Tag Archives: Director General

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‘Can’t fight tomorrow’s war with yesterday’s weapons, incorporate AI’: DG Artillery

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Several scientists from the Armament Cluster of the DRDO, representatives of the industry and students are attending the conference in Armament Technology in Pashan, Pune.

Written by Sushant Kulkarni | Pune | June 9, 2018 – The Indian Express

ARDE Director K M Rajan and Lt Gen P K Srivastava.

“Tomorrow’s wars can’t be fought with yesterday’s technology,” said Lieutenant General P K Srivastava, Director General of the Artillery of the Indian Army, and urged the Armament scientists of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to delve more into Artificial Intelligence for future warfare.

Lt Gen Srivastava, who is also the Colonel Commandant of Regiment of Artillery of the Indian Army, was speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the two-day National Conference on Advances in Armament Technology (NCAAT 2018), which has been organised at Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE), a DRDO laboratory located at Pashan in Pune.

Several scientists from the Armament Cluster of the DRDO, representatives of the industry and students are attending the conference.

“There is a need for us come out of the concepts on which we are fixated… the world is changing. We live in one of the worst neighbourhoods. If we have to become a power of reckoning, we will have to possess a weapons systems of the future. We can’t be fighting tomorrow’s war with weapons from yesterday. Right now, we are building weapons of yesterday, with more and more efficiency. To build weapons of tomorrow, we need scientists, who know warfare, and we need soldiers who understand technology.”

He added, “Whatever weapon systems we are developing, we should embed artificial intelligence. If that happens, we could look at missiles that are completely automated. We need weapon systems which are intelligent and less and less manpower intensive. I also expect the Armament Cluster of the DRDO to not just develop weapon systems but also come up with ideas for the next generation of warfare. India’s strengths have been software, computers, artificial intelligence and robotics, and we need to further incorporate these into our weapons systems. Our engineers and scientists are working all over the world. We need to utilise our human resources to change the paradigm of the warfare in the subcontinent.”

Responding to Gen Srivastava’s speech, senior DRDO scientist P K Mehta, who heads the Armament Cluster of the DRDO, said after the inaugural ceremony, “There are already some ongoing projects in Artificial Intelligence and unmanned systems. Some laboratories have started incorporating them in the existing products. But it needs to be pointed out that the user, which is the armed forces, does not have a line directorate for the induction of the Artificial Intelligence and unmanned systems. We should have a long term roadmap in the area, which is not there right now. The country, as a whole, needs to have a roadmap for that. The DRDO can certainly help in forming that.”

K M Rajan, director of ARDE, said, “The process of incorporating AI systems into Armament has started at the basic level. We hope to do it more in the future.”

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Army whistleblower alleges harassment

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Prateek Goyal – Saturday, May 26, 2018, 8:12 PM Sakal Times

“According to sources in Army, Dubey was shunted for reporting the security breach to Army Headquarters and CBI”

Pune: In a classic case of harassment of a whistleblower, who had exposed a security breach, the office of an Army officer was sealed on the orders of a high ranking Army official.
Earlier, on March 13, 2018 Sakal Times had carried a report that said the CBI was going to probe a Major General’s role in a security breach at VRDE.

As per the latest development, Lt Colonel NK Dubey found his office at the Ahmednagar-based DRDO’s Vehicle Research & Development Establishment (VRDE) sealed at around 5.30 pm on Tuesday evening. A letter was issued to him half an hour later, stating that Major General Ajay Gupta, Director of VRDE, has transferred him to the National Centre for Automotive Testing.

Despite the ongoing CBI inquiry against Gupta in the security breach matter, he was recently given an extension after completing two years at VRDE through an order issued by Secretary DD R&D and Chairman of DRDO Dr S Christopher on May 18, 2018. Surprisingly, within a two working days of this order, Gupta shunted Dubey out of his office.

