Tag Archives: Avinash Chander

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DRDO chief invokes Vedas to explain intel importance

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Written by Vijaita Singh | New Delhi | Posted: December 24, 2014 2:19 am

Indian Express

The country’s scientist and DRDO chief Avinash Chander on Tuesday invoked mythology to explain the importance of intelligence network, days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi cited Karna’s birth in Mahabharata to suggest “genetic science” existed in India even in ancient times.

Chander, the man behind the Agni series missiles, while addressing the Intelligence Bureau sleuths said “information gathering and intelligence have been emphasised even in Vedas and Puranas”, and invoked “Rig Veda and Atharva Veda” to send across his point that intelligence gathering had to be abreast with technology.

NSA Ajit Doval, new IB chief Dineshwar Sharma and outgoing IB chief Syed Asif Ibrahim were present on the dais when the DRDO chief addressed the function.

Delivering the 27th Intelligence Bureau Centenary Endowment Lecture, Chander, who is also the scientific advisor to the Defence Minister, said, “Information gathering and intelligence have been emphasised even in Vedas and Puranas. We find the invocations in Rig Veda and Atharva Veda, where it talks how the spies of Agni came down from the sky with thousands of eyes. The son of Brahaspati, teacher of gods, Kaccha was sent as a spy to Sukracharya to know the Sanjeevani mantra as explained in Mathsyapurana.” His term expired on December 1, but he was retained for two more years by the NDA government to head the post.

Chander, a IIT graduate, said, “In Sabhaparvam of Mahabharata ‘Lokapala Sabhakhayana Parva’ explains the importance of information gathering, establishing the spy network and related instrumentation in connection with the armed forces.”

To make his point, Chander said, “Arthashastra by Kautilya defines it as an integral part of court craft. The first of two chapters on establishing an intelligence system explain five kinds of spies for gathering internal intelligence.”

Comments 

c.r.panicker • 2 hours ago

Bhagavat Gita advises three courses of action (1) Gyana Yoga (2) Karma Yoga and (3) Bhakti Yoga. Before doing something, acquire complete of the situation, then create a fool proof plan of action and act with all resources to tackle the situation. You will then succeed in your operation. In this sense what is wrong in quoting puranas and scriptures. There is nothing which need hurt the sentiments of non-Hindus

RCA • 4 hours ago

Please don’t refer to Vedas as mythology. That was the terminology of the British Raj, which referred to Christian holy book as scripture, but Hindu holy books as mythology (i.e a myth, or something that is not correct). Its time to fix this wrong terminology.

Sai bhargavs • 5 hours ago

its not mythology

SacchaDesi • 11 hours ago

Nowadays everyone has to quote from Vedas to keep their job. DRDO has been among worst performing indian organisation. May be this explains why.

sk • 14 hours ago

Bad mentality of media and psuedo secularists. The top Scientists world over quote Veda/Upanishads/Advaita all the time and they will be quoted much more in coming times as can be seen by new physicists openly adopting yoga/meditation path, like John Hagelin (Harvard/Stanford/CERN trained Quantum Physicist or his senior in that field like Schrodinger, Neils Bohr or even people like Peter Russell), the whole world invokes Veda/Upanishads more than Indians, Indians hardly discuss Upanishads/Advaita, Indians discuss bollywood, hollywood or other such stupid stuff more.

Intelligent people are becoming more and more truthful and so they do not care about saying whatever is truth, Vedas/Upanishads/Advaita/Patanjali/Yoga/Meditation are the firstto give basic truth about reality and consciousness, this recognition will only increase not decrease because it is truth. Also, these people gave these ideas in remarkably humble/detached ways with amazing simplicity so when an intelligent mind reads Upanishads/Advaita, there is little chance to not to be impressed by those ideas.

guest • 14 hours ago

The Vedas aren’t mythology, the Mahabharat and the Ramayana are.

Hegelman • 19 hours ago

This is a major violation of secularism and our constitution. The Hindutva Brigade is getting out of control. Hindu right wing outfits are quoting Hindu scriptures and mythology.

It is time for the Secular Brigade to swing into action. Secular leftwing organisations – not outfits – should answer back by citing Christian and Muslim historical facts.

