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”.
Acknowledgingthat 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
Indian Military Issues: Progress through Debate Wednesday, April 1, 2015 DRDO: an Organisation in Need of Life Support System(FORCE MARCH 2015)Major General Mrinal Suman
No organisation ever exists in a vacuum. It has to have a purpose, an objective and a mission. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is no exception. Its mission statement includes ‘design, develop and lead to production state-of-the-art sensors, weapon systems, platforms and allied equipment for our defence services’; ‘provide technological solutions to the services to optimise combat effectiveness and to promote well-being of the troops’; and ‘develop infrastructure and committed quality manpower and build strong indigenous technology base’.
It is apparent from the above that DRDO has been created solely for the armed forces. As it is funded through the defence budget, the relation between DRDO and the armed forces is akin to that of a service provider to the clients. Therefore, it is the satisfaction level of the armed forces that is a true measure of its performance. Although client satisfaction is an abstract concept and involves a multitude of factors, it is an effective tool to gauge how well the expectations of a client are being met – some of the vital factors being quality of product, timeliness of delivery and value for money (a function of quality and price).
The track record of DRDO is abysmal to say the least. It has never developed any equipment in the promised time-frame and conforming to the parameters. The history of three key projects undertaken by DRDO is a true indicator of the gross inefficiency that afflicts it. Work on the development of the main battle tank Arjun commenced four decades ago in 1974; the LCA project was undertaken in 1983; and the project for the design and development of aero-engines for combat aircraft was started in 1989. DRDO has fared miserably in all the projects. Time and cost overruns have exposed DRDO’s appalling failure.
The concept of client satisfaction becomes irrelevant when a client lacks bargaining power. The services are a captive client of DRDO. They are decreed to accept sub-optimal equipment. Ask any soldier and he will tell you that DRDO is the biggest fraud being perpetrated on the nation and is responsible for the current ‘hollow state’ of the Indian armed forces. DRDO is variously described as ‘a white elephant’, ‘a national liability’ and ‘an impediment to the modernisation of the armed forces’.
Resistance to Reforms
Perhaps the most striking attribute of DRDO is its ability to survive and thrive, continued non-performance notwithstanding. For decades, it is being damned for its gross incompetence and failure to deliver. Yet, it continues to expand its empire unabated. Formed in 1958 as a single unified agency to handle all defence research and development activities with 10 laboratories, it has grown exponentially to 52 laboratories in multiple disciplines. It employs over 5,000 scientists and about 25,000 other scientific, technical and supporting personnel.
To deflect mounting criticism for its failure to develop high tech systems, it has resorted to highlighting production of commonly available products with much hype and fanfare. It boasts of having developed 18.6 meters high self supporting masts and bullet-proof podiums. These items are so commonplace that they are being produced by numerous road-side workshops.
Whereas R&D means invention and innovation, DRDO operates at the pedestrian level of duplication and improvisation. It considers reverse engineering and indigenisation of imported equipment to be the real research work. No wonder it has earned the dubious sobriquet of ‘Defence Replication and Duplication Organisation’.
Worse, due to its failure to develop scientific disposition and nurture an environment of innovations, DRDO has diverted its attention to spreading its domain. A major part of its budget is expended on the creation of world-class auditoriums, convention centres, conference halls and hostels. In other words, DRDO remains overly occupied with non-scientific activities.
Despite all the flak, it continues to flourish. The budget presented on 10 July 14 hiked its allocation from the previous year’s Rs 10,610 crore to Rs 15,283 crore, thereby raising the share of DRDO from the earlier 5 percent to nearly 7 percent of the defence budget now. Most observers felt that such a hike was hardly justified. But then DRDO excels in the management of self-promotion stratagems. It converts every act of inquisition into an opportunity to promote its own interests.
It was in February 2001 that the Group of Ministers on National Security had, in their report submitted to the Prime Minister, had advised DRDO ‘to focus more on core technologies, in which expertise is neither available within the country nor can be procured from alternative sources’. Three reviews followed thereafter and have been recalled here.
a)Censure by the Parliamentary Committee of Defence
The Standing Committee of Defence in its 14th Report had reviewed the functioning of DRDO. It expressed its unhappiness at the non-achievement of indigenisation targets and faulted DRDO for its failure to achieve self-reliance objectives.
The committee noted that scores of DRDO projects were plagued by time and cost overruns. It felt that delays cause suspicion on the capability of DRDO in the eyes of the users, the common man and intelligentsia. It opined that prior to accepting a development project, DRDO should sharpen its foresight to ascertain whether it could develop the required system within a fixed time frame and with available financial/technical resources or not.
The committee expressed its strong disapproval of DRDO venturing into fields unrelated to crucial defence research work and wanted it to concentrate on fundamental R&D for producing systems for strategic requirement of the armed forces. It suggested shedding of research work in the field of life sciences (food, agriculture, medicine, psychology, physical and allied disciplines) to other agencies.
