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Exclusive: Defence research at risk due to delay in filling key posts

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By Pradip R Sagar August 04, 2018 THE WEEK

(File) Visitors look at a display of DRDO communication aircraft at the DefExpo 2018 in Chennai | AFP

The Narendra Modi government has undone one of its own major defence sector reforms. Soon after it had come to power, the Modi government had bifurcated the posts of the chief of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and of scientific adviser to the defence minster for better efficiency and ease of functioning. Now, both posts are vacant.

The last scientist to head the DRDO, S. Christopher, retired on May 29, and the government has not yet found a scientist to succeed him. So it has asked the defence secretary, an IAS officer, to also function as head of the prestigious body of defence scientists.

And two months ago, the term of Satish Reddy, scientific adviser to the defence minister, ended. The post has been lying vacant since.

Earlier, the director of the DRDO also used to function as scientific adviser to the defence minister. As many as 12 eminent scientists had held the post, including such illustrious names as A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, V.S. Arunachalam, V.K. Saraswat and Avinash Chander. Under their stewardship, the prestigious body with nearly 8,000 defence scientists—and having an annual budget of about Rs 20,000 crore and about 50 laboratories—developed a host of ballistic missiles, Light Combat Aircraft, Arjun battle tank and hundreds of critical weapons systems and components, which are not even available for import.

After the Modi government came to power, it first granted an extension to the then DRDO chief-cum-scientific adviser Chander, who was to retire in November 2014. The extension was for 18 months, but less than two months later, the Modi government abruptly cancelled the extension, sent Chander packing, and asked the defence secretary R.K. Mathur, an IAS officer, to function also as DRDO chief.

The then defence minister, Manohar Parrikar, defended the Modi government’s decision to cut short Chander’s tenure, saying that the government wanted someone younger to head the DRDO, as at that time, nearly a dozen of its topmost scientists were on service extensions after retirement.

Subsequently, the Modi government bifurcated the posts. The DRDO chief’s job was given to aeronautics scientist Dr S. Christopher, while Dr Satish Reddy, a missile scientist, was appointed scientific adviser in May 2015, both for two-year terms. When their terms expired, the government gave both of them one-year extensions.

Finally, Christopher’s tenure expired on May 29, on which day he demitted office. The post has since been held as an additional charge by Defence Secretary Sanjay Mitra, an IAS officer, for the period of three months.

Reddy’s extended tenure ended on June 4, and he has since gone back. The post he held in Delhi, that of the scientific adviser, “has since been lying vacant, and no fresh order for extension of his service or naming his successor has come,” said an informed source.

There is a buzz in the defence ministry that Reddy, who is also director general (Missiles & Strategic Systems) is being considered for the post of DRDO chief. Other names being considered include P.K. Mehta, director general of armament and combat engineering systems; Jillelamudi Manjula, currently posted as the director general, electronics and communication systems and Sudhir Mishra, head of BrahMos.

There is also speculation that the Modi government is toying with another experiment—of merging the posts of secretary, Research and Development (who is also chairman, DRDO) and secretary, defence production. The ‘IAS lobby’, too, is learnt to be pushing for the move because the defence production secretary’s job is held by an IAS officer.

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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 working on health monitor for soldiers

