http://indiareckoner.net/2014/12/dna-parliamentary-committee-pulls-up-drdo/
India’s premier defence research organisation, Defence Research and Development Organisation’s inordinate delays, corruption and its fancy for reverse engineering has resulted in Parliamentary standing committee on defence raising the red flag on DRDO budget for 2014-15.
Monday, 22 December 2014 – 7:10am IST | Place: New Delhi | Agency: dna
New Delhi: India’s premier defence research organisation – Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) – is under Parliament scanner.
Shoddy research, inordinate delays, corruption and its fancy for reverse engineering have resulted in the Parliamentary standing committee on defence raising the red flag on DRDO budget for 2014-15.
According to documents accessed by dna, the committee has nailed DRDO on several occasions. It has asked DRDO to furnish details on how many new models, weapon systems and engines have been imported in the last 10 years in the name of study and modifications. “DRDO labs are more interested in importing systems, modifying them a little bit, re-labelling them and reselling them to forces,” the panel observed.
Of the 31-member committee, four members have defence background. “Where do you think DRDO stands in our military hardware preparedness vis-à-vis China today?” the committee said. It also asked DRDO to disclose those areas of technology where they are not competitive or behind the curve.
“There is a perception that DRDO is not really fulfilling its role; it is only doing normal non-commercial office work. DRDO should work out what is required by the services… futuristic and does not get outdated before it is introduced into services. People are expecting something extraordinary from DRDO, something out-of-the-box,” it said.dna began its investigations in August this year when Prime Minister Narendra Modi criticised DRDO during an address in Kargil. 
“If a project was conceived in 1992, it should not be the case in 2014 we are still saying it will take some more time,” he had said. India, he said, has the potential to be a world leader in defence sector, but was being held back by a chalta hai attitude.
In the last 10 years, the DRDO budget has increased from Rs 3,443.18 crore to Rs 10,868.89 crore (around three times). However, it has completed/closed only 13 projects costing Rs 134.08 crore in 2013 14, while it got 52 new projects, costing Rs 1,651.59 crore from January 1, 2013 to March 31, 2014.
“DRDO’s mandate is to develop products and technologies to modernise our armed forces. It has shown a list of products developed by them. Please also furnish a list of technologies developed,” the committee said.
DRDO’s annual report says that, as on March 31, 2014, it was handling 339 projects costing approximately Rs 45,554.73 crore. Out of these, 37 projects cost above Rs 100 crore, and, in total, account for Rs 38,613.89 crore. This is approximately 85% of active project costs.
DRDO scientists are among the best paid in India. They get incentives like two additional increments on promotion, up to six variable increments on promotions granted on fast track, professional update allowance, opportunity to acquire higher qualifications at reputed institutes and residential complexes.
The committee also asked DRDO about its research on a Gujarat-based Sadhu, Prahlad Jani, who has been living on air. He does not eat and drink. A research on him was carried out in 2003 and 2010 and the committee asked if the outcome can be used in warfare.
Talking to dna, a committee member said on condition of anonymity: “DRDO is doing shoddy research and some parliamentarians seem to be encouraging it by asking how outcomes could be used in warfare. Are you going to deprive Indian soldiers food and water in harsh conditions like extreme heat and cold? It’s disgusting.”
“This is not the only example. Recently, in Pune, they developed a hi-tech chariot to be donated to a temple. Is it what they are supposed to do?” he said.
“There are also a number of irregularities like an institute director buying a Honda CRV for personal use from the institute’s budget, although that car was not fit for that terrain.
“A building construction project worth crores was given to National Buildings Construction Corporation (NBCC) without proper tendering. There are also complaints of misbehaviour and harassment of officials and purchase of expensive tickets from Nagpur, home district of one DRDO institute director,” he said.
DRDO blames it on defence services, finance officers
DRDO has its own woes. They range from lack of testing facilities to infrastructure to shortage of funds to impractical demands of defence services. Another big reason is the rejection of DRDO technologies by defence services, terming them “inferior”, and their ‘preference’ for imported technologies.
A top DRDO official in Delhi said, “Top defence people visit international exhibitions and defence machinery manufacturers where they see the latest technologies. They collect brochures and after coming back, they shortlist good technologies from various options available, amalgamate them and ask DRDO to develop a product or technology. They don’t even bother to study the feasibility of their demands in context with the resources with us. That is one major reason for delay in aircraft and engines.”
“What they see in these exhibitions is imported technology where countries like the US, Russia and France have in-house raw materials building and manufacturing facilities. In India, we have to import even small components. This is one reason for the delay and increase in project costs,” he said.
