GS Paper 3
Syllabus: Science and Technology/ Internal Security
Source: HT
Context: The Prime Minister has urged the armed forces, military-civilian bureaucracy, and the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) to eliminate cost overruns and project delays in defence manufacturing to make “Atmanirbhar Bharat” (self-reliant India) successful.
Previously, a committee led by Prof. K. Vijay Raghavan was formed by the Ministry of Defence to review and restructure the functioning of the DRDO and the defence R&D ecosystem in the country.
What is DRDO?
DRDO (est. 1958; HQ: New Delhi) is the R&D wing of the Ministry of Defence, which aims to equip India with advanced defence technologies, fostering self-reliance. DRDO comprises over 50 laboratories focusing on diverse defence disciplines such as aeronautics, electronics, and engineering systems. Motto- “Balasya Mulam Vigyanam” – “The source of strength is science”
Important programmes of DRDO:
| Programs | Description |
| Integrated Guided-Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) | Initiated by Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam. Aimed at achieving self-sufficiency in missile technology. Developed missiles: Prithvi, Agni, Trishul, Akash, Nag |
| Mobile Autonomous Robot System (MARS) | Smart robot for handling landmines and IEDs. Assists Indian Armed Forces in disarming explosive devices from a safe distance. Can be equipped for ground digging and IED defused. |
| Highest Terrestrial Centre in Ladakh | Located at 17,600 feet near Pangong Lake. Functions as a natural cold storage unit for preserving natural and medicinal plants. |
| Recent projects | Extreme Cold Weather Clothing System (ECWCS) (designed to protect military personnel in harsh cold environments); ‘Pralay’ missiles; Controlled Aerial Delivery System; Pinaka Extended Range (Pinaka-ER) Multiple Launch Rocket System; Supersonic Missile Assisted Torpedo System (SMART); Akash-NG and MPATGM projects (guided missile technology); Drone, Detect, Deter and Destroy (D4 System) |
| 2016: It successfully tested its first indigenously developed heavy-duty drone Rustom 2 | |
| 2018: DRDO co-developed INS Arihant, India’s first nuclear ballistic missile submarine | |
| 2019: DRDO developed India’s first anti-satellite system (Mission Shakti) |
Issues with DRDO:
| Issues | Description |
| Inadequate Budgetary Support | The Standing Committee on Defence highlighted concerns about insufficient budgetary support for ongoing DRDO projects. |
| Inadequate Manpower | DRDO faces challenges due to inadequate manpower, particularly in critical areas, and a lack of proper synergy with the armed forces. |
| Cost Escalation and Delays | E.g., the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas project, initiated in the 1980s with the aim of creating an indigenous supersonic fighter aircraft, faced significant delays and cost overruns. |
| Big on Promise, Small on Delivery | DRDO has been criticized for making significant promises but delivering less. Lack of accountability and repercussions for overruns have been pointed out by entities like the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG). |
| Obsolete Equipment | Instead of focusing on cutting-edge technology, DRDO has been accused of tinkering with World War II-era equipment, leading to concerns about the relevance and effectiveness of its projects. |
| Long-Term Trials | The organization has faced criticism for prolonged testing phases without clear assurances of achieving the desired end state. |
| Comparison with ISRO | DRDO is focused on too many technologies (defence, underwater, space, equipment, etc.) whereas ISRO’s success is attributed to its sharp focus on space. |
| While ISRO serves as the developer, launcher, and controller, ensuring cohesiveness and persistence, DRDO, being only the developer, faces challenges in maintaining a seamless transition from design to realization, necessitating a revamp. |
Key recommendations made by Vijay Raghavan’s committee for DRDO:
| Category | Key Recommendations |
| Structural Changes | Formation of the Defence Technology Council (DTC) headed by the Prime Minister, with the Defense Minister and National Security Advisor as Vice Presidents. |
| DTC to determine the country’s defence technology roadmap, decide on major projects and their execution | |
| Creation of a separate department under the Defence Ministry, i.e., Department of Defence Science, Technology, and Innovation (DDSTI), to promote defence R&D in the academic and start-up ecosystem, serving as the secretariat for DTC. | |
| Research Focus | Concentrate on Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance technologies. |
| Emphasize areas in life sciences. | |
| Human Resources | Hire 100 graduates from campuses on a contract every year. |
| Strengthen DRDO’s lateral entry program. | |
| Reduce the median age of DRDO to 35. | |
| Laboratories | Restructure 41 DRDO labs into 10 national labs, distributed in Delhi, Bengaluru (2), Hyderabad (2), Pune, Dehradun, Chennai, Visakhapatnam, and Chandigarh. |
Other suggestions for improving the functioning of DRDO:
DRDO’s restructuring, proposed by the 2007 committee led by P. Rama Rao, advocates a leaner organization with a commercial arm for profitability and project completion efficiency. Former DRDO chief V.K. Saraswat suggests the establishment of a Defence Technology Commission and a more significant role for DRDO in selecting production partners. The organization’s 2021 HR policy focuses on knowledge sharing, open-book management, and participative management, marking a positive step forward.
Insta Links:
Mains Links:
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