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TNN | Sep 17, 2016,
drdo_logo_new-copyTrichy: The Defence Research and Development Organisation is working on a wearable health monitoring system for soldiers, said P S Pandian, director-technology, DRDO, Bengaluru, explaining the varied scope of bio medical research for students.
Speaking at the inauguration of the instrumentation and control engineering department at the National Institute of Technology here on Friday, Pandian said that as long as we perform normal activities without much strain, we may not be able to identify or detect any serious health problem.
Gone are the days when we think about ailments affecting people in their 40s or 50s; even 20-year-olds with no such family medical history get diabetes and high blood pressure. A device that will keep track of a person’s health condition and send alerts much before an ailment becomes serious will help avoid crises. Such gadgets gain significance as they can save the lives of soldiers, he said.
Medical devices technologies have the potential to transform the world of healthcare as the internet did to the world of commerce. In future, people will be able to turn on tele-health products in their homes with a healthcare provider, acquire medical data and information and manage their wellness programme, said Pandian.
However, regular calibration, maintenance, testing and certification of the medical devices were needed on a regular basis to obtain the correct prognosis and treatment. He urged students to come forward and work on interdisciplinary areas to develop prototypes.
Pandian said the bio medical industry had grown in a big way and instrumentation and control engineering had become an integral part of our life. Citing the example of automated flight operations which mostly work on instrumentation, Pandian said the progress of control and instrumentation engineering was rapid and had vast scope in the future.
N Sivakumaran, head, ICE department, said students of the department need to work more on prototype developments in healthcare technology. The growth of electronics, electrical, mechanical, materials, computers, information technology and communications had led to a large number of medical devices being employed for health care purposes.
Advancements in computing and communications allowed for practices such as “telemedicine,” a system utilising the internet by which patients could be diagnosed and often treated by physicians from far away.

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DRDO sets timeline for fixing grievances to discourage direct complaint to PM Modi

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By Pradip R. Sagar 14 September 2016 The New Indian Express
modi_afp-14-sept-16

NEW DELHI: As scientists involved in defence research continue to write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi with their grievances, DRDO headquarters has asked all its department heads to take timely action on these complaints to avoid direct communication with PM or Defence minister.

Following series of complaints, the DRDO’s vigilance department has now fixed a deadline to complete probe into any grievance within in ten days of receipt of complaint.

Days after assuming office, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had asked government officials to give their suggestions directly to his office. But, within months, the PMO’s desk handling grievances was flooded with hundreds of representations. To address complaints, Cabinet Secretary P K Sinha, in August 2015 issued an instruction that writing directly to the PMO by violating the prescribed channel of communication has to be viewed ‘seriously’ and is liable for ‘disciplinary action’.

But, despite strict instructions from the Cabinet Secretariat, several scientists have been continuously approaching prime minister’s office and defence minister.

“In absence of appropriate action to be taken on such complaints, the complainant addresses his grievances to various authorities including the Raksha Mantri (defence minister) and Prime Minister’s Office,” according to an stinker from the vigilance department head of the DRDO, Dr. JP Singh, Director, Vigilance and security writes..

“It has been noted with concern that neither any timely action is taken by the head of Clusters or establishment on complaints which are addressed to them, nor any action taken report is forwarded by them headquarters,”

Vigilance department believe that because of in-action by concerned Clusters or Establishments in the DRDO, ‘copious correspondence among various government agencies take place as all the complaints were processed as per extant of guidelines of the DoPT.

“All heads of Clusters/ Laboratories/ Establishments and Units are requested to take timely action on complaint directly addressed to them and forward Action Taken Report to the Chief Comptroller with ten days of the receipt of complaint,” Dr. JP Singh, Director, Vigilance and security writes.

Citing a Cabinet Secretary note on official communication channel, the DRDO headquarters in August last year, had issued detailed instructions to all its laboratories for strict compliance regarding representations being sent directly to higher authorities bypassing the prescribed channel of communication.14-sept-16-the-new-indian-express

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ILLEGAL APPOINTMENT OF MS. SHWETA SINGH, SRF AT DRL, TEZPUR BY DR. VIJAY VEER, DIRECTOR, DEFENCE RESEARCH LABORATORY(DRL), DRDO,TEZPUR

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To,                                                                                           Date – 25th May 2015                         Shri Manohar Parikar                                                                                                                       Defence Minister                                                                                                                               Room No -104 South Block,                                                                                                           Ministry of Defence                                                                                                                           New Delhi-110011

SUBJECT: IRREGULARITIES IN APPOINTMENT OF MS. SHWETA SINGH, JRF and SRF AT DEFENCE RESEARCH LABORATORY (DRL), TEZPUR BY DR. VIJAY VEER, DIRECTOR, DRL, TEZPUR, DRDO, MIN. OF DEFENCE

Sir,

Within last 10 years a bunch of DRDO officials running DRDO with their own made rules whether it is related of procurements or recruitments like the following case of recruitment of Ms Sweta Singh as JRF/SRF in DRL, DRDO, Tezpur by  Dr. Vijay Veer, Director is a small example of manipulations in GOI laid down rules.