Hegelman • 19 hours ago

How can this be allowed in India? No one in India must cite Hindu scriptures or mythology. This is a secular land, and such actions violate our constitution.

jois • 19 hours ago

very nice explanation from scientist. what is the problem? we are proud to be Indian

Davinder Prasad • 19 hours ago

Outgoing Chief Mr Saye Asif Ibrahim must have been amused at this silly comment from the incoming Mr Avinash Chander. May Lord God help Mr Chand to think straight, he has responsibility for the whole nation.

SK tyagi • 20 hours ago

Well our vedas are full of all info needed by us

Devil • 21 hours ago

What is wrong if an accomplished Scientist Mr Chander is illustrating a point by invoking puranas or vedas. In west, people cite greek mythology, bible etc extensively to make points. Its only some of de-racinated Indians who are shameful of our heritage & culture and always trying to ape west. If Mr. Chander would have illustrate the same point invoking bible or greek mythology or sun tzu, he wouldn’t have raised any hackles. Shame on such deracinated Indians.

Katewal  Devil • 10 hours ago

Well said.

Mahalakshmi Iyer  Devil • 12 hours ago

First of all you should know the difference between mythology and philosophy.

Philosophy and mythology have nothing in common. Mythology belongs to the religious domain, it is religion explained in stories. Myths are passed down one generation to the next, and they belong to a specific culture.

Philosophy, on the other hand, belongs more to the scientific domain. It is the work of one man, or a series of men, as they sit down to think about the origin of the universe, the purpose of life and so on. Most philosophy has nothing to do with religion, and it can explain the world without superhuman figures.

Devils will always flock together to justify their baseless arguments.

Davinder Prasad  Devil • 19 hours ago

This is an equally silly comment, I am sorry to say. Being Hindu does not mean that you have to agree with every nonsense, I am saying this as a Hindu.

harsh baniya • a day ago

Anything wrong about that Indian Express? Don’t be so pathetic please.

harsh baniya • a day ago

So whats wrong in it …. ???? And btw Mahabharata is not mythology …. Foreign funded paid historians has termed it so

Ramesh Sharma • a day ago

He should have cited the relevant Vedic and Puranic sutras. Otherwise how can we verify his remarks? DRDO has grossly under performed given the resources at its command.

SC  Ramesh Sharma • 2 hours ago

Have you ever gone through Vedic or puranic literature? Had you studied you would not have raised this query.

Mahalakshmi Iyer • a day ago

How long are we going to talk science on the basis of mythology? No wonder we are no where near China in Science & Technology even after 62 years of independence.

We must understand Scientific temper is different from mythological temper. Our defense and space programmes should be based on Scientific innovations and not on mythological farts.

kyafarakpadtakounhai  Mahalakshmi Iyer • 14 hours ago

China followed the vedas and purana’s way before we did, all the technology in china has been spied and taken from the US and Europe, right from esculators, trains to their spaceship. What did china do on its own?

When a drone crashed in Iran, the Chinese were there even before US knew about the whereabouts of the Drone.

Even if it is Mythology, it has been conceived through experience.

In few centuries the atomic bomb and Einstein will also become Mythology.

Life on earth happens in cycles, if we are able to make the nuclear bomb, Bramha Astra must have been invented during the mythological times,

We have planes they have Pushpak Viman.

We have televisions they had Divya Dhristi.

The mantras are forumlas and proceedures to manufacture something.

We never believe in what we have at home, it is always bullshit, always things

outside our home look beautiful. The day we believe what we have is the day

when India will Surpass all other countries.

Bharani Komandur  Mahalakshmi Iyer • 20 hours ago

Why do we keep calling Mahabharata and Ramayana as “Mythology” and not “History”. Why are Hindus so ashamed of their History? Also, DRDO can accomplish a lot, if there is political will. Our politicians want to keep “buying” technology, so that their Swiss Banks accounts can be filled. That is the problem. In China, the punishment for Corruption is Death Sentence, and they do Execute them. In India, we Celebrate corruption. That is the problem. I am sure, if he had cited Bible or Quran, we “The Secular Hindus” would have applauded.

anonymous • a day ago

Tell me why aristotles poetics is taught in MA (English) even today. the same should be true for indian scriptures. what is all this debale about.

Arjun Narayanan • a day ago

Communal remarks! How dare he even think of Hindu scriptures in a secular country. Shall we start a twitter trend to protest this? At least a one hour discussion on News Hour should happen right?

