Committee Set Up to Enhance DRDO Functioning

• 26 Aug 2023

Recently, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has established a nine-member committee, led by K Vijay Raghavan, former Principal Scientific Advisor to the government, to review and improve the functioning of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) with the aim of bolstering India's self-reliance in the military sector.

Key Points:

• Objectives: The committee's goal is to offer recommendations for refining the role of the state-owned agency and enhancing its output within the military domain.
• Timeline: The committee has been granted a three-month window to deliver its report, as indicated by government insiders.
• Addressing Accountability and Professionalism: With approximately 7,000 scientists employed by DRDO, the ministry acknowledges the necessity of establishing accountability, promoting professionalism, and implementing time-bound delivery mechanisms within the organization.
• Post-Report Action Plan: Upon receiving the committee's report, the MoD intends to conduct a brainstorming session, engaging domain experts from both domestic and international sources, to devise a comprehensive strategy based on the recommendations.
• Committee Members and Terms of Reference: The committee objectives include redefining DRDO's role, engaging with academia and industry for futuristic technologies, fostering a skilled workforce with performance accountability, and streamlining administrative and financial systems.
• CAG Report and Previous Review: The decision to assess DRDO's operations stems from a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India that criticized the organization for labeling 20 mission mode projects as 'successful' despite not achieving their goals.