  1. Defence Research Laboratory (DRL), Tezpur (Assam) is an establishment under Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO), Ministry of Defence.
  2. Vijay Veer, Scientist ‘G’ is Director, DRL, Tezpur with effect from 01 March 2012. Prior to him Dr. Lokendra Singh was Director of this establishment since the year 2010 to 28 Feb 2012.
  3. A.K. Singh is Director (Personnel), Dte. Of Personnel (DOP) at DRDO HQ, DRDO Bhawan, New Delhi with effect from 01 Dec 2012 and prior to this he was posted as Director, DHRD at DRDO HQ from Oct 2010 to 27 Feb 2013.
  4. A.K. Singh, Director (Personnel) hails from Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh which is evident from his IPR available at DRDO website. Copy of IPR is attached as Annexure No. -1.
  5. Shri Virendra Pal Singh (V.P. Singh) who is an official of Arunachal Pradesh, Government also hails from Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh.
  6. Lokendra Singh, Dr. Vijay Veer and Dr. RKR Singh, TO ‘C’, Estate Officer and Shri V.P. Singh are good friend and know each other very well as Shri V.P. Singh regularly staying at DRL, Guest House, Tezpur since past several years while he is not an DRDO/Service employee and no office/project of Arunachal Pradesh Government is existing at DRL, Tezpur. The rent of VIP suits at DRL, Guest house is only Rs. 50 -100 while the same accommodation at Hotel in Tezpur is about Rs. 2000-2500. The reasons why Dr. Lokendra Singh, Ex-Director, DRL and Dr. Vijay Veer, Director, DRL giving such kind of privilege to Shri V.P. Singh is matter of investigation?
  7. Even the Arunachal Pradesh Government Vehicle with Registration No. AR 01E 0879 is regularly parked at House of Dr. RKR Singh, TO ‘C’, Estate Officer, DRL, Tezpur. The same Government vehicle was also found in New DRL Guest House. The Photograph of Vehicle No. AR 01E 0879 of Arunachal Pradesh Government parked at New DRL Guest House is attached as Annexure No. -2.
  8. A.K. Singh, Director(Personnel) , DRDO HQ is holding sensitive posts continuously since past 8 years as Director, CEPTAM, Director, DHRD and Director(Personnel), which is against CVC Guidelines. I have filed three complaints against him to PMO & MOD on charges of Corruption. He was holding the post of Director, DHRD from October 2010 – 27 February 2013. DHRD is responsible for recruitment of JRF, SRF and Research Associates in various DRDO establishments and formulates guidelines for their appointments etc.

This complaint is regarding irregular appointment of Ms. Shweta Singh D/o Shri V.P. Singh, Aligarh as Junior Research Fellow (JRF) followed by  Senior Research Fellow (SRF) with two years extension by Dr. Vijay Veer, Director, DRL, Tezpur and extra payment of stipend while she was absent from DRL, Tezpur for about one year.