Concerned at the disappointing performance, the committee suggested ‘a thorough review of its functioning and its organisational/structural set up, in order to identify the strength and weaknesses and to improve and strengthen the organisation to increase its efficiency to enable it to achieve organisational goals’. More importantly, it recommended constitution of an independent body of experts/professionals for defence research and development, on the lines of Atomic Energy Commission and Indian Space Research Organization.
b)Kelkar Committee Report
The Kelkar Committee Report of 2005 also recommended that DRDO should fully focus on cutting edge technology researches. It faulted the then existing system of DRDO undertaking indigenous development in respect of all proposals categorised as ‘Make’. The Committee suggested an integrated approach involving users, Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the industry in the ‘Make’ procedure. It wanted DRDO to confine itself to projects requiring sophisticated technology of strategic, complex and security sensitive nature. It further recommended outsourcing of high technology research and development work to private sector on the lines of parallel development on cost-sharing basis.
Consequent to the acceptance of the Kelkar Committee recommendations, ‘Make’ cases were further sub-categorised in Defence Procurement Procedure – 2006, as follows:-
‘Strategic, Complex and Security Sensitive Systems’. These projects are to be managed through Defence R&D Board, following DRDO procedure and utilising DRDO funds for execution.
‘Low Technology Mature Systems’. These projects are to be treated as ‘Buy Indian’, albeit with minimum 50 per cent indigenous content.
‘High Technology Complex Systems’. In a generic sense, projects under this category should be identified as ‘Make’ cases. These are to be undertaken by the Indian industry. All upgrade programmes categorised as ‘Make’ will also follow this procedure.
As is apparent, the role of DRDO was considerably curtailed and restricted to the development of ‘strategic, complex and security sensitive’ systems only. Development of lesser systems was taken out of the purview of DRDO. With reduced mandate, a reduction in the bloated organisation of DRDO was expected.
c)Rama Rao Committee Report
Consequent to the dissatisfaction expressed by the Parliamentary Committee and the acceptance of the Kelkar Committee Report, MoD set up a committee under the chairmanship of Dr P Rama Rao in February 2007 ‘to review the present organisational structure and to recommend necessary changes in the institutional, managerial, administrative and financial structures for improving the functioning of DRDO’. It was to be the first ever external review of DRDO.
The committee recommended the following measures:-
Establishment of a Defence Technology Commission with the Defence Minister as its Chairman.
Decentralisation of DRDO management.
Making DRDO a leaner organisation by merging some of the DRDO laboratories with other public funded institutions with similar discipline, interest and administrative system.
Engagement of an eminent Human Resource (HR) expert as consultant to revamp the entire HR structure of DRDO.
Establishment of a commercial arm of DRDO.
In June 2009, a committee under the chairmanship of the Defence Secretary was tasked to study the committee report and the comments received from various stake holders; and evolve a set of acceptable recommendations. On the acceptance of the recommendations of the Defence Secretary by the government, restructuring of DRDO was announced by MoD in mid-May 2010.
The Art of Converting Adversity into Opportunity
As seen above, DRDO has been getting flak for neglecting its primary task of producing state-of-the-art equipment for the armed forces and squandering scarce defence budget on totally unrelated activities like producing ‘Namkeen Herbal Tea’, juices/creams and breeding angora rabbits. Appearing before the Parliamentary Committee of Defence, the then Defence Minister had conceded that ‘DRDO should mainly concentrate on high-end research, particularly in critical and strategic areas’. It showed that the government had agreed with the views of all the review committees that DRDO should not waste its efforts on non-defence fields.
One cannot help marvel at the dexterity with which DRDO has managed the complete gamut of much-hyped reforms. There is nothing in the approved restructuring plan to suggest that any thought has been given to improve R&D performance of the organisation. All critical recommendations made by the above mentioned committees have been ignored. On the contrary, DRDO has managed to have its way by making selective use of the recommendations to convert an adversity into a blessing to further its own organisational interests.
The approved restructuring plan makes interesting reading. In addition to setting up the new Defence Technology Commission, decentralisation of DRDO management is to be achieved through the formation of seven centres based on functionalities and technology domain of laboratories. Each centre is to be headed by a Director General. The present Director General of DRDO is to be re-designated as Chairman, DRDO.
Leaving aside token shedding of three laboratories, not a single measure suggests any radical reform. Net result of the above restructuring is nil. On the contrary, seven new posts of Director Generals at centres have been created, making the organisation more top-heavy and bureaucratic. Every centre will now have a Centre Headquarters with subordinate staff and secretarial support. Director of a laboratory will not be able to approach DRDO Headquarters directly as another link in the form of centre has been interposed. Decision- making will get further delayed.
Mastery of Survival Technique
It is indeed surprising that an organisation that consumes considerable national resources, delves in mediocre research work, fails to upgrade defence technological base in the country and impedes modernisation of the armed forces can survive for the last six decades. More shocking is the fact that the government is fully aware of the failure of DRDO to deliver but is unable to muster enough courage to force reforms. DRDO adroitly uses the catchphrase of self-reliance for the furtherance of its own agenda.