DG1 • a day ago

DRDO chief has gone nuts. If he really was a student of Vedas then the moribund organization that he heads would not be as pathetic as it is, given the funds and resourced poured into it to come up with something worthwhile and original.

Bharani Komandur  DG1 • 20 hours ago

Please do not blame the DRDO. Do you really think that India can get to Mars, but cannot make a combat aircraft? Seriously? Politicians do not want the DRDO to make combat aircrafts or any high tech weapons. They want them to be “Imported only”, so that in those shady deals, their Bank Accounts in Switzerland and Mauritius can get filled.

LalaLajpatRai • a day ago

It is 100% true that several ancient texts talk about intelligence gathering though I differ with Avinash on his understanding of Rg Vedic texts. Instead of just quoting and claiming that we had all these before, it would have been useful if Avinash had really figured out what exactly we could use out of them in modern day context. Otherwise it is an empty useless talk.

sks  LalaLajpatRai • 18 hours ago

what u can use from it is them importance of intel gathering. That’s what the poor fellow emphasized. Now what technology was used may or may not be relevant for today hence he didnt go in that direction.

Sachi Mohanty • a day ago

All the nincompoops are coming out of the woodwork. Or, may be, this shows how technical education does not ‘teach’ rational thinking.

Gwen Stacy • a day ago

Why do you have problem with scientist stating some fact? There are verifiable . All you need is to roll your finger on internet online translation of Vedas .

Indian First • a day ago

Nice going…great future for this guy.

sishtla • a day ago

What is your problems if certain facts are told in the interest of nation to assist in intelligence gathering.Do the writer wants some other religious text to show his secular credentials.If the trend continues the news paper will have to close its publication.

MKRao • a day ago

I am shocked to see but it almost seems like talking anything that is related to Hinduism in India has become an unpardonable sin these!!! Why are we are becoming so intolerable towards Hinduism?!!! Why nobody talks of religions which are only turning a normal humans into perverts, psychopaths and subhumans?!!!! When the source of all religions were meant to be for betterment of Humanity?!!!!

Prabakar • a day ago

Excellent

Mohanlal Com • a day ago

Absolutely true! All Bharatiyas should be proud of these invaluable sayings and the nation must implement the principles.

Venkat • a day ago

Great though the author seems to be somewhat skeptical. Please read about Mahaperiyavaa to understand everything that we see today our so called new discoveries and inventions already find mention in the Vedas there is nothing new to discover.

anil • a day ago

For idiots, what DRDO chief said is a mythology, but for intelligents, it is history.

Sundara Pandiyan • a day ago

Good to know that our scientists are well-versed in our history and heritage.

  1. Curry • a day ago

May the spies of Jesus, his servant Modi, come down from the sky with thousands of eyes for DRDO chief Avinash Chander. Amen.

Drdo

DRDO Greets New Defence Minister With Successful LRSAM Test

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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.

Barak_8
A model of Barak-8 missile | EPS

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…

Drdo

Sh Avinash Chander’s, DG, DRDO, SA to RM, Secretary, DRD, Contractual Appointment

2 Comments
To                                                                                                         2nd December 2014
Hon’ble Shri Manohar Parrikar,
Defence Minister,
Room No 104, South Block, MoD,
New Delhi-110011

SUBJECT : DRDO CHIEF ON CONTRACT

REFERENCE

  1. Letter No. 12/9/2013-EO(SM-I), Government of India, Secretariat of the Appointment Committee of Cabinet, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions , dated 31 May 2013 regarding The appointment of Shri Avinash Chander beyond his date of retirement i.e. 30.1 1.2014 on contract basis.
  2. Print Release, Press Information Bureau, Government of India, Ministry of Defence, 28November2014 18:48 IST

Hon’ble Sir,

With regards, I would like to draw your kind attention towards letters under reference. The press release of PIB, MOD is regarding – Avinash Chander to Continue as DRDO Chief on Contract after Superannuation.

Following facts are conclusive form the above letters.

  1. A contractual retired employee (employee on contract) is now DRDO Chief.
  2. By which Order, The President is pleased to retire Dr. Avinash Chander, Secretary, Department of Defence Research & Development in the Ministry of Defence from Government Service with effect from 30.11.2014 (AN) on attaining the age of superannuation. Why the said Order was not disclosed by MOD?
  3. The Order dated 31 May 2013 was issued by previous Government and this Government has issued orders for retirement of Shri Avinash Chander.
  4. There is no fresh order issued by this Government regarding contract of Shri Avinash Chander as DRDO Chief.

