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DRDO goes young with Modi

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By Pradip R Sagar
Published: 02 Oct 2016 The Sunday Standard

Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi

NEW DELHI: In order to weed out the dead woods, country’s premier defence research agency Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), which is often faced criticism for its tardy performance, is looking for young scientist to head one of its laboratory. It was Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s advise to DRDO to hire young scientists, not over the age of 35 years to head at least five laboratories of defence research agency.

Following PM’s advise, Uttarakhand based Defence Institute of Bio-energy Research (DIBER), which is engaged in research in the first of bio energy and non conventional energy for defence use, has invited applications from candidates before the age of 35 years to head the lab. Officials claim this is the first step in the chain of events to give important role to young scientists, as Modi government has already banned giving extensions to scientists who have completed their tenure. It is notable that till two years back, DRDO’s top 15 scientists were on extension of service.
drdo-logoPM Modi in his first interaction with DRDO scientists had sent a stern message to defence research agency for their ‘chalta hai’ attitude, as most of DRDO projects, ranging from Tejas light combat aircraft to long-range surface-to-air missile systems have been missing repeated deadlines with huge cost overruns.
But sources in the agency said, appointing youch scientists to head laboratories may not go down well with senior scientists working with defence research.

But, officials said that hiring of Director of lab below the age of 35 years will send message to everyone working in DRDO to deliver. Modi has last year short listed Satish Reddy, the youngest ever scientific advisor to the defence minsitry.

“Certainly it’s an effort to get rid of non-performing scientists. Merely age seniority will not matter. If India wants to be a superpower, our defence research has to be cutting edge. India remains to be top buyer of military hardware globally with nearly 70 per cent defence requirements meet by imports,” said an officer. It is the successful government’s failure to build a strong domestic defence industrial base due to sluggish performance of 52 DRDO laboratories, five defence PSUs , four shipyards and 39 Ordnance factories.diber-director

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Anomaly claim in DIAT recruitment

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Mohammed Akhef | TNN | Updated: Oct 1, 2016,
toi-1-oct-2016AURANGABAD: A city-based associate professor has sent a fresh complaint to the defence ministry alleging discrimination during a recruitment process by Defence Institute of Advanced Technology (DIAT) in Pune.
In support of his claim, the associate professor has attached a bunch of “self-contradictory” documents from the DIAT received under the RTI Act. The DIAT – a deemed university funded by the defence ministry – had published an advertisement on April 25, 2015, inviting applications for the post of assistant professor in the technology management. It received as many as 18 applications.
In an RTI reply, the DIAT clearly stated that the scrutiny committee shortlisted nine applicants – all holding a postgraduate degree in management. Subsequently, the shortlisted candidates were called for an interview on September 12, 2015. The interview was attended by all the shortlisted candidates, following which one was provisionally selected and his name was published on DIAT’s website on the same night.
Unconvinced with the selection, the Aurangabad-based associate professor, Dr Nitin Untwal, challenged the decision of the selection committee and sent a letter to the DIAT, claiming that the appointment was in violation of the University Grant Commission norms. Untwal holds an MBA, MCom, PhD and has cleared UGC SET.
Taking cognisance of Untwal’s letter, the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) has initiated a probe into the recruitment as the seat was reserved for an OBC candidate. Untwal has also lodged a series of complaints with the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). The PMO, in its reply, cited a Supreme Court judgment in the case between one P Sushila and UGC for carrying out the recruitment process.
According to Untwal’s complaint, out of the 18 applicants, nine were disqualified on the grounds that they did not have a PG or a master’s degree in management. He added that eventually a candidate with an M-Tech degree was not only shortlisted, but selected.
Moreover, an RTI query with the National Institute of Technology in Calicut revealed that M-Tech under mechanical engineering (industrial engineering and management) is not equivalent to postgraduation in management.
In a fresh complaint, Untwal cited that a letter sent by the DIAT to the UGC – a copy which has been obtained under RTI on September 28, 2015 – the DIAT stated that the essential qualification for the post were as per para 4.4.5 of the UGC regulation 2010, which is a post graduate degree in management declared equivalent by AICTE/AIU.
In its RTI reply, the DIAT on May 23, 2016 stated that the essential qualification for the position were as per para 4.4.6.1 of the UGC regulation 2010, which says that “the essential qualification for the post is a postgraduate degree in engineering and technology”.
When contacted, DIAT officials refused to comment. But in a reply to a query posed via email, DIAT’s joint registrar (administration) T V Ananthasubramanian said, “I am directed to forward the following as our response: Dr Untwal was a candidate for the position of assistant professor for technology management. He was not found suitable by the duly constituted Selection committee and hence, not selected. His various queries to DIAT and various other agencies and authorities, including the Hon’ble Raksha Mantri/Chancellor, DIAT have been replied. The DIAT has nothing more to add to the answers given earlier.”