According to sources in Army, Dubey was shunted for reporting the security breach to Army Headquarters and CBI. Dubey reported about a 30 minute meeting conducted by Gupta on February 15, 2018 with two foreign nationals and a non-resident Indian, along with officials of a private company, without taking clearance from the Directorate of Vigilance and Security, New Delhi, as is mandatory for DRDO officials.

Earlier, Dubey reported the security lapses at VRDE, including inadequate guard posts, unavailability of QRT vehicle, unavailability of routes to do perimeter patrolling, inadequate boundary lights, etc. to DRDO, after which a letter dated May 22, 2017 was written by Gupta to Army HQ to transfer Dubey. The Army headquarters, however, refused to do so. (Army HQ letter available with Sakal Times)

A source said, “Lt Colonel Dubey have been targeted for exposing corruption and corrupt practices. Previously also, in 2017, Major General Gupta kept him out of office for around two months despite Army HQ refraining him from doing so.” Source added that Gupta had received the letter on June 12 from Army HQ, but he sat on it till August as it was demi-official (person to person). Source said that due to this, Dubey could join back only in August after being informed by Army HQ about the letter. Sealing the office of Dubey and posting him out is an act of revenge against him for being a whistleblower in a number of previous cases against Gupta.

It is significant to note that in 2015, dozens of complaints were reported against Gupta for his deliberate acts and omissions of misconducts under CCS (Conduct) Rules 1964 and under the Army Act, criminal misconduct amounting to corruption under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and criminal offences under IPC to then defence minister Manohar Parrikar. Gupta, then the Director of Vigilance and Security, DRDO HQ, New Delhi, was removed from his post and transferred to the office of Director General, Aeronmautical Systems, Bengaluru.

When questioned, Gupta said, “He (Dubey) is being relieved because there is an investigation against him for leakage of information which he was holding and gave to an unauthorised person outside the lab. Somebody has asked us to conduct an inquiry. He may influence the investigation and hence, he is being posted out.”

Responding to questions that Gupta sat on the Army HQ’s order overruling his decision to transfer Dubey, Gupta said, “DRDO is not under Army, DRDO is an independent organisation, which runs on the basis of its own rules and regulations. If the Army has posted him here, then there is a particular procedure which has to be followed as per DRDO rules. Even DRDO has written to the Army to post him back, I don’t know why the Army is not posting him back.”

When questioned about the VRDE security breach and complaint to CBI, Gupta replied, “I don’t know what you are talking about. I don’t want to talk further.”

 

 

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Race for next DRDO chief heats up, incumbent eyes extension

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By Pradip R Sagar May 02, 2018 18:29 IST  – THE WEEK

DRDO chief S. Christopher (left) with Arun Jaitley, during his brief tenure as defence minister in 2017 | Facebook account of DRDO

With the tenure of S. Christopher, current chief of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), coming to an end later this month, the race for the top post in the country’s premier defence research organisation has begun. Christopher, who was given a one-year extension at the last moment in May 2017, though, is also eyeing another extension. But whether he will be second time lucky is unclear.

Hectic parleys have begun for the coveted post. The key players who are in the race to lead the DRDO include Sudhir Mishra, director general of BrahMos missile system division, and G. Satheesh Reddy, who is presently serving as director general (Missiles & Strategic Systems) and scientific advisor to the defence minister. Besides Mishra and Reddy, P.K. Mehta, who is currently heading the office of the director general of armament and combat engineering systems, is considered to be in the race to head DRDO, which has an annual budget of nearly Rs 20,000 crore.

According to sources in South Block, Reddy is the senior-most scientist in the organisation after Christopher. His name figured prominently last year also, but Christopher managed to get an extension at the last minute, meaning Reddy would need to wait for a year. Former defence minister Manohar Parrikar had bifurcated the post of DRDO chief and scientific advisor to the defence minister, which earlier used to be occupied by one person. Christopher is completing his tenure on May 29.

Mishra, head of BrahMos missile system division—a joint venture between India and Russia— is also among candidates vying for the top post in DRDO.