Questions

  1. Government is emphasizing on young Scientist in the DRDO on the other hand despite being several talented and experienced scientists available in DRDO, what is necessity and compulsions of a retired person as DRDO Chief.
  2. How a person on contract will enjoy administrative and financial powers while DRDO is having 30000 employees and Rs. 15283 crore budget?
  3. Will they have to report a contractual employee?
  4. How an employee on contract be Head of Department and Head of Office in DRDO.
  5. Would Ministry of Defence could not find any suitable scientist as DRDO Chief out of 7500 talented scientists in DRDO or from other organisations.
  6. Why Government is not maintaining Transparency in the appointment on contract and powers being exercised by Shri Avinash Chander after superannuation. All RTI replies returned under section 24 of RTI Act 2005
  7. Government has cancelled many appointments of previous Government but why not of Shri Avinash Chander while several complaints are pending before the Government against him.
  8. Can a man of doubtful integrity be appointed on contract basis as DRDO Chief? The case of Dr Arun Kumar’s daughter’s recruitment where Sh Avinash Chander give clean chit and after CVC/CVO, MoD intervention the said recruitment was found illegal and cancelled.
  9. Farzi EDK MoU in US propaganda till date nothing has been done, only Ms Reny enjoying the US trips, what India got from this MoU except spending crores of tax payers money and Sh Avinash Chander’s photo session with Ms Fay Crowe, her mother, her sister and her daughter.

Sir, on behalf of Government would you like to reply to the nation being a technocrat-cum-politician, how much it is justified to have DRDO Chief on contract basis for one and half year.

The scientific community and employees are very much surprised from this decision of Government and this will lead frustration among the scientific community of DRDO. In the interest of nation and the DRDO, I kindly request  to you to remove the Shri Avinash Chander as DRDO Chief and setup High Level Committee to inquire all the complaints against   Shri Avinash Chander pending before the Government (PMO & MOD)

Regards

Prabhu  Dandriyal,
21-Sunderwala, Raipur,
Phone 0135- 2787750, Mobile- 9411114879,
e-mail id prabhudoon@gmail.com  website www.corruptionindrdo.com

Copy enclosed:

  1. Appointment Letter dated 31 May 2013
  2. Press Release, PIB, MOD dated 28.11.2014sa-appointment-letter

Press Information Bureau
Government of India
Ministry of Defence
28-November-2014 18:48 IST

Avinash Chander to Continue as DRDO Chief on Contract After Superannuation

The President is pleased to retire Dr. Avinash Chander, Secretary, Department of Defence Research & Development (DOB: 06.11.1950), in the Ministry of Defence from Government Service with effect from 30.11.2014 (AN) on attaining the age of superannuation.

The appointment of Dr. Avinash Chander beyond his date of retirement i.e. 30.11.2014 for 18 months would be on contract basis, with the same terms and conditions as he would be entitled to Secretary (DRD) before the date of retirement. His contractual term will end on 31 May 2016.

N Ao/DM/HH

Drdo

Avinash Chander to continue as DRDO chief till May 2016

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PTI | November 28, 2014, 19.11 pm IST
Avinash Chander 28 novNew Delhi: India’s premier defence and research organisation DRDO’s chief Dr Avinash Chander was to retire on November 30 but will continue to occupy the position on a contractual basis till May 2016.

“The President is pleased to retire Dr Avinash Chander, Secretary, Department of Defence Research & Development (DOB: 06.11.1950), in the Ministry of Defence from Government Service with effect from 30.11.2014 (AN) on attaining the age of superannuation,” an official statement said on Friday.

It said “the appointment of Chander beyond his date of retirement, November 30, for 18 months would be on contract basis, with the same terms and conditions as he would be entitled to Secretary (DRD) before the date of retirement.”

His contractual term will end on May 31, 2016. Asked if this was the first time a DRDO chief will go on contract, sources said there had been instances when chiefs have been given “extraordinary” extensions.

The DRDO chief also holds the post of Scientific Adviser to the Defence Minister and the Secretary of Department of Defence Research and Development.

