Embarking on a trajectory aimed at securing cutting-edge technologies for forthcoming conflicts, the Union government has instituted a high-powered committee, comprising officials from the Ministry of Defence (MoD), armed services, industry, and academia. This strategic move seeks to redefine the role of India’s eminent defence research establishment, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Notably, the DRDO, equipped with a substantial budget of Rs 23,264 crore in the 2023-24 budget estimate, has faced recurrent criticism for project delays and financial overruns. Paradoxically, despite its formidable human resources and extensive infrastructure, the DRDO currently lacks significant novel undertakings.
The august nine-member committee, presided over by former Principal Scientific Advisor to the government, Professor K. Vijay Raghavan, has been tasked with presenting its findings within a span of three months. Sources within the defence realm assert that the impetus behind this DRDO overhaul stems from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). Furthermore, there is contemplation within the PMO to potentially bifurcate the role of the DRDO Chairman and the Secretary of Research and Development within the MoD. This division aims to enable the DRDO head to focus more intently on defence programmes by delegating administrative and fiscal responsibilities to a bureaucratic figure occupying the secretary-R&D position.
The envisaged reforms seek to reinvigorate the DRDO’s prowess, aligning it with modern military exigencies and catalysing its capacity to engender transformative technological advancements. This strategic overhaul underscores the nation’s commitment to enhancing its indigenous defence capabilities, poised to meet the dynamic challenges of the future.