The secret of DRDO’s continued survival and expansion lies in the patronage that it cultivates. It keeps key functionaries happy through extensive networking. Many consider DRDO to be the ‘bankers to MoD’. Due to the flexibility of its procedure, DRDO is in a position to oblige other wings of MoD by providing facilities from its sources. DRDO is often asked to bear expenditure for many events under the façade of becoming co-sponsors. To silence criticism from the armed forces, it has started dangling the carrot of post-retirement employment as adviser/consultant to senior service officers, especially the Vice Chiefs.
Another aspect that needs mention is the prevailing ‘Old Boys Club’ culture. No one ever retires in DRDO. Persons who contributed little during their active service life are allowed to subsist on the defence budget for years after retirement as well. Extensions and re-employments are routine. Although it prevents infusion, retention and blossoming of young talent, DRDO hierarchy remains totally unconcerned.
One marvels at the deftness with which DRDO has withstood all the criticism heaped on it by various committees. Instead of succumbing to their pressure, it has cleverly exploited their reports to consolidate its powers further and create additional vacancies at senior levels.
Conclusion
DRDO has earned the dubious distinction of being India’s most inefficient, sloth and wasteful organisation. There is hardly any other organisation in the country that has failed the nation so very appallingly. Many consider DRDO to be beyond redemption and suggest it’s winding up. But that will be an imprudent step. Neither the massive infrastructure built over the years nor the technical pool gathered should be wasted.
The new government has already displayed its resolve to improve matters. It has removed DRDO head. Now is the time to crack the whip to force comprehensive reforms. As mandated in the new procurement procedure, DRDO should be forced to concentrate exclusively on strategic, complex and security sensitive systems, especially those which are likely to be circumscribed by denial regimes. DRDO must never forget that it exists exclusively for the development of defence technologies.
It should be made a leaner and focused body. All laboratories engaged in unrelated activities must be shed. Manpower policies must be corrected to acquire a younger profile. No one should be granted extensions. Young talent must be retained through better career prospects and freedom of professional pursuits. As desired by the Prime Minister, some laboratories must be headed by bright young scientists.
Additionally, DRDO must be subjected to performance audit regularly. It should be held responsible for the claims that it makes. Certain failures and delays are inherent in all R&D works and must be accepted as justified risks. However, DRDO must not be able to get away with tall claims which it knows are totally outside the realm of possibility. Finally, a strong accountability system is indispensable. It not only raises the bar of efficiency but also breeds a culture of responsibility.*****
Major General Mrinal Suman
A highly qualified and experienced officer, General Suman commanded an Engineer Regiment in the Siachen Glacier area and was awarded the gold medal for being ‘the most outstanding engineer of the year’. He was the Task Force Commander at Pokharan and was responsible for designing and sinking shafts for the nuclear tests, for which he was duly honoured by the President of India. He superannuated in 2003. He heads Defence Technical Assessment and Advisory Service of CII and has also been directing their much acclaimed Defence Acquisition Management Courses, both in India and abroad. Being the first Technical Manager [Land Systems], he was closely associated with the evolution of the new defence procurement mechanism. Today, he is considered to be India’s foremost expert on myriad aspects of India’s defence procurement regime and offsets. He is a prolific writer and his articles are regularly published in a large number of journals. He is regularly invited to address various chambers, industrial delegations and seminars in India and abroad. He is often consulted by the policy makers. His views are also sought by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence.
By Hemant Kumar Rout | ENS Published: 10th November 2014 -The Indian Express
BALASORE: Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on Monday greeted new Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar with the successful test firing of new generation state-of-the-art long range surface-to-air missile (LRSAM) Barak-8.
A model of Barak-8 missile | EPS
Defence sources said the missile, developed jointly by the DRDO and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), was test launched from the weapon test range in the Negev desert of Israel at about 10.20 am as per Indian time.
A DRDO release stated that the missile successfully intercepted a manoeuvring air-breathing target mimicking an attacking combat aircraft. The test also validated all the elements related to the naval and land-based variants of the missile including the phased array radar, battle management system, communications and the interceptor.
“After detecting the incoming aerial target through the system’s radar, the weapon system calculated the optimal interception point, launched the missile into its operational trajectory that acquired the target and successfully intercepted it. All the weapon system’s components met mission parameters successfully”, the release stated.
Barak-8 is an Indo-Israeli surface-to-air missile (SAM), designed to defend against aircraft, anti-ship missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). In January 2007, India and Israel had signed a US$330 million deal to co-develop an all new generation of the Barak SAM, which has been named as Barak-8.
The missile has a length of about 4.5 meters, a diameter of 0.54 meters, wingspan of 0.94 meters and weighs around 275 kg including a 60 kg warhead which detonates at proximity. The missile has maximum speed of Mach 2 with an operational range of 75 km to 100 km. It possesses high degrees of maneuverability at target interception range.
