India Moves To Set Up Indigenous Aviation Security Equipment Testing Centre

In a step aimed at strengthening India’s aviation security architecture, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) and Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU) signed a Memorandum of Understanding in New Delhi on April 6, 2026, to establish and operate an indigenous testing centre for full body scanners and other airport security screening equipment. The agreement was signed in the presence of Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, Civil Aviation Secretary Samir Kumar Sinha, BCAS Director General Rajesh Nirwan and RRU Vice Chancellor Bimal Patel.

Under the agreement, RRU, working in collaboration with BCAS, will create a dedicated facility to conduct trials, performance evaluation and certification of aviation security systems used at Indian airports. The centre is expected to independently verify and certify the specifications and performance of equipment supplied by original equipment manufacturers, while submitting technically rigorous assessment reports for regulatory consideration.

The MoU also lays the groundwork for state-of-the-art testing laboratories at RRU aligned with global standards. These laboratories will assess equipment for performance, safety and interoperability, supporting the creation of an institutional accreditation framework so that only systems meeting prescribed operational and technical benchmarks are considered for deployment in sensitive airport environments. The partnership further includes cooperation in research, academics, training and standards development, with workshops and specialised programmes planned to build professional expertise in emerging aviation security technologies.

Speaking at the event, the minister said the initiative reflects the government’s broader push for self-reliance in critical security infrastructure. He said the collaboration could help India move toward becoming a hub for aviation security certification while also supporting Indian manufacturers through domestic testing and the evolution of “Bharat Standards.” He added that the model could align with internationally recognised certification ecosystems such as those overseen by the TSA in the United States and ECAC in Europe.

Highlighting the backdrop for the initiative, the minister said India’s civil aviation sector has expanded rapidly, with the number of airports increasing from 74 in 2014 to 165 today. He said Indian airports now handle roughly 250 to 300 aircraft movements every hour and serve around 40,000 to 45,000 passengers an hour, while air cargo volumes have risen by nearly 50% over the last decade or so. Against that growth, he said, the BCAS-RRU partnership is intended to help build a future-ready and resilient aviation security ecosystem for the country.

Reference: PIB