224th Anniversary of Ordnance Factories Celebrated by Employees, Unions Demand Restoration of OFB Status
224th anniversary celebrated despite discontinuation of official celebrations by the government following corporatization
The 224th anniversary of India’s Ordnance Factories was marked with enthusiasm and commitment by employees, officers, and their unions across the country on March 18, 2026, despite the discontinuation of official celebrations by the government following corporatisation.
Observed as Ordnance Factory Day, the occasion commemorates March 18, 1802, when production began at the historic Gun and Shell Factory in Cossipore. This date was formally adopted after extensive deliberations within the erstwhile Ordnance Factory Board (OFB), and the bicentenary was celebrated in 2002.
However, after the corporatisation of Ordnance Factories into seven Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) effective October 1, 2021, the managements have ceased observing the day officially. Instead, October 1 is now marked as the foundation day of the respective DPSUs.
Employees Continue Legacy Celebrations
Undeterred, employees and their unions under the banner of the United Forum of Ordnance Employees (UFOE)—comprising AIDEF, BPMS, CDRA, IOFSOA, NDGBOA, and NDNGSA—continued the tradition this year as well.
Across all 41 Ordnance Factories, employees celebrated the day by wearing badges, distributing sweets, and taking a pledge reaffirming their dedication to duty and honouring the legacy of generations of workers who contributed to India’s defence manufacturing.
Demand for Restoration of OFB
Speaking to www.indianpsu.com, C. Srikumar, General Secretary of AIDEF, reiterated the unions’ demand for restoring the Ordnance Factory Board status.
He stated that employees across all factories celebrated the day with great enthusiasm and asserted that the struggle against corporatisation would continue.
“Corporatisation of Ordnance Factories is not a success, even though the companies claim profitability. We have demanded that an independent body audit the post-corporatisation functioning of these entities,” he said.
Concerns Over HR Policies and Employment
Srikumar highlighted several concerns raised by employees and unions:
- The HR policies and absorption packages introduced by the seven DPSUs have been rejected by employees.
- Workers have expressed their preference to remain Defence Civilian Employees under Central Government service, as assured earlier.
- Compassionate appointments for dependents of deceased employees remain stalled despite multiple court orders.
- Acute manpower shortages persist due to retirements and voluntary exits.
- Trade apprentices are being recruited on fixed-term contracts without social security benefits such as EPF and ESI.
He also pointed to a recent case where a fixed-term employee died due to cardiac arrest, with no provision for compensation or social security.
Call for Policy Reversal
The unions have renewed their demand for:
- Reversal of the corporatisation decision
- Restoration of OFB status
- Retention of employees as Central Government staff until retirement
- Immediate implementation of compassionate appointments
- Permanent employment for trained trade apprentices
Srikumar emphasized that the government, as a model employer, must ensure fair employment practices and not exploit prevailing unemployment conditions.