Mehta, who is heading the Pune-based cluster of armament and combat engineering systems, can be a dark horse in the race due to his proximity with top BJP leaders, sources claimed.

Christopher, who took over as the head of DRDO in May 2015, did his best to impress Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman by showcasing the work done under his leadership towards self-reliance in the recently concluded DefExpo in Chennai. A special pavilion under the ‘Make in India’ theme was inaugurated by Modi, in which all major equipment designed and developed by DRDO were showcased. Last year, Christopher had directed all the labs to remove his photographs, just two weeks before he was to retire. But only at the last minute, he was given extension for a year by the government.

DRDO has often been criticised for delayed projects, as most of its ventures, ranging from the Tejas light combat aircraft to long-range surface-to-air missile systems, have been repeatedly missing deadlines, with huge cost overruns. In the absence of self-reliance in defence, the Indian armed forces continue to be heavily dependent on imports. India continues to top the list of global importers of military hardware, with over 70 per cent of armed forces’ requirements being met by foreign firms. Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his first interaction with DRDO scientists in 2014 had sent a stern message to the defence research agency against their ‘chalta hai’ attitude.

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Lobbying on as officers eye top DRDO job

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Abhinandan Mishra
April 8, 2018, Sunday Guardian
With the tenure of the chief of Defence Research and Development Organization Christopher (DRDO) ending next month, the officers eyeing his post have started meeting bureaucrats and politicians to push their candidature.

Even Christopher, who was given a one-year extension on 29 May last year, is interested in another tenure with the premier defence organisation and is banking on Defence Expo 2018, the largest land, naval and internal homeland security systems exhibition in the Asia-Pacific region, which will be held in Chennai from 11 to 14 April.

The defence expo, which will be inaugurated by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, will also see the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 12 April.

Sources said it is during this event that Christopher intends to showcase the “impressive work” done by DRDO under his leadership, ever since he took over as the chief of the organisation in May 2015, to give a message to the PM that he deserves another extension.

The other officers who are fighting it out to lead the DRDO, which has an annual budget of close to Rs 17,900 crore, include P.K. Mehta, who is presently Director General for armament and combat engineering system in the organization; Dr Sudhir Mishra, who is the Director General of BrahMos missile system division of the DRDO; and G. Satheesh Reddy who is presently serving as Director General (Missiles & Strategic Systems) and Scientific Adviser to the Defence Minister.

Mehta, according to sources, is being backed by a very powerful leader from a western state, while Mishra is getting the support of some members of Niti Aayog.

Reddy’s appointment, according to sources, was almost finalised last year.

Last year, Christopher, who was given an extension at the last moment, had directed all the labs to remove his photographs from the lab, just two weeks before he was to retire.

Christopher in an internal communication had stated that “Old colonial practice followed by the Services, to display prominently, photos of their Chiefs and Commanders, is followed inadvertently by some of the labs. This practice is also not required. I request all DRDO establishments to display the photos of the President and Prime Minister of India only, and not the Chairman of DRDO. This may please be implemented at the earliest and not later than 15 May 2017”. He had stated that he was among the first few officials in the MoD who never used a red beacon, much before PM’s recent directive came. Sources within the organisation said that all the four people who were in the fray, had an exceptional profile.

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‘Top DRDO and Army officers wrongfully sanctioned Defence projects’

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Prateek Goyal=Monday, April 2, 2018, Sakal Times
Pune: PK Mehta, Director General of city-based Armament and Combat Engineering Systems (ACE), a Defence Research and Development Organisation establishment, and Major General Ajay Gupta, Director of Ahmednagar-based Vehicle Research and Development Establishment (VRDE) are facing allegations that they have misused their financial powers for sanctioning of fallacious defence projects costing Rs 93 crore.

 “Projects worth Rs 93 crore sanctioned allegedly without Army requirement”

A complaint was received by the Prime Minister Office and DRDO HQ, Ministry of Defence, about sanctioning of projects without project requirement from user – the Army in this case. The matter was reported by a serving officer of Indian Army to MOD and PMO.