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CBI finds Embraer deal fixer, may unmask bribe recipients

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TNN | Updated: Sep 29, 2016,

embraer-29-sep-2016NEW DELHI: CBI claimed on Wednesday that it has managed to track down a middleman, a foreign national, who was allegedly paid $5.5 million as commission by Brazilian company Embraer to bag a Rs 1,350 crore ($208 million) jet deal with India in 2008.

Sources said investigation has established that the payment was linked to the sale of jets to India. Although sources refused to identify the “middleman” or spell out his nationality citing confidentiality clause undergirding cooperation among investigating agencies, they said he is a controversial figure and has been known to be conduits for arms deals. “We will ask Embraer why did they pay such a big amount to the gentleman in connection with the deal with Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for airborne surveillance systems,” said a CBI officer, adding that the breakthrough could put the agency on the trail of other beneficiaries.
CBI sources said they will approch law agencies of some countries, including Brazil and UK, to get details on him and other aspects like the mode of payment. “That is how this business functions. The defence contractor pays the money to the middleman who, after retaining his own share, distributes the money to those who may help him swing the deal,” said a source.

PMO

India Relods, Aims to Figure on Military Map

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Pradip R Sagar – The Sunday Standard 25 September 2016

NEW DELHI: At a time when Pakistan is engaging in war games with Russia for the first time, New Delhi has stepped up its military engagement with major military powers of the world. After joining hands to procure Rafale fighter jets from France, the Indian Army is carrying out drills with the US and Russian militaries simultaneously.

The US military contingent represented by a Company of 5th Infantry Battalion, 20 Infantry Regiment, two Stryker Brigade Combat Team, seven Infantry Division, is already carrying out a military exercise titled “Yudh Abhyas” on the hills of Uttarakhand. The two-week long joint drill to hone tactical and technical skills in countering insurgency and terrorism in a UN peacekeeping scenario involving combined deployment at the brigade level, according to Indian army.

State-of-the-art equipment for surveillance and tracking, specialist weapons for close quarter battle with terrorists, explosive and IED detectors, as well as the latest communication equipment is being fielded by both sides.

As the Indo-US military exercise is yet to be finished, an Indian army delegation has landed in Vladivostok in Russia to participate in joint military war games. Over 250 soldiers from Kumaon regiments are being trained in Russia in semi-mountainous and jungle terrain military operations in the eight edition of India-Russia Join military exercise ‘Indra-2016’.

Engaging with the two world powers coincided with the Indian Air Force inking deal to procure 36 Rafale fighter jets from France, to give much needed superiority air power over Pakistan.

“Engaging with three world powers simultaneously shows New Delhi’s influence in the world map. World’s top militaries wanted to join hand with India, as it is a growing super-power in contingent,” said a military official.the-sunday-standard-25-sept-16

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Files reveal links between Agusta, Embraer deals

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By Ashish Singh | NEW DELHI | 18 September, 2016 – The Sunday Guardian
ashish-embraer-story-edited-1The DRDO was not on board with the IAF over selection of the Embraer aircraft.
ashish-embraer-story-edited-2The CBI has registered a preliminary enquiry (PE) against unknown Ministry of Defence officials to probe the Embraer aircraft deal scam, in less than 12 hours after this correspondent revealed on NewsX the minutes of four meetings held in December 2006 to finalise the aircraft for the AEW&C project.

This correspondent has revealed that the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) was not on board with the Indian Air Force under then Air Force chief S.P. Tyagi over the selection of Embraer aircraft.

PE is the very initial measure taken by the CBI to examine any case before lodging a First Information Report (FIR) against suspected persons.

The CBI told this correspondent that “CBI has registered a PE (preliminary enquiry) against unknown officials of the Ministry of Defence (GOI) and others. This on a reference from the said Ministry on allegations related to M/s. Embraer employing an agent to facilitate various contracts. These include the contract for AEW&C project wioth CABS/DRDO for procurement of 3 aircraft”.

This correspondent has accessed the key 10-page documents that form part of the “Embraer files” that are being investigated by the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate. The documents contain the minutes of the four meetings held in December 2006 to finalise the aircraft for the AEW&C project.

In the first of the four meetings, held at Air Headquarter, New Delhi on 5 December 2006, the documents suggest, then Programme Director (AEW&C) Dr S. Christopher (who is currently the DRDO chief) had proposed two alternative options with different configuration and endurance for the aircraft as a platform for this project. He also pointed out that better options will be available with the change of aircraft. But the Air Force under S.P. Tyagi overruled Christopher’s arguments and stated that the DRDO will work with Embraer, the world’s third largest aircraft manufacturer that is now under the scanner of the US and Brazilian authorities for alleged kickbacks.

