Union Minister of State B.L. Verma on Saturday, 29 August declared that Operation Sindoor had placed India's indigenous defence capabilities on par with any nation in the world, speaking at the 115th Foundation Day celebrations of the National Test House (NTH) in Bengaluru. The event also marked the inauguration of NTH's new Bengaluru facility.

Verma on Operation Sindoor

Addressing the gathering, Verma — who holds charge of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment — said the operation had been a global demonstration of India's homegrown weapons and missile technology. 'When we saw Operation Sindoor, the world witnessed the capability of our indigenous weapons and powerful missiles. Today, India is not behind anyone,' he said.

The minister framed Operation Sindoor as concrete proof of the country's progress under the Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India programmes, arguing that products developed through India's self-reliance push had now been tested under real-world conditions.

NTH at 115: A Century of Quality Testing

Verma noted that the NTH had completed 114 years of service since its founding in 1912 as the Government Test House at Alipore, Kolkata. 'This is not merely an institutional achievement, but a celebration of India's proud journey in scientific testing, quality, product safety and reliability,' he said.

The institution has since evolved into what officials describe as a key pillar of India's national quality infrastructure, aligned with the government's stated goals of 'Zero Defect, Zero Effect' and Viksit Bharat 2047. Verma added that the NTH was being modernised in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Reform, Perform and Transform' framework.

New Frontiers: Drones, EVs and Chemical Testing

The minister highlighted NTH's expanding mandate into emerging sectors. On drone testing and certification, Verma said that with drones now deployed across defence, agriculture, surveying and disaster management, robust certification frameworks were essential to building a safe ecosystem.

He also pointed to Electric Vehicle (EV) battery testing facilities as critical for industrial safety, efficiency, and India's global competitiveness. Expansion of chemical testing capabilities was flagged as equally important for environmental monitoring and public health.

Significance of the Bengaluru Facility

Verma described the new Bengaluru building as more than physical infrastructure, calling it a step toward strengthening India's modern scientific and quality testing capacity. He noted that Bengaluru's status as a hub for technology, innovation, research, engineering and advanced industries made it an ideal location. 'The presence of NTH in Bengaluru will provide industries, startups, research institutions and innovators with better testing and technical services,' he said.

With NTH now expanding into drones, EVs, and chemicals alongside its traditional mandate, the institution appears positioned as a central node in India's broader industrial quality push — one whose relevance has only grown as the country seeks to scale indigenous manufacturing.