Ugram Assault Rifle

Why in News?

The Ugram indigenous 7.62×51 mm assault rifle has successfully cleared the Indian Army’s General Staff Qualitative Requirement (GSQR) trials and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) Board trials in July 2026. The rifle has been jointly developed by the Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) of DRDO and Dvipa Defence India Pvt. Ltd.

Ugram Assault Rifle: Key Highlights

• Ugram is a 7.62×51 mm assault rifle developed under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
• It was jointly designed by ARDE (DRDO) and Dvipa Defence India Pvt. Ltd.
• The rifle weighs less than 4 kg and has an effective range of 500 metres.
• The name “Ugram” is derived from Sanskrit and means “Ferocious.”
• The rifle was designed and manufactured in just 100 days.

Deployment and Significance

The Ugram rifle is expected to replace the ageing 5.56 mm INSAS rifle and will likely be inducted by various Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), including:

• Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)
• Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP)
• Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB)
• National Security Guard (NSG)

Its induction will strengthen India’s indigenous defence manufacturing ecosystem while reducing dependence on imported small arms.

Important Facts for Exams

• Developer: ARDE (DRDO) and Dvipa Defence India Pvt. Ltd.
• Calibre: 7.62×51 mm NATO
• Weight: Less than 4 kg
• Effective Range: 500 metres
• Manufacturing Facility: Near Hyderabad, Telangana
• GSQR refers to the General Staff Qualitative Requirement, the Indian Army’s benchmark for equipment trials.
• Ugram is part of India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative to promote indigenous defence production.