The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) and Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU) signed a memorandum of understanding to establish an indigenous testing centre for aviation security equipment. The centre will carry out trials, performance evaluation and certification of full body scanners and other screening systems used at Indian airports. The agreement was formalised in New Delhi in the presence of Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, Union Minister of Civil Aviation, and senior officials.

The partnership creates an institutional framework for cooperation in testing, certification, research, training and standards development to strengthen the national aviation security ecosystem. RRU, in collaboration with BCAS, will establish and maintain the dedicated centre and undertake independent evaluation, verification and certification of equipment supplied by original equipment manufacturers. Findings will be submitted for regulatory consideration to enable evidence-based approvals.

The memorandum provides for state-of-the-art testing laboratories at RRU aligned with global standards to conduct performance, safety and interoperability assessments and to develop an institutionalised accreditation framework. The scheme emphasises Atmanirbharta in aviation security while seeking alignment with recognised foreign certification practices and aiming to become a global certification hub. The combination of BCAS regulatory authority and RRU technical expertise is intended to build an indigenous certification ecosystem.

The agreement also envisages cooperation in academics, research, extension and specialised training programmes to develop professional expertise in testing, accreditation and emerging aviation security technologies. Capacity-building initiatives will include workshops, targeted training and knowledge-sharing activities to support Indian original equipment manufacturers and to facilitate development of Bharat Standards. These measures are intended to promote research, innovation and continuous refinement of testing methodologies and deployment protocols.

The minister highlighted rapid growth in the civil aviation sector, noting that airports have risen from 74 in 2014 to 165 today, with about 250 to 300 aircraft movements an hour and passenger throughput of about 40,000 to 45,000 an hour. He observed that air cargo volumes have increased by almost 50 per cent over the last 10 to 12 years. The memorandum is expected to support a future-ready and resilient aviation security ecosystem.