The Embraer files accessed by this correspondent reveal that four meetings had taken place on 5,6, 8 and 19 December 2006 among the Air Force officers, DRDO officials and the scientific adviser to the then Defence Minister, A.K. Antony.

“Dr. Christopher brought out that better options will be available with change of aircraft. The Chairman (the then Deputy Chief of Air Staff) stated that we need to work with EMB-145 and develop a prototype with the configuration that CABS will formulate and send to IAF for consideration”, stated the minutes that are available with this correspondent.

The minutes further state: “The Programme Director, AEW&C stated that CABS has proposed two options with different configuration and endurance. DCAS asked him to submit a clear proposal of what can be achieved with a 24T aircraft.”

The Defence Ministry is also expected to seek information from Brazil and the US through Indian defence attachés deployed in Indian embassies in the two countries.

According to the Brazilian newspaper Folha de Sao Paulo, Embraer had allegedly engaged a UK-based defence middleman and paid him kickbacks in order to ink the deal with India. Media reports further alleged that Embraer officials had paid commissions to middlemen in order to finalise similar deals in Saudi Arabia. The US Justice Department has been scrutinising Embraer’s deal with India.

The newspaper report claimed that the Brazil based company came under the US scanner after the US Justice Department smelled a rat in 2010 following the former’s contract with the Dominican Republic.

In 2008, a $208 million deal with Embraer was signed by the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) for three ERJ-145 aircraft to build indigenous Airborne Early Warning and Control Systems for the Indian Air Force. The three aircraft were to serve as an air-borne radar system known as airborne early-warning and control systems or AEWCS for the Indian Air Force.

Significantly, the Embraer deal reminds one of the AgustaWestland VVIP helicopter scam due to the many similarities. Both Embraer and Augusta deals were inked when S.P. Tyagi was the Air Force chief and A.K. Antony was the Defence Minister.

Both deals were cleared between 2008 and 2010 despite alternative options being available. In both deals, UK based middlemen and aircraft company officials are allegedly involved.

PMO

Modi government plans to launch team to probe defence scams

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By Pradip R Sagar Published: 18th September 2016 – The New Indian Express

CBI director Anil Kumar Sinha
CBI director Anil Kumar Sinha

NEW DELHI: With an extremely poor track record of probing defence bribery scandals, the country may have a special team to investigate such cases. Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government is contemplating a proposal to constitute the team.

The proposal came up for discussion at a meeting in the Cabinet Secretariat recently where key officials suggested an independent team, which can be tasked to investigate only the high-profile scams that have hit the corridors of the defence ministry. Investigators can be drawn from the CBI to coordinate with the ED, to follow the money trail involved.

The government is planning to launch a special team only to investigate defence scandals. This comes in the backdrop of allegations of Brazilian aviation major Embraer hiring a UK-based agent and paying commissions to swing the $208 million deal for three Emb-145 aircraft inked with India during the UPA rule in 2008. The Defence Ministry has forwarded the matter to the CBI, which has filed a preliminary inquiry and initiated a probe.
From 1986 Bofors, HDW submarine, Tatra to AgustaWestland, Indian investigators have miserably failed on prosecution as majority of the scams hit dead-end and closure was filed by investigating agencies. Government believes that such scams not only bring bad image to the country, but also causes embarrassment globally. The only roadblock, however, will be sparing officials from the CBI, the federal agency which is already short-staffed. In a recent affidavit in the SC, the CBI informed that it has 50 per cent of its staff on deputation and has a vacancy of 754, against its sanctioned strength of 4,544. Of these, 283 vacancies are at the levels of inspector, 195 of constable and head constable, 65 at deputy and additional superintendent of police, 41 at SP and senior SP level and 12 are of Deputy Inspector General.

“Repeated failure of investigating agencies especially in probing defence scams is surely a cause of worry for the government, as it creates a lot of hype. Forming an independent team of selective officials to handle bribery allegations in defence deals will be an option, as most of these probes require overseas intervention,” said a high-ranked official. It ultimately turns out to be diplomatic loss of face for the government after naming foreign companies and middlemen during the course of investigation.

Like in the recent case of AgustaWestland choppers, despite so much of noise in Parliament, CBI has failed to arrest anyone.the-sunday-standard-18-september-16

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DRDO working on health monitor for soldiers