Brief Facts of the Case

  1. Shweta Singh, d/o Shri V.P. Singh was appointed as Junior Research Fellow (JRF) at DRL, Tezpur for a period of two year with effect from 03.10.2011 to 02.10.2013. She joined at DRL, Tezpur on 03.10.2011 and posted at Pharmaceutical Technology Division.
  2. Shweta Singh was getting stipend of Rs. 16000/- month from DRL, Tezpur. She remains absent/highly irregular at DRL, Tezpur during January 2013 to December 2013. Meantime she got married on 28 November 2013 at Aligarh (Uttar Pradesh). She joined back at DRL, Tezpur on 13 January 2014.
  3. In reply to one letter from Admin Division of DRL, Tezpur, Dr. P. Chattopadhyay, Group Head, Pharmaceutical Technology Division informed to Director, DRL, Tezpur vide his letter dated 07-10-2013 on Subject “Absent of Ms. Shweta Singh, JRF, Pharmaceutical Technology Division absent from 8th July 2013” stating thereby That “I am inform you that Ms Shweta Singh, JRF, Pharmaceutical Technology Division absent from 8th July 2013”. Copy of the letter dated 07.10.2013 is annexed as Annexure No. -3.
  4. On direction of Dr. Vijay Veer, Director, DRL, Ms. Shweta Singh, JRF got full stipend of the period while she was absent from DRL, Tezpur. Some complaint and RTI were filed by some persons in the matter therefore under pressure of PCDA, Dr. Vijay Veer ordered to Admin & Finance division to recover one month stipend from her. Rs. 17600/- was recovered vide letter 51/13/AE dated 28/10/2013. Copy of the letter No. 51/13/AE dated 28/10/2013 is annexed as Annexure No. -4. The same amount was deposited by Ms. Shweta Singh vide Chq. No. 508551 dated 8/5/2014. Copy of the letter dated 08/05/2014 sent from Mrs. Shweta Singh, SRF to Director, DRL regarding “Return of Excess Payment”, is annexed as Annexure No. -5.
  5. I submitted an application under RTI Act 2005 dated 26 July 2014 in the matter of Ms. Shweta Singh, JRF to CPIO, DRDO HQ, New Delhi but till date CPIO, DRDO did not replied. Copy of the application under RTI Act 2005 dated 26 July 2014 is attached as Annexure No. -6.
  6. Detailed attendance sheet of Ms. Shweta Singh from Biometric Punching Attendance System of said period may establish her long absence from DRL, Tezpur. But extra payment for only one month and three days of stipend was recovered from her by DRL, Tezpur on direction of Dr. Vijay Veer. Due to expose of the matter, DRL stopped her stipend with effect from 03 October 2013. Till date she did not get any stipend from DRL, Tezpur.
  7. As per the DO-II No. 07 dated 20.04.2012, her tenure for JRF was automatically ended on 02.10.2013. She was absent in month of October 2013 but Dr. Vijay Veer gave another big favor to her. He constituted an Assessment Committee consisting of three senior officers namely Dr. H.K. Gogoi, Scientist ‘F’, Shri Indrajeet Baruah, Scientist ‘F’ and Dr. P. Chattopadhyay, Scientist ‘D’  vide DO-II No. 07 dated 25.04.2014 to gave extension of one year to Fellowship of Ms. Shweta Singh, JRF with retrospective effect from 03.10.2013 while she was not present during said period in DRL, Tezpur and appointed her as SRF. Copy of the DO-II dated 25.04.2014 is annexed as Annexure No. -7. It was mentioned in said DO-II dated 25.04.2014 that “Extension of tenure of fellowship of the above named individual with effect from 3rd October 2013 for one year as per recommendation of the Assessment Committee held on 24th March 2014 at DRL, Tezpur”.
  8. As per DHRD, DRDO guidelines  extension for one year can only be provided to a JRF candidate after his/her presentation before Assessment Committee constituted by Director well before the expiry of tenure of 02 years of the JRF.
  9. It is big manipulation and conspiracy that Ms. Shweta Singh never appeared before the Assessment Committee and she got extension of one year with retrospective effect by Assessment Committee vide DO-II No. 07 dated 25.04.2014. The said Assessment Committee was constituted by Dr. Vijay Veer, Director, DRL, Tezpur in the March 2014, which held the meeting on 24 March 2014.
  10. The recommendation of the Assessment Committee was approved by Dr. Vijay Veer, Director and Ms. Shweta Singh got extension for fellowship as SRF for one year from 03.10.2013 to 02.10.2014 vide DO-II No. 07 dated 25.04.2014.
  11. Surprisingly, while tenure of Ms. Shweta Singh, JRF was automatically ended on 02 October 2013 vide DO-II NO. 07 dated 20.04.2012, then why Dr. Vijay Veer allowed her to work in DRL, Tezpur till April 2014 and gave ex-post-facto sanction without any authority?
  12. Shweta Singh got married on 12 November 2013 and She was absent during the period from 03 October to 12 January 2014, then why DRL, Tezpur allowed her to join at DRL, Tezpur while her tenure was ended automatically on 02.10.2013?
  13. Extension for fellowship with retrospective effect is completely illegal as (i) Tenure of JRF remains only for two years, it cannot be extended in case of Ms. Shweta Singh as her term expired on 02 October 2013. (ii) With back date appointments/extensions to fellowship are not permissible under any rule of DRDO and GOI.