Chander joined DRDO in 1972 after completing graduation in Electrical Engineering from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi.

He obtained MS in Spatial Information Technology from Jawharlal Nehru Technological University (JNTU), Hyderabad. Chander is the chief architect of Agni series of ballistic missile systems.

Development of Agni range of missiles under a highly-restrictive international control regimes was possible only out of his technology forecast, perspective planning and relentless efforts, DRDO officials said.

Drdo

DRDO to make unmanned combat systems

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S. SANDEEP KUMAR, November 24, 2014 17:04 IST THE HINDU

Projects on unmanned reconnaissance aircraft and combat aircraft are underway, but there is a need to evolve a policy for inclusion of such systems into the armed forces, DRDO Director General Dr. Avinash Chander said.
Projects on unmanned reconnaissance aircraft and combat aircraft are underway, but there is a need to evolve a policy for inclusion of such systems into the armed forces, DRDO Director General Dr. Avinash Chander said.

“it is going to be the future, it will be a fight against one technology over the other, than the conventional man against man wars,” DRDO Director General Avinash Chander said.

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) Director General Dr. Avinash Chander underscored the need for a policy to induct unmanned combat systems into the armed forces and make them an integral part.

Many advanced countries, especially the United States, are focusing on developing unmanned security systems and the DRDO is working on different unmanned combat system projects for aerial, underwater and surface applications.

Presently, projects on unmanned reconnaissance aircraft and combat aircraft and others are underway but there is a need to evolve a policy for inclusion of such systems into the armed forces. It is going to be the future, it will be a fight against one technology over the other, than the conventional man against man wars, said Mr. Chander.

Strengthening biochemical capability

Sensing a potential threat through dreadful viruses, bacteria and other bio agents, the defence organisation is working on strengthening biochemical capability by developing vaccines for detection and protection.

“We have developed a vaccine for detection of HINI flu virus and are working on detection of anthrax in association with department of food research. They are still under clinical evaluation and we need to get clearance. It is a long process,” said Mr. Chander, who was in the city to lay the foundation for the Centre of Excellence in Composites at V.R. Siddhartha Engineering College in Vijayawada on Monday.

Akash MK-II missile

Sharing details about the upgrading of Akash MK-II surface-to-air missile, he said Akash, in its present form, was very successful and met with the aspirations of the armed forces. “It has got a very good hit rate and now efforts are on for enhancing range and it is still on the drawing board,” he said.

On other projects, the DRDO Director General said the organisation was setting up a centre of technology for robotics at Jagadalpur and there are plans to set up 10 such centres for propulsions etc at Mumbai, Chennai and other locations in the country in the next five years.

The objective was to inculcate research interest among students and DRDO will be funding such centres, he added.

Drdo

Sh Avinash Chander – थाली का बैंगन – Modi ji How can our country trust such person who has no meaning of honesty.

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Sh A K Antony gave responsibility to find out the truth of appointment of Ms Swati Srivastava as scientist ‘B’ post by RAC.

The nation is witnessed that same person first gave clean chit under influence of corrupt officials of DRDO and now he has approved the order of annulment  the appointment of Ms Swati Srivastava. Unfortunately, the country of 125 crores population, our government is not able to found any honest and responsible person for secretary, DRD, DG, DRDO and SA to RM post.

They are still shielding concern duo (Father Daughter) and other involved officials by terming the illegal recruitment of Ms Swati Srivasta as irregular appointment with the clear motive of department escape from the duty of lodging of criminal case against the manipulation done under the influence of Dr Arun Kumar in the direct recruitment of Ms Swati Srivastava in RAC Delhi

Hope Modi ji will look seriously this very important issue it is directly related to moral of our honest scientist whose fortune / fate is in hand of such man who has no respect of moral and honesty who only believes in his own growth.

Jaihind

Central Administrative Tribunal – Delhi

Dr. Arun Kumar vs Union of India on 24 November, 2012

Principal Bench, New Delhi

OA No. 3293/2012

Reserved on    : 09.11.2012 Pronounced on   : 24.11.2012

Ho’ ble Mr. Justice Syed Rafat Alam, Chairman, Hon’ble Dr. Ramesh Chandra Panda, Member (A)

Para 9

Seen. This is serious. As already ordered, a fresh inquiry into the allegations of irregularity by an independent agency against Dr. Arun Kumar, the then Director, RAC may be got conducted immediately. It may also be inquired as to how my note sheet containing specific orders to this effect is missing from the file.