A second motor is fired during the terminal phase, at which stage the active radar seeker is activated to home in on to the enemy track. Barak-8 has been designed to counter a wide variety of air-borne threats, such as anti-ship missiles, aircraft, UAVs and drones as well as supersonic cruise missiles, the sources added.
The test was carried out in the presence of DRDO scientists and officials of the Indian Armed Forces. The system is developed for both Israel defence forces and Indian armed forces. Scientific Advisor to Defence Minister and DRDO Chief Avinash Chander and President of IAI Joseph Weiss witnessed the test along with top officials of Israel defence forces.
According to IAI, Barak-8 employs a state-of-the-art phased array multi-mission radar, two-way data link and flexible command and control system. Congratulating scientists, Chander termed the event as a milestone in cooperation between the two countries in developing advanced weapon systems.
9 Comments
devasis • 24 days ago Parrikar the nation wants some action from you. Let us make our arms ourselves. The 80,000 crores we spend on importing arms could have been spent on health and education.
Davanand Atomic Singh • a month ago All this weaponry and yet still an army jawan and a civilian is dead. Are we using the weaponry for the right reasons? Here the minister is greeted with the launch whilst there are families crying for their loved ones. Can we correct ourselves and use the equipment for the right reasons and not shelve them for no purpose. These weapons have to be exploited or the enemy will just take control of our country, through intelligence or actions.
ron ban • a month ago Interesting thing is that India has co developed with Russia a ship killing missile named Brahmos …………… and with Israel has co developed a missile named Barak 8 to protect ships from Brahmos type missiles.
Mohit • a month ago
Do some more test and install this system in our new frigates and aircraft carrier “Vikramaditya”. They have been deployed without missile defense system.
NSR • a month ago Since India paid for the development of LRSAM and MRSAM, does it get the Intellectual Property completely, or share with Israel, or no IP at all?
How did Israel allowed to sell Barak-8 to other foreign countries? Does India also has right to sell it too if it wishes…
Mohit NSR • 25 days ago
India have contributed by developing rocket motor and actuation system for Barak-8 missile. IAI have worked on target seeker and radar. DRDO should have acquired technology from Israeli. This missile can be sold to other nation only when allowed by both India and Israel.
It is good that other nation are getting interested in acquiring this system as it will help in making money out of this and developing more advanced weaponry. 2) In the long term , India can sell off other missile system to these country as they have more confidence on Indian built systems 3) selling to friendly nation can help us in long term.
nicky NSR • a month ago
its a co-developed system so both have equal right over lrsam . yes India can export it any country but both India and Israel must agree first .if for example India wants to sell lrsam to Brazil but Israel not interested then the deal cannot go through .
NSR nicky • 25 days ago
I read somewhere that Israel is not going to transfer full technology of seeker and radar to us even though they used our money to develop it…I heard that they just supplied blueprints and India had trouble producing seeker from the supplied data…
After successful flight, even IAI president acknowledged that without India’s money it would have remained a design project only…
So I hope they do really transfer all technology and do more joint R&D, design, and manufacturing projects…
President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi today called for making optimum use of modern technology in tackling corruption.
In his message on the beginning of ‘Vigilance week‘ starting today, the President said “use of modern technologies can play an important role in eliminating human interface in service delivery systems.”
Emphasising that it is a collective responsibility of citizenas well government officials to fight corruption, Mukherjee said corruption is a complex problem that needed multi-faceted action.
“One of them is the use of technology that can help promote openness and transparency,” he said and asked people to adopt technology initiatives in combating corruption to maximise benefits.
The Prime Minister stressed on the integrity of public servants. “It is needless to point out that integrity of public servants and transparency in public offices is utmost necessary in making transparent and efficient administration free of corruption,” Modi said.
“I appreciate the CVC’s outreach initiatives and endeavours to combat corruption with optimum use of technology,” he said.
Vice President Hamid Ansari said in his message that eradication of corruption from society is not only a legal obligation but also a moral duty of every Indian.
The vigilance awareness Week will be observed till November 1. The theme of the week is “Combating Corruption – Technology as an enabler“.
Sri Avinash Chander, Distinguished Scientist and Chief Controller Research & Development (Missiles & Strategic Systems) as Secretary, Department of Defence Research & Development–cum-Director General, Defence Research& Development Organisation and Scientific Adviser to Raksha Mantri vide letter No. 12/9/2013-EO(SM-I) dated 31st May 2013,Secretariat of Appointment Committee of Cabinet, DOPT, Ministry of Personal, Public Grievances and Pensions, New Delhi. [copy of order dated 31 May 2013 enclosed]
According to the said letter dated 31 May 2013 , The appointment of Shri Avinash Chander beyond his date of retirement i.e.30.1 1.2014 would be on contract basis with the same terms and conditions as he would be entitled to Secretary (DRD) before the date of retirement.
The Chief of DRDO is holding three post simultaneously DGR&D,DRDO, SA to RM and Secretary, DRD and having control over 30000 employees, 52 establishments and Rs. 15283 crore of public money.
