driven, ultimately reducing operational risks for the Armed Forces and State Police while enhancing public confidence in security operations at airports and public squares.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders: How will the adoption of IS 19445:2025 by State Police departments impact the life-cycle cost and reliability of bomb disposal units in urban high-threat environments?
Follow the full news here: Indian Standard on Bomb Disposal Systems