Hence extension to fellowship wef 03 October 2013 for one year by order dated 25.04.2014 is totally illegal and irregular. It should be cancelled.

  1. She was getting stipend of Rs. 16000/- per month as JRF and Rs. 18000/- per month as SRF.
  2. Under pressure of complaint to PCDA and RTI Application to CPIO, DRDO, DRL, Tezpur stopped the payment of her stipend with effect from 03 October 2014 up to till date. But to favor Ms. Shweta Singh, Dr. Vijay Veer ordered Finance Division to make bill for payment of stipend to Ms. Shweta Singh and accordingly a bill of approximately Rs. 2,12,439/- was made and sent to PCDA, New Delhi in February 2015 vide DRL letter No. 30/PAS/JRF/SRF/2014-2015 dated 02.02.2015. Copy of the bill sent to PCDA, New Delhi is annexed as Annexure No. -8.
  3. PCDA returned the said bill with following objections: (i) To submit attendance sheet of the Ms. Shweta Singh, (ii) Authority letter by which she was appointed as SRF by Director, DRL, Tezpur vide their letter dated 16.03.2015. Copy of the letter received to DRL, Tezpur dated 16.03.2015 from Accounts Officer, PCDA, Delhi is annexed as Annexure No. -9.
  4. Despite the above incidences, Dr. Vijay Veer again constituted Assessment Committee in November 2014 comprising of HK Gogoi, Scientist ‘F’, Dr. P. Chattopadhyay, Scientist ‘D’ , Dr. SN Dutta, Scientist ‘C’ and Shri S. Doley, TO ‘D’. This committee has a meeting on 24.11.2014 and recommended the 6 months extension to Ms. Shweta Singh, SRF for the fourth year. The minutes of the meeting was approved by Dr. Vijay Veer, Director, DRL, Tezpur on the same day 24.11.2014. Copy of the Minutes of Assessment Committee is annexed as Annexure No. -10.
  5. DRL, Tezpur has not submitted any reply to objections of PCDA till date and she did not get any payment since January 2014 to till date from DRL, Tezpur.
  6. Vijay Veer, Director, DRL, Tezpur is running this JRF-SRF business since his joining at DRL, Tezpur and normally per year 10-12 candidates being appointed by irregular means. Recently in the year 2014 and 2015 more than 25 vacancies were advertised. This year Interview going to held on 19 May 2015. Copy of the advertisement for the year 2014 and 2015 for recruitment of JRF, SRF and RA are annexed as Annexure No. -11 and Annexure No. -12.