The said appointment order of Sri Avinash Chander was illegal on the grounds-
(i) Shri Avinash Chander is not having International Stature that is basic requirement for extension in service from age of 62-64 years; hence the extension in service beyond the age of 62 years to Sri Avinash Chander was illegal.
(ii) appointment from Distinguished Scientist to Secretary is promotion cum appointment (promotions in extension in service is illegal as FR 56(d)
(iii) Shri V. Narayanasamy, Minister of State in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions and Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office replied to Parliament in the year 2012 that “there is no policy formulation for appointing the Secretaries in Union Ministries and Departments on contract”.
(iv) According to News published on 28 May 2012 in Hindustan Times stating “Contractual appointment post-retirement not in rules” based on reply given by DOPT, Ministry of Personnel in 15th Lok Sabha.
(v) Orders for regular appointment and contractual appointment could not be clubbed in one order as both are totally distinct action as per recruitment rules.
(vi) An official appointed on contract after retirement cannot function as Head of Office for all administrative & financial matters in the department. It is apparent from his appointment letter that he will exercise all administrative and financial powers on contractual appointment as he was having in his regular appointment before retirement.
In this matter several applications under RTI Act 2005 was filed to DOPT, Cabinet Sectt. , DRDO and MOD. In some applications vital information was provided by Government.
Recently on 06 August 2014, one DRDO scientist filed complaint to Hon’ble Prime Minister who is also the Chairman of ACC. The said complaint is under consideration to Cabinet Secretariat, Government of India.
India Today in its issue of 13 Oct 2014(English Edition) and 15 October 2014(Hindi Edition) published detailed News about post retirement appointment and extensions business in DRDO.
Besides several complaints against Sri Avinash Chander was filed by corruptionindrdo.com to Hon’ble Prime Minister regarding following matters.
DEEMED SUSPENSION OF DR. G. MALKONDIAH, DS AND CCR&D (HR), DRDO AS under the provisions of Rule 10(2)(b) of CCS(CCA) Rules 1965, dated 06 Oct 2014.
Shri Avinash Chander SA to RM , DG DRDO, Secretary (DRD) patronizing organized corruption in procurement by Dr. A. K. Saxena, Director, DMSRDE, DRDO, Kanpur, Dated 13 September 2014
CORRUPTION IN DMSRDE (DRDO), KANPUR BY DR. ARVIND KUMAR SAXENA, DIRECTOR, dated 11 September 2014
Non-Implementation of DOPT, Govt. of India, Office Memorandums regarding submission of IPR and put the same in Public Domain in Defence Research & Development Organisation, Min. of Defence, dated 28 July 2014
The Appointment Committee of the Cabinet appointed Sh. Avinash Chander on contract basis, dated 27 May 2014
Conspiracy and propaganda for reverse technology transfer to USA by forged TOT of EDK by DRDO under guidance of Shri Avinash Chander, DGR&D, DRDO and SA to RM, Secretary, DRD.
corruptionindrdo.com arranged a survey to know the view of DRDO officials , Whether DRDO officials want that Sri Avinash Chander continues as SA on contract basis after 30th November 2014?
All Scientists, officers and officials of DRDO are requested to participate in the survey so that DRDO officials view and emotions could be put before the Government.
Above all the contractual appoint ofSri Avinash Chander a massage to whole world, that 125 crores of Indian doesn’t have a single capable scientist who can lead the DRDO, a big question to Modi ji government.
Lt Gen Harwant Singh (retd), Hindustan Times Chandigarh, August 29, 2014
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called upon Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to speed up projects and advance delivery schedules. He has said that India can be world leader in defence technology and show the way forward to the world.
These are very high expectations and there is nothing in the DRDO’s past performance to generate such great hopes. In fact, the record of this organisation is extremely dismal.
There is no accountability and it has never been put through a science audit, in spite of repeated demands.
On the urging of the parliamentary committee on defence, a revamp of DRDO was carried out. Nothing much happened, except for some cosmetic changes, which are of little consequence.
We continue to import even low-technology equipment where over 70% of weapons and equipment is imported. Think of the outflow of foreign exchange and the jobs lost.
While the Prime Minister is unaware of the DRDO capabilities and potential, but surely, Arun Jaitley, the part-time defence minister, who has been in Parliament for a long time and is expected to have paid attention to debates on defence matters, ought to know better and, therefore, should have briefed the Prime Minister to lower his expectations from this organisation. In the past, these false hopes of delivery by DRDO have kept in limbo the deployment of private industry in this field.
DRDO budget
The DRDO budget has been 5% to 7% of the defence budget with allocations for major projects such as LCA, Arjun tank, etc being over and above this budgeted figure. Much of this amount has gone into civil works. If any proof of this lavish expenditure is required, one need go no further than have a look at the DRDO office complex at the rear of South Block and then of course see Sena Bhavan as well.
Those in the ministry of defence (MoD), who exercise control over DRDO, are blissfully ignorant of what defence equipment is all about. In weapons, they can’t tell a gun from a howitzer, and in engines, a cam shaft from a crank shaft. Projects can hang fire for decades while those responsible for these continue to move up the promotion ladder and so do those of the MoD who control them.