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TNN | Sep 17, 2016,
drdo_logo_new-copyTrichy: The Defence Research and Development Organisation is working on a wearable health monitoring system for soldiers, said P S Pandian, director-technology, DRDO, Bengaluru, explaining the varied scope of bio medical research for students.
Speaking at the inauguration of the instrumentation and control engineering department at the National Institute of Technology here on Friday, Pandian said that as long as we perform normal activities without much strain, we may not be able to identify or detect any serious health problem.
Gone are the days when we think about ailments affecting people in their 40s or 50s; even 20-year-olds with no such family medical history get diabetes and high blood pressure. A device that will keep track of a person’s health condition and send alerts much before an ailment becomes serious will help avoid crises. Such gadgets gain significance as they can save the lives of soldiers, he said.
Medical devices technologies have the potential to transform the world of healthcare as the internet did to the world of commerce. In future, people will be able to turn on tele-health products in their homes with a healthcare provider, acquire medical data and information and manage their wellness programme, said Pandian.
However, regular calibration, maintenance, testing and certification of the medical devices were needed on a regular basis to obtain the correct prognosis and treatment. He urged students to come forward and work on interdisciplinary areas to develop prototypes.
Pandian said the bio medical industry had grown in a big way and instrumentation and control engineering had become an integral part of our life. Citing the example of automated flight operations which mostly work on instrumentation, Pandian said the progress of control and instrumentation engineering was rapid and had vast scope in the future.
N Sivakumaran, head, ICE department, said students of the department need to work more on prototype developments in healthcare technology. The growth of electronics, electrical, mechanical, materials, computers, information technology and communications had led to a large number of medical devices being employed for health care purposes.
Advancements in computing and communications allowed for practices such as “telemedicine,” a system utilising the internet by which patients could be diagnosed and often treated by physicians from far away.

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Government asks CBI to probe in allegations of corruption in purchase of three Embraer aircrafts

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By Express News Service Published: 15th September 2016 – The New Indian Express
NEW DELHI: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has started analyzing allegations of Brazilian aviation major Embraer hiring a UK-based agent and paying commissions to swing the $208 million deal for three Emb-145 aircraft inked with India during UPA rule in 2008.

The government had asked the agency to probe in allegations of corruption in the purchase of three Embraer aircraft for Defence Research and Development Organisation in 2008

The agency sources said officials are going through the reference and any decision to start a probe in the matter will be taken soon after analysing all the documents.

If the agency is satisfied that it has enough prima facie evidence to initiate an FIR, it will start or else it might register a preliminary enquiry to gather enough material for registering a regular case, they said.

Government had stated that the allegations were of a serious nature and the CBI will probe.

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had earlier this week said that, “If there is a criminal angle, then the CBI will probe as the Ministry cannot”. “If only procedural issues are involved, then the Defence Ministry can do an internal investigation,” he had said.

The deal for purchase of three Embraer aircraft during the UPA regime has kicked up dust with US authorities going into alleged payment of kickbacks. The deal has come under the scanner of the US Justice Department which has been probing Embraer for alleged payment of bribes to secure contracts.
Soon after, the reports of irregularity surfaced, the DRDO has already sought a report from the Brazilian firm, which has said it has been looking into graft allegations over the last five years.

DRDO investigation through report from Brazilian firm is a separate investigation. Parallel investigation has been started by CBI

The Special Investigation Team probing AgustaWestland bribery scandal will also probe this scam.

The deal was signed in 2008 between Embraer and the DRDO for three aircraft equipped with indigenous radars for AEW&C (airborne early warning and control systems). The first “modified” aircraft was delivered to DRDO in 2011, with the other two following later.

After several missed deadlines, the AEW&C project is now slated to be completed by December. Present DRDO chief S Christopher was the AEW&C programme director and head of the Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS) before he was chosen to head DRDO in May 2015 by the NDA government.

Sources claimed that role of the committee, comprised of officials from IAF and DRDO is also under scanner, which shortlisted the Embraer deal.

Brazil’s top newspaper, the ‘Folha de Sao Paulo’, had reported on September 8 that the possible bribery in the 2008 Indian deal was under the scanner of the US justice department, which has been investigating Embraer since 2010, after a contract with the Dominican Republic raised suspicion. The scope of the investigation has now been widened to examine Embraer’s dealings with eight other countries, including India and Saudi Arabia.

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Narayana Murthy named Director of RCI, DRDO

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14 September2016 – BuisnessLine – The HIDU

BHVS Narayana Murthy
                                                                                      BHVS Narayana Murthy

HYDERABAD, SEP 14.: BHVS Narayana Murthy, an expert in Avionics has been appointed as Director, Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO), Hyderabad.

During the past three decades he has made contributions towards design, development and delivery of onboard computers, Missile launch processors, real-time mission software etc

He is an alumni of NIT, Warangal. For his contributions to various defence R&D projects, he won several awards and recognitions. The Astronautical Society of India Rocket and Related Technologies Award, AGNI Award for Excellence in Self Reliance as a team Leader, DRDO Scientist of the Year Award being some of them.

The RCI is a premier DRDO laboratory of APJ Abdul Kalam Missile Complex spearheading the design, development and delivery of state-of-the-art Avionics Systems for entire Indian missile development programmes.

The Avionics Systems (Onboard computers, Navigation, Control) developed under the leadership of Narayana Murthy has played a key role in the success of the Indian ICBM class Agni 5 and other missions, said a DRDO press release.