Manu Pubby New Delhi, December 22, 2014 | India Today. in
A few months after India’s premier defence research body DRDO was prodded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to empower younger scientists, the organisation is planning to set up a new laboratory that will only have scientists under the age of 35.
While Modi had said that he wants to see five laboratories headed by scientists under the age of 35, DRDO is making a start by setting up a new lab within the Electronics and Communications Systems (ECS) cluster in Bangalore exclusively for young scientists.
The DRDO is currently scouting for scientists within its ranks under the age of 35 to join the lab and has sent out circulars to all its institutions for suggestions and recommendations. The new laboratory is likely to come up within the campus of the Bangalore-based Electronics and Radar Development Establishment (LRDE).
The new lab will focus on three specific areas – image processing, cognitive radio and waveforms for communication systems, a circular that has been sent to DRDO establishments across the nation says. It is however not clear yet when the new laboratory will be set up and whether it would have a special provision for career progression of young, talented scientists.
As reported by the India Today, the average age of DRDO scientists is creeping closer to 40 and an internal survey had found that most of its entry-level scientists are unhappy about their career prospects. Almost 57 per cent of all scientists who leave the organisation prematurely do so because of lack of professional satisfaction. Since 2008, nearly 500 entry and mid-level scientists have resigned or taken early retirement while intake of new scientists has barely kept pace. The DRDO’s annual intake of young scientists has dipped to 70 per year.
A deep review of the organisation by the Rama Rao Committee in 2008, had identified five labs working in critical fields such as solid state physics, metallurgy, cryptology and lasers for ’empowered’ status in order to give them the liberty to quickly induct young talent, bypassing the cumbersome selection process. The UPA government never fully implemented the recommendation.
SUBJECT: Request for the sanction of fund from Prime Minister’s relief fund for filing PIL
Honorable Sir,
The foul smell coming out of DRDO in particular the misuse of government funds and misinterpretation of government rules have been sent to successive government since 2001.
So far barring a few dent the fundamental change expected by countryman have not been observed, may the reason known to successive Defence Ministers.
There was growing hope of countries scientific fraternity and as well as common man of India that Honorable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji will take appropriate action against the corrupt officials of DRDO. When several cases of extensions were put up for approval it was denied. The culprits were furious and looking for safe exit, however, when the contractual appointment of Sh Avinash Chander, DG, DRDO, SA to RM, Secretary, DRD was continued, the message delighted the corrupt officials, operating within the four walls of DRDO.
DRDO can spend government fund for manufacturing Silver Rath of Rs 2.5 Crores without having any approval from competent authority. The existence of Controller Defence Accounts is also not visible. And above all our government is keep mum on this unethical, irresponsible act of DRDO bosses.
Sir, an enclosed PIL is almost ready for submission to honorable court and we seek financial assistance for national interest from Prime Minister’s relief fund as court expenditure for the sake timely action to save premier defence organisation of the country.
Thanking You
Prabhu Dandriyal www.corruptionindrdo.com 21-Sunderwala, Raipur.Dehradun-248008Enclosed – Public interest litigation (PIL)
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT DELHI
*****
I N D E X
IN
CIVIL MISC. WRIT PETITION (PIL) NO. OF 2014
(Under Article 226 of the Constitution of India)
(DISTRICT: DELHI)
Prabhu Dandriyal
…Petitioner
Versus
…Respondents
Dated _____________ 2014
( )
Advocate
Counsel for the petitioner
Chamber No. High Court, Delhi
IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
*****
LIST OF RELEVANT DATES & EVENTS
IN
CIVIL MISC. WRIT PETITION (PIL) NO. OF 2014
(Under Article 226 of the Constitution of India)
(DISTRICT: DELHI)
Prabhu Dandriyal son of Late Shri R N Dandriyal
Resident of 21, Sunderwala, Raipur Road, Dehradun-248008
…Petitioner
Versus
…Respondents
Dated _____________ 2014
( )
Advocate
Counsel for the petitioner
Chamber No. High Court, Delhi
IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
*****
CIVIL MISC. STAY APPLCIATION No. OF 2014
(Under Chapter XXII Rule 1 of the High Court Rules)
On behalf of:-
PRABHU DANDRIYAL, 21, SUNDERWALA, RAIPUR ROAD , DEHRADUN-248008
…Petitioner
IN
CIVIL MISC. WRIT PETITION (PIL) NO. OF 2014
(Under Article 226 of the Constitution of India)
(DISTRICT: DELHI)
Prabhu Dandriyal son of Late Shri R N Dandriyal
Resident of 21, Sunderwala, Raipur Road, Dehradun-248008
…Petitioner
Versus
…Respondents
To,
The Hon’ble the Chief Justice and his other companion judges of the aforesaid court. The humble application on behalf of above named, Petitioner, Most Respect fully Showeth as under:
That the full facts and circumstances of the case have been stated in the accompanying writ petition (PIL), which forms part of this application.