There is little understanding and mutual confidence between the DRDO and the defence services. The Prime Minister is aware of the disconnect, and that is why he impressed upon the DRDO to involve user in the development of military weapons and equipment.
The DRDO never spells out its technological status in relation to the equipment to be developed. With the result, GSQRs are prepared without proper interaction with the DRDO, but keeping in mind what is already in the market.
The DRDO never seeks the scaling down of the GSQRs to a level at which it can handle projects, in the full knowledge and belief that the project can be dragged on endlessly and that no one will be called upon to account. Once a project is taken on, complete secrecy prevails and service officers posted with these establishments are kept out of the loop.
Little achievement
The DRDO in stand-alone mode has achieved little and will not be able to meet the future needs of the armed forces. It has shown little skill and capability in the field of even reverse engineering of comparatively simple equipment. This is legacy of the Nehruvian policies of entrusting all this to the public sector (DRDO in this case). Since then vested interests have opposed any change in this moribund policy.
When the USSR broke up, some governments of east European countries offered to shift state-of-the-art defence industries to other countries. India spurned these offers, while China took two thousand scientists and some of the defence industrial units. In India, there is a politico-bureaucratic nexus which has successfully thwarted such moves, for obvious reasons. There is so much money to be made in imports, the Augusta helicopter being the more recent example.
However, the government did go in for military technology cooperation with the Russian government and later with some others for joint development of cutting-edge defence technologies. So far, this has been a one-sided affair, ending, essentially in transfer of technology and the attendant cost.
Measures to be taken
If the new government is to make a positive impact on the future indigenous development of defence technologies, production of such equipment within the country and its export, it need shed the hope of achieving this with only the DRDO efforts. It needs to consider some of these measures:
Close down those establishments of DRDO which are busy re-inventing the wheel, and those whose tasks can best be done in the private sector. Get it out of the control of the MoD. Equally do away with most of the defence ordnance factories. Pass on production of such equipment to the private sector.
It is DRDO component grouped with the navy that has performed well. This has essentially been due to direct control that the navy has exercised over this component. Of the three establishments, one is always commanded by a naval officer and the other two have a number of naval officers on their establishment. Thus a series of projects have been successfully completed: some on their own and some others as part of collaboration with certain foreign companies. Nuclear submarine is one such example.
Restructure the MoD as an integrated organisation, consisting of bureaucrats, defence services staff, scientists and financial experts. It would ensure better coordination, cutting out duplication and triplication of work, improved efficiency and speedy decision-making. Integrated defence planning and defence technology development have become an inescapable necessity. Such a step will be opposed, tooth and nail, by the bureaucracy but it is the political executive which must take the final call.
Implement the Arun Singh Committee report, as accepted by the cabinet, and adopt the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) system. The DRDO needs to be placed under the CDS, which will result in mutual confidence and better interaction with the services and bring in efficiency and good performance.
Pending adoption of the CDS system, DRDO’s various establishments need to be grouped with the army and IAF on same lines as for the navy.
If we are serious in attracting high-tech equipment manufacturing companies to collaborate with Indian companies, then the FDI limit will have to be increased to 51%. The FDI limit of 49% announced by the finance minister was perhaps on the advice of the babus and urgings by others with vested interests. The Prime Minister during his forthcoming visit to the US must throw open invitation to American defence industry to establish manufacturing facilities in India, in collaboration with Indian companies.
Unless the above listed steps are urgently taken, and the status quo broken, the Prime Minister’s expectations of India developing high-end defence equipment and becoming self-sufficient in this field and being an exporter of such equipment will remain a distant dream.
(The writer, a former deputy chief of army staff, is commentator on security and defence matters. The views expressed are personal)
Indiatoday.in IndiaToday.in New Delhi, August 7, 2014
Around 10 months ago, India had showcased its newly developed Pragati tactical surface-to-surface missile at the International Aerospace and Defence Exhibition ADEX-2013 in South Korea.
But in a major security lapse, the missile didn’t make its journey back home and lay unguarded, vulnerable and dangerously exposed for an entire month at a South Korean port. The missile, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), has a range of 60-170 km.
India Today has learnt that the Modi government has sounded the code red and decided to investigate the entire matter. The government wants to revisit a never before security scare for India’s missile programme.
Pragati is a highly potent and accurate short-range, battlefield tactical missile system capable of neutralising identified ground targets and providing an effective counter-force weapon system.
It has all weather day and night operational launch capability. It is a counter to Pakistan’s NASR tactical nuclear missile and crucial in maintaining India’s strategic edge over an unpredictable neighbour.
There is a series of violations in the journey of Pragati missile to South Korea.
The first violation is that the Pragati missile sent to South Korea for the exhibition wasn’t a dummy missile but an actual prototype that was to be used for a live firing.
Second, the logistical handling of the missile in South Korea was outsourced to a local agent of Chinese-origin.
