Question: Will the Minister of DEFENCE be pleased to satate :-

(a) whether the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed a kit to instantly identify explosive typically used in bomb blasts and plans to sell the explosive detector in USA;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the kit has been made available to all security agencies in India to help them to check growing number of terrorist attacks in India; and

(d) if so, the other measures likely to be taken to upgrade information technology in security agencies to enable them to function efficiently?

Answer: Minister of Defence (Shri A.K. Antony)

(a) & (b) Yes, Madam. Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed Explosive Detection Kit (EDK) capable of detecting and identifying explosives commonly used for destructive purposes. The kit was launched by a US Company, Crowe & Co. On 2nd August, 2013. DRDO has granted a license on non-exclusive basis to sell EDK in countries other than India and on exclusive basis for manufacture & sales in US.

(c) The Explosive Detection Kit is currently in use by Police Forces (Maharashtra, Gujarat, Jammu & Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh, Assam and Tamil Nadu), Paramilitary Forces (Border Security Force), Bomb Detection and Disposal Squads (BDDS) and Army.

(d) In view of the growth of Low Intensity Conflict (LIC) in the country, security agencies are taking all possible steps to upgrade information technology to enable them to deal with such situations, like detection and diffusion of explosive devices.

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