PRA YER
It is, therefore, most respectfully prayed that this Hon’ble Court may graciously be pleased to quash the appointment letter dated 31 May 2013 and direct the Respondent No. 1 & 2 to ensure the cancellation of appointment on contract (contractual appointment) of Shri Avinash Chander who is presently holding charge of Director General R&D, DRDO, Scientific Advisor to Raksha Mantri and Secretary , Department of Defence R&D on contract with effect from 01 December 2014.
It is further prayed that this Hon’ble Court may graciously be pleased to issue orders to respondent no. 1 to investigate all the complaint made against Shri Avinash Chander to Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, PMO in time bound manner and submit the inquiry report before this Hon’ble Court within one month.
During the pendency of the present Writ Petition(PIL) , and/ or pass such other and further order which this Hon’ble Court may deem fit and proper in the nature and circumstances of the case.
Dated _____________ 2014
( )
Advocate
Counsel for the petitioner
Chamber No. High Court, Delhi
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT DELHI
*****
CIVIL MISC. WRIT PETITION (PIL) NO. OF 2014
(Under Article 226 of the Constitution of India)
(DISTRICT: DELHI)
Prabhu Dandriyal son of Late Shri R N Dandriyal
Resident of 21, Sunderwala, Raipur Road, Dehradun-248008
…Petitioner
Versus
…Respondents
To,
The Hon’ble the Chief Justice and his other companion Judges of the aforesaid court.
The humble application on behalf of above named, Petitioner, Most Respectfully Showeth as under:
GROUNDS
PRAYER
It is, therefore, most respect fully prayed that this Hon’ble Court may Graciously be pleased to:-
to award cost of the PIL to the Petitioner.
(…………………..)
Advocate
Date:
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT DELHI
*****
ANNEXURE NO. -A1
IN
CIVIL MISC. WRIT PETITION (PIL) NO. OF 2014
(Under Article 226 of the Constitution of India)
(DISTRICT: DELHI)
Prabhu Dandriyal son of Late Shri R N Dandriyal
Resident of 21, Sunderwala, Raipur Road, Dehradun-248008
…Petitioner
Versus
…Respondents
Annexure- 1
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
(RAKSHA ANUSANDHAN TATHA VIKAS VIBHAG)
Annexure -2
Annexure-3
Annexure -4
Annexure-5
Annexure – 6
Annexure-7
Annexure-8
Annexure-9
Annexure-10
Annexure-11
By Hemant Kumar Rout | ENS Published: 10th November 2014 -The Indian Express
BALASORE: Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on Monday greeted new Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar with the successful test firing of new generation state-of-the-art long range surface-to-air missile (LRSAM) Barak-8.
Defence sources said the missile, developed jointly by the DRDO and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), was test launched from the weapon test range in the Negev desert of Israel at about 10.20 am as per Indian time.
A DRDO release stated that the missile successfully intercepted a manoeuvring air-breathing target mimicking an attacking combat aircraft. The test also validated all the elements related to the naval and land-based variants of the missile including the phased array radar, battle management system, communications and the interceptor.
“After detecting the incoming aerial target through the system’s radar, the weapon system calculated the optimal interception point, launched the missile into its operational trajectory that acquired the target and successfully intercepted it. All the weapon system’s components met mission parameters successfully”, the release stated.
Barak-8 is an Indo-Israeli surface-to-air missile (SAM), designed to defend against aircraft, anti-ship missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). In January 2007, India and Israel had signed a US$330 million deal to co-develop an all new generation of the Barak SAM, which has been named as Barak-8.
The missile has a length of about 4.5 meters, a diameter of 0.54 meters, wingspan of 0.94 meters and weighs around 275 kg including a 60 kg warhead which detonates at proximity. The missile has maximum speed of Mach 2 with an operational range of 75 km to 100 km. It possesses high degrees of maneuverability at target interception range.