The complaint letter dated March 11 states that the three defence projects were aggressively pursued by Gupta and sanctioned by Mehta in later half of 2017, without any requirement from the Army.

Corruption in DRDO
A highly placed source in DRDO lab, on condition of anonymity, told Sakal Times that the process of sanctioning of technology demonstration projects in DRDO has become very casual. The projects are being sanctioned without issuance of PSQRs from users’ (Army, Navy, Air Force) participation and requirement. He said, “It’s high time the Ministry conducts an enquiry in sanctioning of projects as there is lot of corruption going on in DRDO.

The sanctioning authority with Mehta is Rs 50 crore per project while Gupta’s power is Rs 5 crore per project. Together they have sanctioned projects worth Rs 93.67 crore.”

Mehta’s defence
When Sakal Times contacted Mehta, he said, “Many a times, users are not aware of the technology so there are projects which are sanctioned without their requirement. It is sanctioned only after being reviewed by various experts. Even after the sanctioning, we have to look for the outcome, because in research and development there are chances that a project can be a failure.”

“Interest of nation is most important and we have to be independent in the manufacturing of defence projects and we are working on it under ‘Make in India’ programme of government,” added Mehta.

Despite repeated attempts to contact Gupta on phone and through texts, he was not available for comment.

Experts fume
KK Mishra, Joint Director (Retd), DRDO, said, “How can they sanction the projects without requirement from users. Defence projects are not some college projects one should remember that huge amount of money is invested in them. Participation of user is required before sanctioning of such projects. Many a times senior authorities sanction such projects for their own benefits. In past also people have sanctioned projects and gained monetary benefits from them.”

Defence expert Lt Gen DB Shekatkar (Retd) said, “It is surprising that a project has been sanctioned without requirement of user. For procurement of any armament or equipment for armed forces, user requirement is necessary. Such matters should be inquired into by Army headquarters.”

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Totally endorse the stand taken by Parrikar. A minister should listen to everyone but must act in accordance with constitution and for the larger good – Amita, Chennai

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The aforementioned comment was posted by Amita from Chennai on the TOI article “business ally’s resort in Mussoorie: Officials” 19th July 2016

By seeing these views, the DRDO team gets charged to fight against corruption because they feel confident that a Defence Minister like Sh. Parrikar is there to stop all corrupt influences. Maybe some time is taken and some delays occur, but ultimately this corrupt gang of DRDO will soon get a big hit for their wrong doings.

Last few days Mr. Narang continue visiting ITM with a mobile and discussed the issue with ITM officials and showed his clarifications of property and asked whether ITM had complained officially or not. If they had not, then he asked for a letter mentioning some favors.

During the time of earlier Director, Mr. Narang visited ITM with a briefcase but returned without the briefcase and coincidentally the then Director and number two both were on long leave for few days and in between the construction was done in full swing.

Here is a copy of the letter sent to CVC regarding the property developed in the cantonment area adjacent to ITM, DRDO.

 

To                                                                               Date: 06.07.2016

The Chief Vigilance Commissioner,

Satarkata Bhawan,

New Delhi

Sub: Mushrooming illegal Hotels and Guest houses in Landour Cantt. Mussoorie

Honourable Chief Vigilance Commissioner,

I am writing this letter to complain about illegal high investment commercial activities going on in Landour Cantonment probably in collusion with officials, and members of cantonment board.

