FLO Uttarakhand, under the leadership of Chairperson Dr. Geeta Khanna, organised an event ‘Defence Equipment Quality Assurance: Insights & Opportunities for Women Entrepreneurs’ at CQA (I), Raipur, Dehradun. The event was spearheaded by Mamta Rawat, Initiative Lead – Women in STEM & Tech, FICCI FLO Uttarakhand.
The program aimed to raise awareness among women entrepreneurs about DGQA’s critical role in India’s strategic defence manufacturing ecosystem and foster partnerships between industry players and defence quality authorities to encourage greater women-led participation in the defence supply chain.
Aligned with the Government of India’s ‘Make in India’ program, the initiative highlighted technological advancements in defence quality assurance, compliance standards, inspection methodologies, and opportunities for innovation and indigenization. By providing an interactive platform, participants were empowered to explore how innovation, process improvement, and quality compliance strengthen India’s self-reliance in defence production.
The sessions began with an introduction to the DGQA framework, detailing its mandate in ensuring high-quality standards for defence equipment. Senior DGQA officials, including Brig Rajendra Mehta, Col Amit Deoli, and Mr. Manjit Singh, shared insights into quality assurance processes, advanced testing technologies, and inspection protocols.
Women entrepreneurs engaged in interactive discussions with DGQA experts to clarify certification requirements, procurement procedures, and compliance expectations, with a strong emphasis on MSME participation, innovation, and collaborative projects under the Make in India initiative.
Distinguished attendees from FICCI FLO Uttarakhand included Chairperson Dr. Geeta Khanna, Past Chairperson & National GB Member Neha Sharma, Past Chairperson Komal Batra, Mamta Rawat, Secretary Smriti Batta, Roopa Soni, Anchal Dass, Diksha Bhatia, Giggle Rastogi, Rama Goyal, Kanchan, Gigi Pathak, Jagriti Tandon, and Shreya Agarwal.
FLO members gained first-hand exposure to cutting-edge innovations in defence quality assurance, engaged directly with experts to understand technical and regulatory frameworks, and became aware of new avenues for women entrepreneurs to actively contribute to India’s evolving defence manufacturing landscape.
The event successfully bridged the knowledge gap between women-led enterprises and the defence manufacturing quality framework, inspiring participants to explore opportunities within the sector and paving the way for enhanced women’s participation in high-technology industries aligned with national priorities.