A second motor is fired during the terminal phase, at which stage the active radar seeker is activated to home in on to the enemy track. Barak-8 has been designed to counter a wide variety of air-borne threats, such as anti-ship missiles, aircraft, UAVs and drones as well as supersonic cruise missiles, the sources added.
The test was carried out in the presence of DRDO scientists and officials of the Indian Armed Forces. The system is developed for both Israel defence forces and Indian armed forces. Scientific Advisor to Defence Minister and DRDO Chief Avinash Chander and President of IAI Joseph Weiss witnessed the test along with top officials of Israel defence forces.
According to IAI, Barak-8 employs a state-of-the-art phased array multi-mission radar, two-way data link and flexible command and control system. Congratulating scientists, Chander termed the event as a milestone in cooperation between the two countries in developing advanced weapon systems.
9 Comments
devasis • 24 days ago
Parrikar the nation wants some action from you. Let us make our arms ourselves.
The 80,000 crores we spend on importing arms could have been spent on health and education.
Davanand Atomic Singh • a month ago
All this weaponry and yet still an army jawan and a civilian is dead. Are we using the weaponry for the right reasons? Here the minister is greeted with the launch whilst there are families crying for their loved ones. Can we correct ourselves and use the equipment for the right reasons and not shelve them for no purpose. These weapons have to be exploited or the enemy will just take control of our country, through intelligence or actions.
ron ban • a month ago
Interesting thing is that India has co developed with Russia a ship killing missile named Brahmos …………… and with Israel has co developed a missile named Barak 8 to protect ships from Brahmos type missiles.
Mohit • a month ago
Do some more test and install this system in our new frigates and aircraft carrier “Vikramaditya”. They have been deployed without missile defense system.
NSR • a month ago
Since India paid for the development of LRSAM and MRSAM, does it get the Intellectual Property completely, or share with Israel, or no IP at all?
How did Israel allowed to sell Barak-8 to other foreign countries? Does India also has right to sell it too if it wishes…
Mohit NSR • 25 days ago
India have contributed by developing rocket motor and actuation system for Barak-8 missile. IAI have worked on target seeker and radar. DRDO should have acquired technology from Israeli. This missile can be sold to other nation only when allowed by both India and Israel.
It is good that other nation are getting interested in acquiring this system as it will help in making money out of this and developing more advanced weaponry. 2) In the long term , India can sell off other missile system to these country as they have more confidence on Indian built systems 3) selling to friendly nation can help us in long term.
nicky NSR • a month ago
its a co-developed system so both have equal right over lrsam . yes India can export it any country but both India and Israel must agree first .if for example India wants to sell lrsam to Brazil but Israel not interested then the deal cannot go through .
NSR nicky • 25 days ago
I read somewhere that Israel is not going to transfer full technology of seeker and radar to us even though they used our money to develop it…I heard that they just supplied blueprints and India had trouble producing seeker from the supplied data…
After successful flight, even IAI president acknowledged that without India’s money it would have remained a design project only…
So I hope they do really transfer all technology and do more joint R&D, design, and manufacturing projects…
The employees of CMSDS, DRDO unit in Kolkata are not getting salary for last 8 moths and the authority is totally silent over this issue, in spite of all number of requests they are quite. Because the whole DRDO machinery was busy for ensuring to continue their DG’s contractual appointment.
Why because the Sh Avinash Chander will going to save all corrupt and incompetent scientists like he is uttering that the Rath costing 2.5 crores plus 1 year hard work of 50 technical force, this all was done from scrap and waste material of R&D(E), Pune.
Wait Mr Chander Bombay High Court will going to show you your right place. The poor tax payers money spending on such task without taking proper approval from Ministry.
So friends of CMSDS, DRDO, Kolkata don’t worry Sh Manohar Parrikar ji will take your problem, Modi Ji also look in to this matter because he shows his concern for young scientists, stopped extension business of DRDO but forgot contract business, Chair business, IDST business and more game plans of these oldies of DRDO scientific ……….. of DRDO.
मोदी जी से करबद्ध प्रार्थना है कि इस ठेकेदारी प्रथा को डी आर डी ओ व् अन्य संस्थाओ से शीघ्र बंद करवाये अन्थया आप को इस प्रकार के सैकड़ों प्रतिवेदन प्राप्त होते रहेंगे जिनमे साइंटिफिक कम्युनिटी के शोषण के लम्बे लम्बे ब्योरे होंगे।
Pain of CMSDS, KolKata
http://headlinestoday.intoday.in/programme/bombay-high-court-drdo-motorised-chariot-temple-rath/1/404682.html