New Delhi: The Directorate of Naval Architecture (DNA), Indian Navy, and IIT Delhi havesigned an MoU to collaborate on the creation of a research and design center, which willcater to improving the Quality of Life (QoL) onboard Indian Naval Ships through design
interventions.

The MoU was signed by RAdm Arvind Rawal, Asst Chief of Materiel (Dockyard & Refit),Indian Navy, and Prof. Rangan Banerjee, Director of IIT Delhi.
Under the MoU, IIT Delhi researchers from its Department of Design will research the safety, efficiency, and habitability of various ongoing and future new construction projects and provide inputs in ship designs.
DNA and IIT Delhi will work towards the overarching aim of improving the Quality of Life(QoL) onboard Indian Naval ships, which may also be extended to the mercantile marine and any other Indian ethnicity-based habitability requirement.

The Institute will study existing ship designs by the Indian Navy and conduct comparative analysis of their designs with international standards, with respect to QoL parameters like ergonomics, comfort, efficiency, safety, and user experience.
Systematic identification of improvement areas in existing ship designs and articulation of new design interventions to make the Indian Navy designs ahead among the comparisons will be part of the joint efforts.

Speaking about the MoU with IIT Delhi, RAdm Arvind Rawal, Asst Chief of Materiel (Dockyard & Refit), Indian Navy, said, “This MoU marks a significant step forward in our shared endeavour to make Indian warships not just formidable in combat but also exemplaryin terms of crew comfort, efficiency, and habitability. Through this partnership, we are joining hands with one of the nation’s premier academic institutions to build subject matter expertise in crew-centric warship design. The initiative introduces a scientific, process-based approach to habitability—bringing in the disciplines of ergonomics, human factors, and design optimisation into naval architecture.”
Prof. Rangan Banerjee, Director of IIT Delhi, said, “We are delighted to be working with the Indian Navy to improve the comfort conditions for our naval officers and crew using the latest scientific design tools and techniques. This MoU will broaden IIT Delhi’s existing links
with the Navy in underwater and electronics and postgraduate programme in naval
construction.”