Third, the prototype missile missed its ship back to India, stranding it unguarded and vulnerable at the Incheon port for an entire month. Finally, it lumbered back to India as unprotected commercial cargo without the safeguards it needed as sensitive military hardware.
The Pragati missile has quick reaction from command to launch in ripple firing mode of less than five seconds from same launcher. It is capable of carrying various types of conventional warhead of approximately 200 Kg.
The missile system has capability of deployment in stand-alone mode or centralised mode. With its effective and intelligent end trajectory maneuvreing, Pragati defeats detection by any weapon locating radar.
To, 5th August 2014
Dr. RB Sharma, CPIO
DRDO HQ, Min. of Defence
DRDO Bhawan, Rajaji Marg
New Delhi-110011
Hello,
Kindly provide me with the following information requested under the purview of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005 in respect of Explosive Detection Kit (EDK) of DRDO. DRDO filed a patent application No 524/DEL/1996 dated 12-Mar-1996 for “A PROCESS FOR EXPLOSIVE DETECTION AND IDENTIFICATION”. The patent granted vide patent no 238663 dated 16 Feb 2010. As per GOI website of Intellectual Property of India the name of Patentee -THE CHIEF CONTROLLER RESEARCH, Applicant Address- B-341, SENA BHAWAN DHQ P.O. NEW DELHI 110011, INDIA Copy enclosed
Inventors:
1 RABINDRA KUMAR SINHA
2 USHADEVI RAMACHANDRAN NAIR
3 HIRA LAL YADAV
4 JAMAN SINGH GHARIA
As per HEMRL letter No HEMRL/TS/3341 dated 8th March 2010 mentioned that Ms Reny M Roy, Scientist C is the innovator of EDK. Copy enclosed.
CNN-IBN & Infosys present – Innovating for a Better Tomorrow also present Dr Reny M Roy, DRDO scientist-For developing the Explosive Detection Kit (EDK) that uses chemicals to trigger reactions and detect explosives
Provide the document on which HEMRL letter No HEMRL/TS/3341 dated 8th March 2010 mentioned that Ms Reny M Roy, Scientist C is the innovator of EDK.
Provide the document of approval for participation in CNN-IBN program Innovating for a Better Tomorrow to Dr Reny M Roy, DRDO scientist
Note : Matter is directly related to corruption and not exempted under Section 24 (1), as enclosed letter of HEMRL and information available in website of Intellectual Property of India are contradictory, it is the clear cut case of abuse of power by DRDO officials.
A PROCESS FOR EXPLOSIVE DETECTION AND IDENTIFICATION (EDK)Statement of Case for US Visit of Ms Reny M Roy, Scientist C is the innovator of EDK
CNN-IBN & Infosys present ‘Innovating for a Better Tomorrow’
Posted on : 13 Feb 2014 12:50 pm
MUMBAI: As the world around us evolves rapidly, several innovations are born to help us keep pace. CNN-IBN, in partnership with Infosys, is all set to bring to the fore exemplary innovations that have not only transformed the lives of MILLIONS of Indians but have also left indelible impressions globally. The exclusive nine-episode series ‘Innovating for a Better Tomorrow’ will showcase innovations with significant business and social impact.
The series will begin on February 15, 2014 with an hour-long discussion between CNN-IBN Deputy Editor Sagarika Ghose and Infosys Co-Founder and Executive Chairman N R Narayana Murthy. The episode will touch upon various topics revolving around innovation. It will discuss the opportunities, growth prospects and challenges for innovators, while also outlining the role of corporates in encouraging innovation.
The 14 compelling innovations to be featured on the show are:-
Business Innovations
Dr Reny M Roy, DRDO scientist: For developing the Explosive Detection Kit (EDK) that uses chemicals to trigger reactions and detect explosives.
US to manufacture, market DRDO’s Explosive Detection Kit PTI Aug 3, 2013, 03.21PM IST
WASHINGTON: In a first of its kind of reverse technology sharing between India and the US, an innovative Explosive Detection Kit developed by Indian scientists would be manufactured in America and sold globally for quick detection and identification of combinations of explosives. ………………………………………………… Reny M Roy, the Indian scientist who developed this technology, said that the EDK kits have been successfully used in preventing several terrorists’ attacks and even immediately detecting the type of explosive used in the event of a bomb blast.
“I got the idea for making an EDK kit in pellets form when I saw my daughter working with her colour palette,” says Roy.
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?id=176599852443443&story_fbid=362256593877767
Change india
August 4, 2013 · Chennai · When Reny Roy was assigned a project 15 years ago, she had no idea it would one day get a Washington DC debut as India’s first defense technology transfer to the United States. The project headed by Roy, a scientist at DRDO’s explosives lab in Pune, led to the creation of Explosive Detection Kit (EDK), which makes it easy to detect all kinds of explosive, especially those used by terrorists.
The kit was launched in Washington on Friday for production and sale in the US and other countries in the region, by Crowe and Company, a South Carolina firm.