If Mussoorie is called “Queen of Hills” then Lanodur Cantt. Area can be called as “Crown of the Queen”. You may be aware that the green cover of these beautiful hills is being destroyed by indiscriminate urbanization, and commercial activity turning them into concrete jungles. Unfortunately, where Cantonment areas are supposed to be an example of clean and green with strict following of law and order, and integrity but we got an example of such cantonment in Landour which seems to be working other way and helping cronies occupy prime locations and indulging in indiscriminate, illegal commercial activities. The institute of Technology Management, DRDO is located in the Landour Cantt. And is the major stakeholder of the cantonment area. As Scientist of DRDO, and Officer In charge of Works (Estate) of Institute of Technology Management, I tried to do my best in my official capacity to highlight these activities in the vicinity of institute with Cantonment board authorities including GOC of Uttarakhand Subarea  on grounds of destruction of green cover of the hill, encroachment of  ITM roads, and high density moment of foreign tourist visiting these illegal hotels and guest houses posing severe inconvenience  and security threat to DRDO lab but I found things are much murkier than what I imagined. There is a sense of systematic and deep rooted corruption in Cantonment to allow multi billion investments by big players in hospitality industry with covert protection for flourishing their business.

Since I felt I have severe limitation to tackle at an official capacity, I should write to you at personal level to deal with the situation with suitable action. There are many high end hotels and guest houses running here illegally such as Rokeby Manor, Bothwell Bank, Tabour Cottage, Pine Tree Lodge, Lanodur Bakery (All owned by Mars Hospitality Group of Mr. Sanajay Narang), La Villa Batheny, Ivy Bank, Domas Inn, Devdar Woods,  Prospect Point. When ITM wrote to CEO cantonment about how you give these guest houses permission without any parking space due to which ITM roads are being blocked! In reply he said, we gave no permission to any such guesthouses to run. This shocking reply itself shows how such high end guest houses can run without covert support of Cantonment officials and members. Majority of these guesthouses are owned by Mr. Sanajay Narang, surprisingly all these within a span of 4-5 years. Mr. Sanajay Narang also constructed a big mansion (Dahlia Bank) behind ITM violating Works of Defence ACT. ITM in a court case with him with this regard (He filed a writ petition after losing the same case in Supreme court of India) in this case too Cantt. took good sweet time to comply with orders of SC so that he gets good time to file a writ petition. These high end hotels are made with investment worth 100s of crores (Especially hotels of Mr Narang) and cater to foreign tourists, high end guests including ministers, VIPS and judges. Its impossible to run 12 hotels without permission in a cantonment area, if integrity and sanctity of the Cantonment is intact. If Cantt. Not given any such permission than they are not even charging these properties to the tune of amount chargeable from commercial properties! Moreover, Cantonment board them self indulging in such activities, such as Building of Ivy Cafe, where they have initially taken sanction for double story car parking but the lower level space was constructed in such a way so that it becomes impossible for parking cars. This basement was later rented out for a cafe. In the same way, for another property the board has taken initial sanction for Cantt. Accommodation and guest house, but leased out to a private party to run guesthouse for civil tourist. The guy who has taken lease of this property had expanded to a big cafe but lack no space for a vehicle parking. This property made serious congestion of key road leading to ITM. It sounds fishy about how sanction for constructing something else has been changed to constructing a building for entirely for different purpose.

These all activities in the Landour Cantt ruining sanctity and credibility of a cantonment and promoting rampant corruption and destroying green belt of the Crown of the Queen of the Hills (Mussoorie). I humbly request you to kindly order an enquiry on how these illegal hotels are running, who are behind it, involvement of Cantonment officials and presidents since last 6-7 years and save this serene hill from thugs and thieves. There is a serious fraud and corruption happening here, I wonder it may prove bigger than “Adarsh Housing Scam”.

Thank you

 

                                                                                                                           Landour Cantt. Mussoorie

 

Enclosures:

 

Letters related to communication with Landour Cantt.

Screenshots of web pages of these guesthouses

Other related documents

Copy to

Director General, Central Bureau of Investigation, New Delhi

Director General of Defence Estates, New Delhi (Without enclosures)

 

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S Christopher is new Director General of DRDO; GS Reddy appointed scientific advisor to Defence Minister

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By ET Bureau | 28 May, 2015, 09.30PM IST

s-christopher-is-new-director-general-of-drdo-gs-reddy-appointed-scientific-advisor-to-defence-minister
After a gap of several months, DRDO has finally got a new leadership with Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar pushing through a new concept to divide the top post into two parts.

After a gap of several months, DRDO has finally got a new leadership with Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar pushing through a new concept to divide the top post into two parts.

The government on Thursday appointed S Christopher who heads the centre for airborne systems as the new Director General of DRDO with the rank of a secretary.
Splitting the top post, the government also appointed the younger GS Reddy – a missile scientist – as the scientific advisor to the defence minister. Reddy will directly report to Parrikar and will be the pointsman for the minister for defence research projects.

Both top officials have got a term for 2 years, though Reddy is expected to continue after that and would be a contender for top job of DG DRDO.
The new appointments come after DRDO chief Avinash Chander was removed from his post in January with Parrikar saying that the government wants to have a new, younger leadership for the organisation.

The splitting of the post ks first among a series of structural changes that are expected at DRDO in coming months.

It is still not clear how the responsibilities will be divided among the two as the ministry has not come out with a detailed notification.

Both officials are expected to be based in Delhi.

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Agni 5 Launch ‘Best Farewell Gift’, Outgoing DRDO Chief Avinash Chander Tells NDTV

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WHEELER ISLAND: Speaking from Wheeler Island to NDTV after the successful launch of Agni 5, the outgoing Director General of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) Avinash Chander assured the country that the missile was now in a “deliverable configuration”.

On his last day in office, he said he was feeling “elated and happy on this accomplishment”.

“I am going, leaving behind a dynamic young team that can lead India to greater heights. India will now be autonomous in missile capability,” said Dr Chander.
On a poignant note he said, “This was a great event and I could not have asked for a better farewell gift from my team which has worked hard to make India a missile superpower.”

Explaining the technicalities of the launch, Dr Chander, who is also the scientific advisor to the Defence Ministry said, “The missile lifted off 20 metres above the ground from the canister then took a sharp turn towards the target and all the events went off like clockwork. Two ships monitored the event in the Indian Ocean and the terminal event which was validated and it hit within metres of the target.”

Dr Chander’s contract ends on today – January 31, 2015. He had joined the organisation in 1972.

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DRDO chief sacked within 2 months of new contract

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Indiatoday.in PTI New Delhi, January 13, 2015 | UPDATED 21:48 IST     The government on Tuesday removed Chief of top defence research organisation Avinash Chander, 15 months before his contract was to end.

The Appointments Committee of Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi “approved the termination” of the contract of Avinash Chander with effect from January 31, an official notification said.

Interestingly, Chander who was Secretary, Defence Research and Development cum Director General, DRDO and Scientific Advisor to the Defence Minister, had retired on November 30 last on attaining 64 years of age and he was given a contract for 18 months till May 31 next year.
The removal of Chander after being given a contract raises questions over the Government action.

Analysts believe that the action could have been taken against the backdrop of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s comment that the ‘laid back’ attitude in the DRDO will not be tolerated during a visit last year.

Efforts to contact Chander did not fructify as he did not answer the calls made on his phone.

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

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.

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DRDO Chief and Architect of Agni Missiles Avinash Chander Sacked

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NDTV-All India | Press Trust of India | Updated: January 13, 2015 21:50 IST

NEW DELHI: The government today removed the chief of the Defence Research and Development Organisation Avinash Chander, 15 months before his contract was to end.

The Appointments Committee of Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi “approved the termination” of the contract of Avinash Chander with effect from January 31, an official notification said.

Interestingly, Mr Chander who was Secretary, Defence Research and Development cum Director General, DRDO and Scientific Advisor to the Defence Minister, had retired on November 30 last year after he turned 64. He was given a contract for 18 months till May 31 next year.

Efforts to contact Mr Chander did not fructify as he did not answer the calls made on his phone.

Mr Chander joined the DRDO in 1972 after completing his graduation in Electrical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi.

He is considered to be the chief architect of Agni series of ballistic missile systems.

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