Irregularities and Corruption by Dr. Vijay Veer in appointment of Shweta Singh, JRF

  1. Vijay Veer, Director, DRL, Tezpur unduly favored Ms. Shweta Singh and gave her an illegal extension in fellowship with intent to get pecuniary advantage to her by misusing his official position.
  2. Not only to her, Dr. Vijay Veer is giving high privileges to his father Shri V.P. Singh by allowing him to stay at DRL, Guest House since long time.
  3. This act of Dr. Vijay Veer amounts conspiracy against Government with ill motives to make a loss to public money and gave financial benefit to Ms. Shweta Singh by misusing his powers and official position by gross violation of DRDO Guidelines.
  4. Vijay Veer is attempted to make a payment of about Rs. 2,12,439/- in lump sum to Ms. Shweta Singh despite knowing her extension to fellowship was illegal.
  5. The said misconduct and misuse of power for giving pecuniary advantage to Ms. Shweta Singh, JRF by Dr. Vijay Veer, Director, DRL, Tezpur comes under section 13.(1)(d) of Prevention of Corruption Act 1988.

In light of above evidences it is  requested to you Sir,  issue appropriate direction to Secretary, DRD, South Block, New Delhi to:

  • Cancel the appointment order of Ms. Shweta Singh as JRF and SRF at DRL Tezpur and stop her payment till finalization of the complaint.
  • Not to award Ph.D. degree to Ms. Shweta Singh as her appointment as SRF is illegal and she was absent during her tenure as JRF in 2013.
  • Issue order to recover extra payment from Ms. Shweta Singh which DRL, Tezpur paid to her while she was on long absent from DRL, Tezpur for more than one year.
  • Setup an enquiry against Dr. Vijay Veer under CCS (CCA) Rules 1965 and Prevention of Corruption Act 1988 to give undue favour to Ms. Shweta Singh, SRF, DRL, Tezpur.
  • Cancel the recruitment process of JRF and SRF in DRL, Tezpur for the year 2015.

Regards

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

Enclosed – Annexure No. 1 to 12.

Copy of IPR of Dr. A.K. Singh, Director (Personnel), DRDO HQ
Copy of IPR of Dr. A.K. Singh, Director (Personnel), DRDO HQ
The Photograph of Vehicle No. AR 01E 0879 of Arunachal Pradesh Government parked at New DRL Guest House
The Photograph of Vehicle No. AR 01E 0879 of Arunachal Pradesh Government parked at New DRL Guest House

 

Copy of the letter dated 07.10.2013 from Dr. P Chattopadhyay, Head, Pharmaceutical Technology Division
Copy of the letter dated 07.10.2013 from Dr. P Chattopadhyay, Head, Pharmaceutical Technology Division
sweta case anx4
Copy of the letter No. 51/13/AE dated 28/10/2013 related to refund of excess payment to Ms Shweta Singh
Copy of the letter dated 08/05/2014 sent from Ms. Shweta Singh, SRF to Director, DRL regarding “Return of Excess Payment”
Copy of the letter dated 08/05/2014 sent from Ms. Shweta Singh, SRF to Director, DRL regarding “Return of Excess Payment”
Copy of the application under RTI Act 2005 dated 26 July 2014
Copy of the application under RTI Act 2005 dated 26 July 2014

Annexure-7

DO Part Order No – II No. 7 Dated 25/04/2014

(b) – MRS. SHWETA SINGH- JRF

Ref: – This Lab DO Part Order No – II No. 7 Dated 25/04/2012. Extension of tenure of the fellowship of the above named individual with effect from 3rd October 2013 for one year, as per recommendation of Assessment Committee held on 24th March, 2014 at DRL, Tezpur (Assam)

Copy of the bill sent to PCDA, New Delhi in respect of Ms. Shweta Singh, SRF vide DRL letter No. 30/PAS/JRF/SRF/2014-2015 dated 02.02.2015
Copy of the bill sent to PCDA, New Delhi in respect of Ms. Shweta Singh, SRF vide DRL letter No. 30/PAS/JRF/SRF/2014-2015 dated 02.02.2015
sweta case anx9
Copy of the letter received to DRL, Tezpur dated 16.03.2015 from Accounts Officer, PCDA, New Delhi
Copy of the Minutes of Assessment Committee held on 24.11.2014.
Copy of the Minutes of Assessment Committee held on 24.11.2014.
Copy of the advertisement for JRF for the year 2014
Copy of the advertisement for JRF for the year 2014
Copy of the advertisement for JRF for the year 2015
Copy of the advertisement for JRF for the year 2015