It is currently undergoing tests by US military and other security agencies but may soon be headed for use by coalition forces in Afghanistan through a non-profit.
AND THE PATENT IS OF COURSE OF INDIA……
When DRDO’s party in the US almost went for a toss
August 09, 2013 11:30 IST
—————-
—————–DRDO Director General Dr Avinash Chander, Dr S Radhakrishnan, Director, Services Interaction and Technology Acquisition, DRDO, Dr S Sunderesh, Chief Controller, R & D, DRDO, Dr Reny M Roy, Scientist at DRDO who lead the team that develop the EDK, and others, immediately from the airport after dumping their baggage at THE HOTEL, had to rush to the US Chamber of Commerce building where hundreds of administration officials, defence industry representatives and fellow scientists had assembled for the official launch
“In a first of its kind of reverse technology sharing between India and the US, an innovative Explosive Detection Kit developed by Indian scientists would be manufactured in America and sold globally for quick detection and identification of combinations of explosives.
———-
———- This was probably for the first time that technology developed by Indian Defence Research & Development Organisation(DRDO) was being manufactured and marketed in the US, officials and industry partners said.
US grabs wallet-sized bomb detector created by Indian scientist
Yashwant Raj, Hindustan Times Washington, August 03, 2013
When Reny Roy was assigned a project 15 years ago, she had no idea it would one day get a Washington DC debut as India’s first defense technology transfer to the United States.
The project headed by Roy, a scientist at DRDO’s explosives lab in Pune, led to the creation of Explosive Detection Kit (EDK), which makes it easy to detect all kinds of explosive, especially those used by terrorists.
——
——- “It feels great,” said Roy after the launch with her boss SN Asthana, a man of few words, standing by her side.
Roy got the project “around 1997” with a brief to develop something to stop terrorists. But it was not a priority, not like DRDO’s more glamorous Agni, Arjun and the LCA projects.
15 Years ago this project was assigned to Reny Roy, at that time she was not aware of that one day Washington DC introduction as India’s first defense technology move to the United States.
The project head Roy, a scientist at DRDO’s explosives lab in Pune, lead to the formation of Explosive Detection Kit (EDK), which makes it simple to sense all kinds of explosive, particularly those used by terrorists all over world.
To 3 June 2014Sh 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 to reports published in various leading paper like The Hindu Buisnessline on 30 July 2013, BrahMos, the world’s first supersonic cruise missile developed by the Indo-Russian joint venture BrahMos Aerospace, has bagged orders worth Rs 25,000 crore from the Indian defence forces.
Please provide whether MOD, Govt of India placed such Rs 25000 crores order to Indo-Russian joint venture BrahMos Aerospace duly approved by Government of India. Yes or No.
If yes then provide the date of such approval and names of committee members who have approved the above mentioned order.
Provide the delivery period of above order of BrahMos Aerospace.
Provide the information regarding this ordered product whether it will be manufactured fully or partially in India.
Provide the information of till date whether BrahMos Aerospace manufactured any mentionable (not hook type things) parts of supersonic cruise missile in India.
Amount of export orders received by BrahMos Aerospace till date.
Regards
Prabhu Dayal Dandriyal21-Sunderwala, Raipur, Dehradun-248008Phone – 0135- 2787750, Mobile- 9411114879,e-mail id prabhudoon@gmail.com website – www.corruptionindrdo.comRegistration Number MODEF/R/2014/61026
At a time when Indian politicians make news for corruption and misuse of power comes a book on Lal Bahadur Shastri, the country’s second prime minister who was so upright that he deposited money in government coffers because his sons had used his official car.
The incident has been captured in the book “Lal Bahadur Shastri: Past Forward” (Konark) by his son Sunil Shastri, a Congress politician and a former minister in Uttar Pradesh.
Sunil Shastri says he used to imagine having a big luxury car commensurate with the status of his ‘babuji'(father) and Lal Bahadur Shastri did get a Chevrolet Impala for official use.
“One day I told babuji’s personal secretary to ask the driver to bring the Chevrolet to the residence. We asked the driver for the keys and went for a drive,” he says in the book.
Lal Bahadur Shastri later confronted the driver, saying, “Do you keep a logbook with you?” “When he nodded, babuji asked him to note the distance the car had run the previous day. When the driver said 14 km, he advised him to note it ‘for private use’ and then asked amma to give his personal secretary the amount applicable to be deposited in the government account.”
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DR A K Saxena, Director, DMSRDE is king of corruption as e-mails from M/s Mangalam to him exposed his relation with suppliers and as well as his modus operandi in procurement cases.
Our country proud of having such great Prime Minister and other way very unfortunate having such corrupt DRDO scientist who is heading such important Defence Establishment.
Please see glimpse of DR A K Saxena’s misadventure 0n 23rd March 2014 at Pasikhera, Kanpur – Dear Sh S K Jindal, Director, DESIDOC put these pictures in coming DRDO, News letter edition
Appeal to clean DRDO of corrupt and anti-national officials