/sd/
(A.K. Antony)
Raksha Mantri
11th March, 2011

Para 10.          Pursuant to the above directions, a High Power Inquiry Committee was constituted to inquire into the allegations of irregularities against the applicant with the approval of RM vide his order dated 15.07.2011 with following Members:

(i) Dr. S. K. Salwan, former Director, ARDE, Pune and Vice Chancellor, Bhagwant University, Ajmer;

(ii) Dr. Avinash Chander, Distinguished Scientist and Director, ASL, Hyderabad;  

(iii) Mrs. Nabnit R. Krishnan, Director DMIST.         

The Enquiry Committee enquired into the matter and submitted its report on 08.06.2012. The executive summary of the report was placed before RM indicating that the Inquiry Committee opined that no favour or undue advantage was given to Ms. Swati Srivastava, daughter of the applicant during her recruitment as Scientist ‘B’ in DRDO and the same was conducted following normal practices and procedures. The file was processed through SA to RM who recorded the following on 15.07.2011:

“The report of the Independent Enquiry Committee”. Constituted to investigate the appointment of Mr. Swati Shrivastava D/o of Dr. Arun Kumar, is placed opposite for perusal of Hon’ble RM.

The above recording was endorsed by the RM by signing on 18.07.2011.

The copy of DRDO order of annul of appointment of Ms Swati Srivastava, Scientist C, daughter of Dr Arun Kumar, Ex-DOP. The Order is signed by Dr A K Singh, DOP (another gem of DRDO)swati srivastava annuling order page 1swati srivastava annuling order page 2swati srivastava annuling order page 3swati srivastava annuling order page 4

Drdo

Extension plea of top scientists rejected, govt bats for younger directors

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Manu Pubby New Delhi, November 4, 2014 | UPDATED 20:04 IST- Indiatodayin

The government has struck down a request by the DRDO to grant four of its top scientists a service extension with the Prime Minister stepping in personally to ensure that the organisation does not add to its massive bank of scientists who have been working well past their retirement age.

In a move that has brought cheer to the younger scientists of the organization, the PMO refused to entertain a request by the DRDO’s departmental peer review committee to extend the service of four of its lab directors beyond the age of 60 years.

In the past, recommendations of the peer review committee were routinely accepted by the government and in most cases scientists were given an extension of two years to four years. However, as reported by the India Today, the new government is keen to have a younger profile of scientists in the organization and has already expressed concern about the increasing age profile in a field that requires cutting edge technology and expertise.

Sources said that four scientists including Prof MP Kaushik (DRDE Director), Dr VC Padaki (DEBEL Director) and DS Sistla Ravind (LRDE Director) had been recommended by DRDO Chief Avinash Chander for an extension of service. While the file made it all the way through the appointments committee of cabinet, sources said that the request was turned at the Prime Minister’s desk. The DLRL Lab director is also not to get an extension of service.

Officials said that the decision not to grant an extension was taken as part of the government’s new policy to promote younger talent with PM Narendra Modi already instructing that at least five labs should have directors below the age of 35.

However, as things most top scientists at the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) who are tasked with creating weapons for future have passed the retirement age of 60 and are on service extensions.

The old age problem starts from the very head of the organization with DRDO chairman Avinash Chander already on two extensions. The previous government even approved a extraordinary contract to give Chander a 18-month contractual tenure from November when he turns 64, the maximum age till which service extensions can be given.

As reported by the India Today, most director generals at the headquarters and the heads of six of DRDO’s 54 labs and establishments are currently on extension. As many as 10 of the 16 top DRDO scientists are on extension. Internal surveys have found that nearly 87 per cent of the young scientists who join DRDO soon get disenchanted with the archaic, rigid structure of the research body that does not reward extraordinary performance with proportional career growth.

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An old age problem -DRDO has become ageing body with top scientists on extension

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For a country that boasts of one of the youngest populations in the world, it is strange that the field that perhaps deals with the most cutting-edge technology is dominated by scientists past their prime. Most top scientists at the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) who are tasked with creating future weapons are past the retirement age of 60 and are on service extensions.