 

 

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50% of Rafale deal value will be invested in India: Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar

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By MEERA MOHANTY & Manu Pubby, ET Bureau | 11 May, 2015, 07.04AM IST

NEW DELHI: Terrorists, irrespective of wherever they may be operating from, should be neutralised using all types of methods, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar told ET in an exclusive interview. He elaborated that “neutralisation” doesn’t necessarily mean killing terrorists but making them “ineffective.”

Parrikar also criticised ex-BJP minister Arun Shourie, saying the latter “does not have the full brief on what is happening”. Shourie had recently said the Narendra Modi government was faltering on policymaking and delivery.

Responding to a question on how India should deal with terrorists in foreign territory, the defence minister said: “A terrorist has to be neutralised-…Certain issues cannot be discussed but I feel that for any enemy of the country, all types of methods should be used to neutralise them.”

“Neutralising does not mean just killing…it means any method that makes them non-functional – get him to jail or to make him ineffective in any manner,” Parrikar added.

In his wide-ranging interaction with ET covering several key policy areas, Parrikar also set out the exact figure on India’s manufacturing share of the Rafale fighter jet project – France will need to spend 50% of the contract value, almost four billion dollars, as investments in the Indian defence and aerospace sector. The minister said the Rafale jet project will “unleash Make-in- India”.

Parrikar also said that with India buying around 36 Rafale jets for now, government savings on this project is likely to be up Rs 60,000-65,000 crore. This money, Parrikar said, will be used to accelerate defence manufacturing in India, including speeding up the long-ingestation Light Combat Aircraft. The minister said LCA will be inducted in large numbers, up to 200 fighters or 10 squadrons.
Parrikar linked low levels infiltration from Pakistan and fewer incidents of cross-border firing this year to Indian forces’ strong retaliation to “misadventures”.

Acknowledging that defence forces face an issue on resources, the minister said all three wings, army, air force and navy, must prioritise spending. All three wings have been asked to make a list of must-have items, Parrikar said. He said Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) would have a new head by May 24.

DRDO will also have a separate Scientific Advisor, who will be attached to the ministry for independent advice. Parrikar said for important projects he will form consortiums of all stakeholders from the government system, it won’t be just DRDO taking all the critical decisions.​If the army has to operate in the Jammu & Kashmir, it needs AFSPA: Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar

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Uncertainty dogs a leaderless DRDO

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Ajai Shukla | New Delhi May 4, 2015 Last Updated at 00:38 IST – Business Standard 
A sense of drift is palpable within the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO), which has been without a leader for three months since the ouster of its widely respected chief, Avinash Chander, on January 31.

On that day, Defence Secretary R K Mathur was given additional charge of Chander’s post of Secretary, Defence R&D, for three months. That period expired on Thursday.

Mathur had held charge of only one of the three posts that Chander occupied – that of Secretary Defence R&D. The other two posts – Director General, DRDO, and Scientific Advisor to the Raksha Mantri – have lain vacant for three months.

The defence ministry is not alone in having key positions without incumbents. There has been no Chief Information Commissioner since August 22, and no Chief Vigilance Commissioner since September 28.

Without a chief, there are problems in coordinating between the DRDO’s seven technology clusters, each relating to a specific subject – e.g. aeronautics, missiles or naval systems. While cluster heads. called directors general, can function independently within their clusters, major development projects involve several clusters.

Among the programmes suffering from this lack of leadership is the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) project. While the DRDO’s Aeronautical Development Agency oversees the Tejas project, it has no authority over the four technology clusters that feed into the LCA project. That coordination was always facilitated by the DRDO chief, who personally oversaw the LCA programme.

