Restricting financial powers of Chief of DRDO

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
RAJYA SABHA
QUESTION NO 1286
ANSWERED ON 05.12.2012

Restricting financial powers of Chief of DRDO

1286 SHRI NAND KUMAR SAI

Will the Minister of DEFENCE be pleased to satate :-

(a) whether Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) enjoys a huge amount of autonomy because of it strategic nature of work;

(b) if so, the details in this regard;

(c) whether Government proposes to impose any restrictions on the financial powers of Chief of Defence Research and Development Organisation;

(d) if so, the details in this regard; and

(e) if not, the reasons therefor?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF DEFENCE
(SHRI A.K. ANTONY)

(a) Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is a subordinate Organisation under the Department of Defence R&D in the Ministry of Defence and is governed by Central Government rules and regulations. Therefore, DRDO as an Organisation does not enjoy any special powers or autonomy because of its strategic nature of work.

(b) In view of the reply given at (a) above, Question does not arise.

(c) to (e): Financial powers of DG DRDO are being exercised by the Secretary, Defence R&D in the capacity of higher Competent Financial Authority (CFA) with the concurrence of Additional Financial Adviser (R&D) in the Ministry of Defence (Finance), pending final decision by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) on implementation of Rama Rao Committee recommendations. Revised delegation of financial powers of DG DRDO was carried out in 2010 to address a long standing requirement and was done after due process and deliberation. The process of exercise of these powers has been further rationalized and, to this effect, a corrigendum has been issued by Department of Defence (R&D) on 21st November 2012 as a partial modification to the earlier financial powers as issued on 30th July 2010.