Indeed, such is the state of affairs that the head of the research organisation, which encompasses 54 establishments and labs dealing with fields as diverse as ballistic missile defence and insect repellent cream, will get an 18-month contractual tenure from November when he turns 64, the maximum age till which service extensions can be given. This extraordinary contract, beyond the remit of extensions, was specially approved by the previous UPA government more than a year in advance for the present DRDO Chairman Avinash Chander.

Though not new, the old age crisis of the lumbering organisation has worsened as private sector prospects have brightened for young scientists. Internal surveys have found that nearly 87 per cent of the young scientists who join DRDO soon get disenchanted with the archaic, rigid structure of the research body that does not reward extraordinary performance with proportional career growth. Annual intake of new scientists has dropped to just 70, barely enough to replace those who take early retirement, thereby, rapidly increasing DRDO’s age profile.

It is still early to judge the Narendra Modi Government’s policies, but the perception that it is taking a strong stand on the issue has brought cheer to hundreds of young scientists itching to prove their worth in DRDO’s labs across India. A series of events, from the Prime Minister’s remark on promoting young scientists to the cabinet secretariat’s stinging order curbing DRDO’s unilateral age extensions to its scientists, have raised hopes that the problem is finally being addressed.

It’s about time, too. As many as 10 of the 16 top DRDO scientists are on extension. Apart from Chander, nine of the top-graded `Distinguished Scientists should have retired, but most are now on their second extension.

Rules mandate that DRDO scientists must retire at 60. They can, however, be given two two-year extensions under,extraordinary circumstances. Beyond the age of 64, there is no provision for service extension. Yet, the UPA government, in May 2013, approved an Appointments Committee of the Cabinet note to give an 18-month extension to Chander following his “date of retirement of 30.11.2014 on contract basis, with the same terms and conditions as he would be entitled to before the date of retirement”.

By doing this, the UPA went back on its promise to appoint a younger head to DRDO. (Both V.K. Saraswat and M. Natarajan, who preceded Chander, retired at 64.) The special provision made for Chander has become the subject matter of several complaints, the latest by one of DRDO’s own, younger scientists to the cabinet secretariat in August. “The post-retirement contract is not legal and has been made against the rules. A contractual employee can be taken for an advisory role but not to head an organisation,” Navin Gupta, the Kanpur-based DRDO Scientist ‘C’, said in his complaint.

While a convincing argument can be made that age is no criterion for innovation and that experience and continuity is needed to deal with certain technology areas, most scientists on extension in the DRDO are handling primarily administrative positions- from most director generals at the headquarters to the heads of six of DRDO’s 54 labs and establishments.

The impact of the extensions policy on DRDO’s talent pool is immense: an internal survey found that most of its entry-level scientists are unhappy about their career prospects and some 57 per cent of all scientists leave the organisation prematurely due to 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. At a seminar on August 20, Chander admitted this was a problem that required urgent attention. “DRDO’s annual intake of young scientists has dipped to 70 per year, resulting in a rapidly rising average age which certainly is not a good sign for an innovation-centric organisation,” he said. The average age of DRDO scientists is creeping closer to 40.

When Modi, speaking immediately after Chander at the same function, said that at least five DRDO labs should only employ scientists under 35, it was the first indication that his Government was addressing the problem. Many thought that the PM picked the number, five, randomly, unaware that it had come from the most in-depth review of the DRDO ever done.

The review, conducted 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 voluminous report suggested other far-reaching reforms, but the UPA government never fully implemented it. The new Government has dusted it and top officials are studying its recommendations. These include revamping the human resource structure to enable DRDO to hire talent from outside, including Indians working abroad, for key technologies; identifying a set of ’empowered labs’ that have the freedom to hire and fire scientists; lowering the age of entry of talent; and looking abroad for key innovators. “A balance has to be struck. The optimised path may be being selective in granting extensions for specific research projects and not for administrative roles,” says Air Marshal Ajit Bhavnani (retd), who was a member of the review committee.

As for the old age issue, one of the first things the Modi regime has done, at least, is get the cabinet secretariat to issue a terse circular on September 26, directing DRDO to stop the practice of unilaterally granting age extensions to its scientists without the approval of the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, which is headed by the Prime Minister. Sources say extensions have been put on hold and all such future requests would be critically examined. Whether the Government is firm in this resolve will be tested by the upcoming grant of a contract extension to the DRDO chairman.

