CFEES-NFSC MoU: DRDO, Nagpur college join hands for fire safety
Synopsis
India's defence research body DRDO and the National Fire Service College, Nagpur, have signed an MoU to jointly tackle industrial fire and explosives hazards — combining CFEES's scientific depth with NFSC's training reach at a time when industrial accidents involving inflammable materials are a growing national concern.
Key Takeaways
CFEES (DRDO) and National Fire Service College (NFSC), Nagpur signed an MoU on 27 July 2026 for joint fire safety research and training.
The MoU was signed in the presence of senior officials from the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Home Affairs .
CFEES will share its explosives expertise to strengthen disaster response training for NFSC professionals.
NFSC will gain access to CFEES facilities for modern disaster management studies.
The collaboration aims to develop upgraded fire management techniques to reduce casualties in industrial accidents involving explosives and inflammable materials.
The Centre for Fire, Explosives and Environment Safety (CFEES), a laboratory under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), and the National Fire Service College (NFSC), Nagpur, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Monday, 27 July 2026, formalising a joint framework for collaborative research, knowledge sharing, and professional training in fire and industrial safety. The agreement marks a significant institutional bridge between India's defence science establishment and its premier fire safety training body.
What the MoU Covers
The MoU was exchanged between the Director, CFEES, and the Director, NFSC, in the presence of Prateek Kishore, Director General (ACE), DRDO, Ministry of Defence, and Sunil Kumar Jha, Director General (Fire Safety, Civil Defence and Home Guard), Ministry of Home Affairs. The agreement enables both institutions to carry out innovative research in fire safety, share technical expertise, and develop new strategies to address modern industrial hazards.
Strengths Each Institution Brings
CFEES operates under DRDO's System Analysis and Modelling (SAM) cluster and specialises in fire, explosives, and environmental safety. Its deep experience in explosives management is expected to significantly strengthen training programmes for professionals who respond to disasters involving such substances.
NFSC, Nagpur, is a premier institute focused on developing skilled professionals across fire and industrial safety, occupational health, disaster management, and emergency response. Under the MoU, the college will gain access to CFEES facilities to conduct studies in modern disaster management — a resource upgrade that was previously unavailable to its students and faculty.
Why This Collaboration Matters Now
Officials noted that the nature of industries is changing rapidly, requiring fire management techniques to be upgraded to reduce damage and bring down casualty figures in industrial accidents. India has witnessed several incidents in recent years at facilities handling explosives and inflammable materials, underlining the urgent need for specialised, well-trained safety teams at such industrial units.
Notably, this collaboration brings together two arms of the Indian government — defence research and home affairs — in a shared effort to close the gap between scientific knowledge and on-ground emergency response capability. The partnership is expected to produce new protocols tailored to the evolving risk landscape of Indian industry.
What Comes Next
With the MoU now in place, both institutions are expected to chart a joint research agenda and training calendar. The integration of DRDO's explosives expertise into NFSC's curriculum could set a new benchmark for fire safety education in India, with implications for industrial safety standards nationwide.
Point of View
But its value will be measured in outcomes, not signatures. India's industrial accident record — particularly at facilities handling explosives and inflammable material — reflects a persistent gap between regulatory standards and ground-level capability. The real question is whether DRDO's scientific expertise will translate into curriculum reform at NFSC or remain a headline collaboration. Bridging defence research and civil emergency response is the right instinct; the follow-through on joint research outputs and updated training protocols will determine whether this partnership moves the needle on industrial safety.
NationPress
28 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MoU signed between CFEES and NFSC?
It is a Memorandum of Understanding signed on 27 July 2026 between the Centre for Fire, Explosives and Environment Safety (CFEES) under DRDO and the National Fire Service College (NFSC), Nagpur, to carry out collaborative research, knowledge sharing, and professional training in fire and industrial safety.
What does CFEES do and why is it significant in this partnership?
CFEES is a DRDO laboratory under the System Analysis and Modelling (SAM) cluster, specialising in fire, explosives, and environmental safety. Its expertise in explosives management is expected to strengthen training for professionals responding to industrial disasters involving such substances.
How will NFSC benefit from this collaboration?
NFSC will gain access to CFEES's research facilities to conduct studies in modern disaster management. The college, which trains professionals in fire safety, occupational health, and emergency response, will be able to integrate DRDO's scientific expertise into its curriculum.
Why is this collaboration considered urgent?
Officials cited a changing industrial landscape and several recent accidents at facilities handling explosives and inflammable materials. Upgraded fire management techniques and specialised safety teams are seen as essential to reducing damage and casualties in such incidents.
Which government ministries were represented at the MoU signing?
Senior officials from both the Ministry of Defence — represented by Prateek Kishore, DG (ACE), DRDO — and the Ministry of Home Affairs — represented by Sunil Kumar Jha, DG (Fire Safety, Civil Defence and Home Guard) — were present at the signing ceremony.
