Wed Sep 03 14:15:43 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary and a news article based on the provided text:

**Summary:**

The corporatization of India’s Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) into seven Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) has yielded significant positive results. Six of the seven entities have become profitable, reversing previous losses. Export orders have surged dramatically, reaching ₹3,500 crore in 2024-25. Munitions India Limited (MIL), Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited (AVNL), and India Optel Limited (IOL) were recognized for their performance and given “Miniratna Category-I” status. While Troop Comforts Limited (TCL) lags, improvements are expected. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) is emphasizing further reforms, including R&D investment, as part of its “Year of Reforms” initiative to modernize the Armed Forces and become self-reliant.

**News Article:**

**Ordnance Factory Reforms Pay Off: Indian Defence Exports Soar**

**New Delhi, September 3, 2025 (The Hindu):** A sweeping reform of India’s defense production sector is bearing fruit, with the corporatization of the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) resulting in a dramatic surge in export orders and improved profitability for most of the newly formed entities.

Senior Defence Ministry officials announced today that export orders reached nearly ₹3,500 crore in the 2024-25 fiscal year, a substantial increase from just ₹81 crore in 2019-20. This surge is attributed to the reorganization of the 41 OFB units into seven Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) in October 2021.

Six of the seven new companies – Yantra India Limited (YIL), Munitions India Limited (MIL), Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited (AVNL), Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Limited (AWE India), India Optel Limited (IOL) and Gliders India Limited (GIL) – have turned a cumulative loss of ₹2,844 crore in 2019-20 into a profit of ₹625 crore in 2024-25. Munitions India Limited (MIL), Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited (AVNL), and India Optel Limited (IOL) are the star performers. Troop Comforts Limited (TCL) is the only one lagging behind, although officials expressed optimism for future improvement.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh recognized the progress in May by awarding “Miniratna Category-I” status to MIL, AVNL, and IOL. He has also consistently urged the DPSUs to focus on research and development to meet both domestic and export demands.

“The corporatization process was carried out smoothly with the goal of enhancing efficiency and productivity,” one official noted, emphasizing that all stakeholders were kept informed throughout the process.

The Ministry of Defence has declared 2025 as the ‘Year of Reforms’, with the aim of modernizing the Armed Forces into a technologically-advanced and combat-ready force. These reforms include technological advancements and the creation of multi-domain integrated operations, while also gives impetus to the ongoing reforms.

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