New Delhi, August 5, 2025: In a major push towards self-reliance in defence manufacturing, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Rubber Materials Research Institute (IRMRI), an autonomous institute under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce & Industry.
The MoU was signed at Coast Guard Headquarters in New Delhi by Inspector General Sudhir Sahni, TM, Deputy Director General (Materiel & Maintenance), Indian Coast Guard, and Dr. K Rajkumar, Director, IRMRI, in the presence of Shri Sanjiv, Joint Secretary, DPIIT.
The collaboration aims to promote indigenisation of specialised rubber and composite products used in marine applications. Under the agreement, IRMRI will support the Coast Guard in developing indigenous prototypes, conducting material analysis, and testing rubber components used in various equipment and systems onboard Coast Guard vessels.
A key focus of the MoU is the replacement of imported rubber spares with locally developed alternatives. IRMRI will leverage its existing facilities to test and certify rubber components manufactured by Indian industries for use by the Coast Guard. The institute will also assist in identifying and developing Indian vendors, including startups and MSMEs incubated by its ARISE programme.
The Indian Coast Guard will provide IRMRI with specific problem statements related to rubber product requirements. In response, IRMRI will drive innovation and development of custom solutions, fostering collaboration between the defence sector and Indian manufacturing.
This MoU marks a significant milestone in strengthening India’s defence manufacturing ecosystem and reinforces the commitment of both organisations to nation-building through technological advancement and self-reliance.