Another problem, say senior DRDO scientists, is professional insecurity caused by Chander’s unceremonious removal. On November 28, the defence ministry had granted him an 18-month service extension to head the DRDO till May 31, 2016. Forty-five days later, that extension was withdrawn.

The insecurity is most obvious among junior scientists, most of whom looked to Chander as an icon of the DRDO’s successful missile programme. “With such an accomplished scientist removed so arbitrarily, what job security do we have?” wonders a young scientist bitterly. Nor is there any clarity about who might succeed Chander. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had said while removing Chander, he wanted someone good from the DRDO who has the urge for development. Parrikar also stated he wanted a younger scientist to head DRDO.buisness standard 4 may 2015With almost all the DRDO’s top scientists already on extension, or nearing the retirement age of 60, 11 of the DRDO’s 12 top scientists might soon retire.

Of these 12 “distinguished scientists”, the DRDO’s top rank, equivalent to a lieutenant general, six have already crossed 60 years and are serving on extensions. Another five are 59 years of age, knocking on the doors of retirement.

The only candidate who fits Parrikar’s twin conditions – being from the DRDO, and also young – is Satheesh Reddy, the highly regarded chief of Research Centre Imarat, a missile technology laboratory outside Hyderabad. Reddy is just 52 years old.

Even so, MoD sources do not rule out bringing in an outsider, possibly from the Atomic Energy Agency, to head the DRDO.

There is also speculation that the three hats the DRDO chief traditionally wore might be split into two or more posts. Opinion on this is divided. The Rama Rao Committee, which proposed reorganising the DRDO, recommended the three posts remain vested in a single person. The subsequent Naresh Chandra Committee recommended separation, though not trifurcation.

The departments of space and atomic energy, which are often held up as models the DRDO could emulate, centralise powers in a single chief. The chairman of the Space Commission also heads the Indian Space Research Organisation, while simultaneously advising the prime minister on space matters.

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RTI – Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) – MOD

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To                                                                                            24th November 2014
Sh A. M. Manichan,
Under Secretary (IC-IV), CPIO,
Ministry of Defence,
Department of Defence,
Sena Bhavan, New Delhi

Hello,

Kindly provide me with the following information requested under the purview of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005 in respect of government funds using by DRDO in the name of CSR. It is observed that senior DRDO official (Dr. S Guru Prasad, Director, R&D E, Pune  told to Sunday Standard on 23rd November 2014 about a silver Chariot made for a temple in Maharashtra under head of corporate social responsibility (CSR).

  1. Provide the copy of approval of Ministry of Defence for create head of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in DRDO.
  2. The year wise allotted budget since its (corporate social responsibility) approval.

Regards

Prabhu Dandriyal,
21-Sunderwala, Raipur, Dehradun -248008
0135- 2787750, 9411114879,
prabhudoon@gmail.com www.corruptionindrdo.com   

Enclosed  -The Copy of the Sunday Standard 23rd November 2014

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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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DRDO making a mockery of Flexible Complementing Scheme DOPT Guidelines

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Breaking News for real Scientists of DRDO – Today in the third list of assessment call for Scientist G to H Dr A K Singh’s name is included. You can figure out how well the rice is cooked by sampling one grain. Here that one grain is Dr A K Singh’s assessment call which shows what the DRDO management is cooking.ak sngh table

Eye opener Compression Chart Massage for young scientists of DRDO, if you want progress in your career please follow Dr A K Singh’s route. Scientific work has no meaning in DRDO. What else can you expect from the old and obligated organization head?

* One More New Input Received – Dr. Ravi Kashyap: Dr. Kashyap has taken a commercial  employment at   IAEA, Vienna since past many years. DOPT No. 2/41/97-PIC dated 15th November clearly states that the period spent on deputation/foreign  service to a non-scientific post and the period of leave including leave on medical grounds, EOL etc. availed on personal grounds shall not count towards the minimum residency period.