India Today
India Today
DRDO Chairman Avinash Chander with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
DRDO Chairman Avinash Chander with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

 

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No extensions sans ACC okay: Government to DRDO

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By Aman Sharma, ET Bureau | 27 Sep, 2014,

NEW DELHI: In a message to the Defence Research Development Organisation that has over a dozen scientists working on tenures beyond 60, the government has frowned at the tendency of giving extensions to scientists without consulting the Appointments Committee of Cabinet (ACC).

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is said to be unhappy with DRDO’s functioning and had recently advocated that five out of the 52 DRDO labs be manned by young scientists after reports with the government revealed that as many as 358 scientists had quit DRDO between 2009 and 2013.

A government note sent on Friday to nine ministries and departments which have specialists in scientific or medical fields, including DRDO and Department of Space, the Department of Personnel and Training has said that the ACC headed by the prime minister has observed that in some cases, departments have unilaterally extended the service officers beyond the age of superannuation without obtaining the approval of ACC.

“It is reiterated that in absence of specific approval of ACC towards extension of services beyond the date of superannuation, an officer should stand retired on his date of superannuation and under no circumstances should the Ministry/Department extend his services beyond superannuation unilaterally without approval of ACC,” the note says. This also comes on the heels of the success of the Mars Orbiter Mission where Modi had praised scientists at ISRO for the feat.

In Friday’s note, the policy drawn up by the NDA government in 2002 was pointed to, which said that any tenure extensions to scientists should be “only in really exceptional circumstances” and only if the retiring specialist “is not just one of the outstanding officers but is really head and shoulders above the rest”.

That policy also said that too many cases of extensions are likely to cause “frustration and affect morale of upcoming scientists who have exposure to latest technological developments.” In 2012, DRDO admitted that 37 scientists — 12 of whom were in distinguished category — were on extended tenures. This was despite the Rama Rao Committee, which carried out the first external review of DRDO in 2008, calling for a younger profile of top scientists. DRDO secretary Avinash Chander is also working on an extension.

ET had reported on August 23 that Modi was not happy about this situation and had sought all details after he was told about the high attrition rate among younger scientists. Friday’s note also goes out to the departments of Atomic Energy, Science and Technology, Scientific and Industrial Research, Information Technology and Environment Ministry.extension dopt

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MISSILE MISFIRE

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22 Sep 2014Hindustan Times (Lucknow)Rahul Singh rahul.singh@hindustantimes.com

DRDO rejects foreign missile for homemade Arjun Mk-2 tank, to work on a new version instead

THE TANK DEVELOPED BY THE DEFENCE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ORGANISATION (DRDO) IS AN UPGRADED VERSION OF THE MK-1 VARIANT

India drops Israeli-made LAHAT missiles after it fails to meet the army’s requirements, will develop its own missile for Arjun Mk-2 tanks NEW DELHI: The homemade Arjun Mk-2 tank has suffered a major setback, with a critical Israeli anti-tank missile to be fitted on it failing to meet the army’s requirements. The development comes at a time when the defence ministry has set the ball rolling for buying 118 Arjun Mk-2 tanks at a cost of more than ` 6,600 crore.

The tank developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is an upgraded version of the Mk-1 variant, 119 of which have been inducted in the army.

One of the most significant upgrades proposed in the new tank is its missile-firing capability.

However, the failure of the laser homing anti-tank (LAHAT) missile, manufactured by the Israeli Aerospace Industries, will seriously hinder the ongoing project as the DRDO will now have to work on an indigenous missile that can be fired from the tank.

In an exclusive interview to HT, DRDO chief Avinash Chander said, “The LAHAT missile doesn’t figure in our plans anymore. We are dropping it. We have been working on a tube-launched anti-tank missile, which hopefully can be configured for the tank’s cannon.”

The Mk-2 variant is supposed to have nearly 80 improved features over the previous version, including more than 15 major technology upgrades.

Chander said the LAHAT missile did not meet the army’s requirements of engaging targets at ranges of less than 1,200 metres. It has an effective range of 6,000 metres.

The major improvements on the new tank include better firepower, integrated explosive reactive armour and countermeasure system, a mine plough, a remotely-operable anti-aircraft weapon, advanced land navigation system and enhanced night vision capabilities.

However, the army may not be able to fully exploit the tank, powered by a German engine, as it is too heavy at 67 tonne.