MoD Signs MoU to Establish ₹400 Cr Mechanical & Material Testing Facility

Current Context: On July 28, 2025, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation Limited (TIDCO) to establish a ₹400 crore testing facility in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu.

• The focus is on Mechanical and Material domains, under the Defence Testing Infrastructure Scheme (DTIS).
• Funding split: 75% from the Government of India (GoI) via Grant-in-Aid, and 25% from a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV).
• SPV members include Micro Labs (lead), Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML), Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), TIDCO, and Vaidheswaran Industries.
• The facility supports Aatmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) by boosting indigenous defence production and reducing imports.

Question:

Q.1 The MoU signed between the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation Limited (TIDCO) aims to establish a ₹400 crore testing facility in which city?
a) Coimbatore
b) Madurai
c) Tiruchirappalli
d) Salem

Answer: c) The MoU targets the development of a defence testing facility in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu.