Tag Archives: DRDO scientists

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DRDO goes young with Modi

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

Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi

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

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

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

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

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DRDO’s bio-toilets raise a stink

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By Hemant Kumar Rout Published: 13th August 2016 – The New Indian Express
BHUBANESWAR: The much-hyped bio-toilets invented by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and installed in railway coaches, public places and colonies seem to have sparked of a controversy with some senior scientists raising voice against the functioning and technology which allegedly uses cow dung instead of imported bacteria.

Developed by Gwalior-based Defence Research and Development Establishment (DRDE) and Tezpur-based Defence Research Laboratory (DRL), both laboratories of DRDO, the bio-toilets, fondly known as ‘E-loo’, use anaerobic microbial bacteria to decompose and convert biological human excreta into usable water and gasses.
DRDO e looThough initially, the bio-toilets installed in high-altitude regions such as Siachen and Ladakh performed as expected for a certain period, now many of them are reportedly abandoned or unused for obvious reasons leading to objections from the armed forces.
While the DRDO said the anaerobic bacteria have been imported from Antarctica and can effectively function in extreme conditions and temperature ranging from -6 degree Celsius to 50 degree C, a group of DRDO scientists claimed that the imported bacteria cannot survive in high temperature.

“Since such type of anaerobic bacteria are abundantly available in cow dung, the cattle waste is now being used in bio-toilets while the research organisation is hoodwinking the people in the name of technology development by wasting crores. Like the bio-toilets, the normal septic toilets also have a perfect anaerobic environment with the only difference being addition of cow dung in the name of inoculum culture in the former,” they said.

According to senior DRDO scientist Dr Y Ashok Babu, who has lodged a complaint with the Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) seeking a probe into it, the imported bacteria worked perfectly well in the laboratory but did not work efficiently in the Siachen region, for which a solar panel heating system was added to accelerate digestion process.

“There is no requirement of specific bacteria in the normal temperature and local bacteria in the septic tank will do the same task more efficiently if cow dung is added to it. The technology is a farce which allows a handful of greedy business people to earn crores of rupees,” the complaint stated.

DRDE Director Dr Lokendra Singh, however, refuted the allegations. He said the cow dung is used only to multiply the bacteria brought from Antarctica, which can survive in Indian conditions. “Actually the cow dung used in the toilets is not the cattle waste but the bacteria which are transported through it. The toilets are working perfectly for which the Railways has given bulk orders,” he claimed.

The DRDO has so far made the transfer of technology (ToT) agreement with 56 companies which are producing bio-toilets at a cost ranging from Rs 15,000 to Rs 75 lakh depending on the volume of population using it and quality of materials.

Singh informed that while already 40,000 bio-toilets have been installed in railway coaches, additional 80,000 toilets are to be installed shortly. Besides, around 20,000 E-loos have been placed in colonies, urban areas and villages. The Indian Railways has planned to install 2.5 lakh toilets in all coaches by October 2, 2019

parliment question

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Parrikar protects whistleblower and takes action against his DRDO harassers

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By Pradip R Sagar | Express News Service Published: 30th May 2016
Manohar-Parrikar
NEW DELHI: Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has been in South Block for just 18 months, but the 61-year-old has taken several strong measures. In a recent order with a far-reaching impact, Parrikar has not only given protection to a whistleblower, but has also ordered action against officials harassing him.

Prakash Singh, a 53-year-old Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) official, was sacked on the grounds that he was a “perpetual troublemaker”. In reality, Singh had blown the lid off alleged financial irregularities and malpractices in recruitment procedures in the country’s premier defence research agency.

As his series of complaints led to unease, he was sent on compulsory retirement in 2012.
ParrikarDespite complaining to then defence minister A K Antony, nothing was done. Last year, Singh apprised Parrikar of the root cause of his harassment and held 22 DRDO officials responsible for his persecution. Parrikar then ordered quashing of charges against Singh and action against the officials.
“The case has been examined in the light of advice of CVC (Central Vigilance Commission) and after detailed deliberations, the competent authority has ordered quashing of the charges framed against Prakash Singh,” says a Ministry of Defence order. “Those who trumped up false charges and committed a number of procedural irregularities with the single-minded objective of harassing Prakash Singh need to be identified and taken to task for their malafide action.”

Singh’s complaints of corruption in the agency and 10 DRDO scientists recruiting their family members in the organisation by flouting all norms is being investigated by the CBI.

Prakash Singh’s complaints to CBI, CVC

Laser Science & Technology Centre (LASTEC) failed to utilise the pressure recovery system (PRS), a hi-tech equipment imported from Russia for Rs 16.58 crore. Singh alleged that the equipment was burnt in a “mysterious” fire, but DRDO said that the project was successful.

Highlighted nepotism in DRDO recruitment by senior scientists who “recruited their family members by flouting rules”. During a CBI probe, two scientists were asked to leave on the same grounds

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New DRDO Chief Takes Over, Scientists Hail Appointment

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By IANS Published: 29th May 2015 01:37 PM – The New Indian Express
NEW DELHI: Radar specialist S. Christopher took charge as the new director general of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and its secretary at on Friday morning, with the appointment being welcomed by defence scientists and officials.

Christopher was on Thursday night appointed chief of the premier defence research agency for two years by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet.

The DRDO was without a full-time chief for around four months ever since Avinash Chander was unceremoniously removed on January 31.

Christopher was heading the Bengaluru-based Centre for Airborne Systems and the project to develop an airborne early warning and control system before his new appointment.

Earlier, DRDO chief was also the scientific adviser to the defence minister, but the post has now been split.

Missile scientist G.S. Reddy was appointed as the scientific adviser to Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar for two years on Thursday night.

DRDO scientists and officials welcomed the appointment, saying that functional difficulties had cropped up due to the absence of a full-time DRDO chief.

“It is a welcome step; without a full-time chief cost DRDO in the last four months; impacted the work as coordination was suffering,” a senior DRDO official told IANS.

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar recently said that the absence of a full-time DRDO chief was being compensated with more powers to cluster heads.

A DRDO official, however, maintained that it did not solve the problem.

“Coordination between clusters is needed for smooth running of things. That is where the problem was,” said an official aware of the developments.

A senior scientist, meanwhile, said that some tests also suffered due to lack of clear guidance.

“Some tests suffered because there was lack of clarity. There was no clear boss; it makes a lot of difference,” said the scientist.

Officials also appreciated the decision to split the post of DRDO chief to appoint a separate scientific adviser to the defence minister.

“The role of scientific adviser must extend beyond the DRDO. There are other departments, like ordnance factories, which also need to be focused upon. This is a good move,” a senior scientist told IANS.

“The DRDO chief and scientific adviser will have to work in close coordination though; a new structure is now expected to evolve,” the scientist added.

Christopher’s predecessor Chander held the posts of director general, DRDO, and scientific adviser to the defence minister, and secretary DRDO.

Defence Secretary R.K. Mathur was later given the additional charge of secretary DRDO.

Mathur retired on May 24.

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The Recruitment Assessment Center, DRDO now become den of corruption.

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To                                                                                                        30th April 2015         Hon’ble Shri Manohar Parrikar,                                                                                         Defence Minister, Room No -104,                                                                                        South Block, New Delhi-110011

Subject: The Recruitment Assessment Center, DRDO now become den of corruption.

Sir,

     When GOI gave approval to DRDO for Recruitment Assessment Center with the intention in 1984 that DRDO mission mode project will not suffer because of shortage of manpower.

Passage of time now Recruitment Assessment Center become den of corruption and the reason GOI approved this recruitment system get no result. Recently   parliament witness that all core DRDO project are running unprecedentedly behind the schedule.

The numbers of complaints received against DRDO recruitments by MoD in past 10 years is clear cut evidence of RAC manipulations. Ex. Defence Minister already gave approval for CBI inquiry against 10 top DRDO scientists including two former DG. Unfortunately accused DRDO, DG, Dr. V K Saraswat who are also convicted by Madras High court also enjoying state minister post as permanent member in NITI Ayog.

Sir , please find the another example of Dr.A K Singh’s manipulation in recruitment of scientist. Today website received this letter and forwarding you for appropriate action to save premier defence organization from the clutches of corrupts.

Regards

Prabhu  Dandriyal,                                                                                                                             21-Sunderwala, Raipur, Dehradun – 248008                                                                     Phone 0135- 2787750, Mobile- 9411114879,                                                                                  e-mail id prabhudoon@gmail.com  website www.corruptionindrdo.com

Mr.N.Y Bosre1
Sh P Y Borse, Scientist, Borse

  Enclosed – Letter received by website on 30th April 2015Mr.N.Y Bosre2Mr.N.Y Bosre3Mr.N.Y Bosre4Mr.N.Y Bosre5

 

Mr.N.Y Bosre1 envelop

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Continuously Manipulations in recruitment of scientists in Recruitment and Assessment Centre (RAC), Ministry of Defence, (DRDO). Part-2

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To                                                                                                          31st   March 2015                 Hon’ble Shri Manohar Parrikar,                                                                                                     Defence Minister,                                                                                                                               Room No -104, South Block,                                                                                                           New Delhi-110011

Subject: Continuously Manipulations in recruitment of scientists in Recruitment and Assessment Centre (RAC), Ministry of Defence, (DRDO).  Part-2

Sir,

  1. Every day I am receiving letters from DRDO scientists who are witnessing the manipulations and corrupt practices of Dr A K Singh, DOP, and Dr R.K Jain, Director, RAC.
  2. Recruitment & Assessment Centre is basically working as derailing force for DRDO projects because recruitment of incompetents and promotions of again incompetents create frustrations among the deserve ones result is witnessing by country DRDO’s failure in each and every field.
  3. Sir, we believe that up to 2019 you are going to repeat same answers of delays of DRDO projects, right from LCA to …………
  4. Sir following letter is tip of iceberg of RAC, DRDO.
  5. Dr. Raju Brahma born in 14th December 1974 , joined DRDO in 2000 as Scientist ‘B’ and now in 2015 he become Scientist ‘F’ via shortcut.
  6. It is requested to investigate the role of Dr A K Singh, DOP, Dr R.K Jain, Director, RAC and Lt Gen Anoop Malhotra, Chief Controller R&D (R&M) on light of following letter.
  7. Dr. Raju Brahma appointment is fixing for SPIC and everyone in DRDO and MoD knows the SPIC’s adventures, it is kamdhenu for corrupt DRDO scientists.

Regards

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

                                    Congratulations, DR RAJU BRAHMA !

Your name has been recommended under Item No.5 of Advt 115.
For further queries please contact HQ DRDO, DOP (Pers), Telephone No. 011-23007229, 23007676.Dr Raju BrahmaDr Raju Brahma1Dr Raju Brahma2Dr Raju Brahma envelop

 

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“I am hearing this from you. It has come as a shock to me. I haven’t received any order from the government,” Chander told HT exclusively.

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Mr.Chander – Honest scientists of DRDO shocked when you delayed result of scientist ‘H’ in 2013 and October when they seen the name of Ms Tessy Thomas who superseeded well deserved.

DRDO shocked when you made Ms Tessy Thomas as Director, ASL ignoring the deserve ones

DRDO scientists again shocked when you advertised tailor made post for Ms Tessy Thomas’s husband CMDR Saroj Patel and selected him and made director without fear of Government rules and GOD

DRDO honest scientist were shocked when you protected Dr A K Saxena after seeing all documentary evidences of corruption and instead to save the national interest punished honest scientists.

List is very long………………

So don’t pretend that you shocked to hear government decision, now your best friend is sitting in government hope he will going to give you more shocks.

Best of Luck

Drdo

DRDO chief booted out 16 months before end of tenure

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Hidustan Times – Rahul Singh, Hindustan Times New Delhi, January 13, 2015
The government on Tuesday sacked Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) chief Avinash Chander, putting up the exit order on the Department of Personnel and Training website even before informing him.
“I am hearing this from you. It has come as a shock to me. I haven’t received any order from the government,” Chander told HT exclusively.

The appointments committee of the cabinet (ACC) approved the termination of Chander’s contract with effect from January 31, a good 16 months before it was to end. Strangely, the ACC order was taken off the DoPT website later in the day.

The sacking was first reported by HT on its website.

“It is the government’s decision to end my contract but I had no indication this was coming. No idea why it has happened,” the 64-year-old added.

The reasons for Chander’s unceremonious exit could not be immediately ascertained but the DRDO had in August come in for sharp criticism from Prime Minister Narendra Modi over delays and cost overruns in key military programmes. Modi had said India had the potential to be a world leader in the defence sector but was being held back by a “chalta hai” attitude.

In another snub to him, the NDA government had last year turned down a DRDO request for grant of extension to four senior scientists who had attained the age of retirement.

Chander had retired on November 30, 2014 but was to hold charge till his contract expired on May 31, 2016. This was in line with his appointment order issued on May 31, 2013. The government had even issued an order on November 27 last year saying Chander would “continue to be in operation” for the next 18 months — making his sacking on Tuesday all the more unexpected.

As chief of India’s premier defence research agency, Chander also held the posts of scientific adviser to the defence minister and secretary, department of defence R&D. He is credited with shaping India’s strategic missile programme.

The DRDO was set up in 1958 to develop indigenous military technology and cut back on arms imports. But India holds the dubious distinction of being the world’s largest weapons importer, sourcing 70% of its defence requirements from abroad.

A search panel headed by the cabinet secretary will pick Chander’s replacement from among top DRDO scientists.

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After PM prodding, DRDO looks to set up new lab with scientists under 35

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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.

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High Fives! Can DRDO fulfil Modi’s wish of youngsters heading 5 laboratories?

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Written by: Dr Anantha Krishnan M Updated: Wednesday, November 5, 2014, – One India News

Bengaluru, Nov 5: Hit by the short range ‘wish missile’ fired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi two months back, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) might be waking up to the reality that the change is imminent, and it’s now or never.

While addressing a DRDO award function in August this year, PM Modi had asked the top brass to set aside five laboratories for scientists below 35 years – a message that went viral on social media sites.

In an interview to OneIndia, Dr K Tamilmani, Director-General (Aero), DRDO, said that the PM’s wish to hand over the mandate of running some labs to youngsters has become a mandate now.

“The PM’s call to promote young talent has been well received by the youngsters within DRDO. We have been doing this exercise in the past as well and it will get a new focus now. It has to be a well-thought out plan keeping in mind factors such as project execution, financial management, administrative abilities and most-importantly leadership qualities,” Dr Tamilmani said.

IIT graduate heads Rs 22-crore futuristic project

He said emerging projects and technologies are being given to scientists at ‘D’ and ‘E’ levels. “We have been promoting youngsters in DRDO. To give an example, a fast-track technology development project has been already handed over to a young IIT graduate at the Aerial Delivery Research & Development Establishment in Agra. He is leading a 22-crore project for futuristic technologies for the development of an airship,” Dr Tamilmani said.

Sighting another example, he said the DRDO is in the process of handing over the ‘Rotary UAV’ project to a young team at the Aeronautical Development Establishment in Bengaluru.

DRDO spokesperson Ravi Gupta told OneIndia that youngsters were never ignored when it came to crucial projects. “Many youngsters have been project directors of some of our key projects. In Hyderabad itself we have two relatively young scientists in Dr Satheesh Reddy and Dr Tessy Thomas heading two critical labs – the Research Centre Imarat (RCI) and the Advanced System Laboratory (ASL) respectively. With the PM’s new directive, the idea of promoting youngsters will now get a new impetus,” Ravi Gupta said.

Modi’s idea is great, execution tough

According to Pushpindar Singh, aviation historian, author and publisher, the DRDO must undergo radical changes to become a world beater in defence R&D.

“You must have a virtual revolution within the DRDO. To me, the system won’t allow youngsters to come up. Modi has some brilliant ideas. But to execute the ideas, he will have to penetrate through the babudom. If the PM wants to see young hands spearheading projects in DRDO, then he should privatise DRDO. The results will be magical. Else we will see the same story doing the rounds,” said Pushpindar, one of the prominent voices of Indian defence.

Creation of new labs the only solution

A top DRDO director who wanted not to be named said that the PM’s idea of handing over the reins of some labs to youngsters below the age group of 35 might not work.

“Honestly, the idea might sound great, but there will be a lot of practical difficulties. It’s not an easy task to give the lab charge to a Scientist D or E and then ask someone senior at Scientist H to report to a lower rank. It will create unrest among the system. Even if it has to be done, then it has to be executed without creating any heartburn,” the official said.

He said the only way out to fulfil PM’s mandate is to create 5 small labs with limited mandate to start with. “We need to identify 5 different projects to be handed over to these labs. All the five labs must report to one Director-General to avoid further hiccups. I agree that DRDO has built in too many layers within and despite the implementation of Rama Rao Committee’s recommendations, lots need to improve,” the official added.

Ready to take risk, let young guns take charge

In his speech PM Modi had said that the government was willing to take risks by giving young guns a chance to run R&D programme. His wish-list included.

Identify five laboratories within DRDO for youngsters

Only scientists below 35 years will work here

All key decisions should be taken by the people in these labs

DRDO must develop systems ahead of others

We got the potential, must work ahead of time DRDO must bring comfort in the routine lives of jawans.

DRDO scientists should inspire youth in universities.

As this piece goes live on OneIndia, there are media reports that the PMO has struck down the service extension request for four scientists, working past their retirement age. The decision by the PMO might upset the DRDO top brass, who always had their way when it came to extension of senior scientists.

“Sixty is not the right age for a scientist to retire. In abroad, the scientists work even beyond 70 years. We need to debate this issue and see how best we can retain the talent of our senior scientists,” says a retired DRDO director, who had got two extensions (2 + 2 years) after touching 60 years.

The PM has definitely set the ball rolling by inspiring the youth within DRDO. Whether the DRDO top brass can live up to his expectations is something worthy to watch!