Tag Archives: Prime Minister

Drdo

OneIndia Exclusive: DRDO to abandon indigenous fighter jet engine Kaveri project

2 Comments

Written by: Dr Anantha Krishnan M,Wednesday, November 19, 2014,

Bengaluru, Nov 18: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has decided to wind up the Kaveri engine (GTX-35VS ) programme, signaling an end to a desi dream of equipping its own fighter jet with a home-grown power plant. Sources in the Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed to OneIndia on Tuesday that the DRDO has already moved a file recently seeking the closure of the ambitious engine development project undertaken by Bengaluru-based Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE).kaveri engin
The proposal now needs to get the approval of the Ministry of Finance (MoF) and finally the clearance from the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) – a process expected to take at least a year. The Kaveri project, which began in the mid-80s, was aimed at powering the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas. GTRE has spent so far Rs 2,106 crore on the project so far and could only fly the engine for 73 hours on the IL-76 Flying Test Bed (FTB) in Russia. The delay in the project saw DRDO choosing the GE 404 engine for Tejas Mk-1 and GE 414 for Tejas Mk-II. GTRE gets additional funds Sources said that the DRDO has sanctioned Rs 300 crore for GTRE to take up future projects. “The lab is gearing up to take up some futuristic projects and the sanctions have been already given. Another additional sanction of Rs 700 crore is on its way to help realize these gen-next technologies,” an official said.kaveri engin 1

Sources confirm that a separate proposal of Rs 2,600 crore to develop engines for an ‘ambitious project’ is under consideration now. The lab has been given another Rs 70 crore for a strategic programme. Part of DRDO’s bold decision, confirms DG Refusing to divulge the finer details, Dr K Tamilmani, Director-General (Aero), DRDO, confirmed to OneIndia that the Kaveri project will be scrapped. “Yes. These are part of the bold stand being taken by DRDO. Whereever we have found bottlenecks for long time, with no realistic solutions, it’s better to move on. It is an honest stand we are taking,” Tamilmani said. When asked whether the decision was a fall out of the recent remarks made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi asking DRDO to come out of the delay trap, the senior official refused to make a direct comment. “If you are fit to run only for 50 km, why attempt 100 km? DRDO has realized its mistakes of the past and we have no hesitation in taking some bold steps,” he said. Sources said that the MoF has sought some clarifications from DRDO on the Kaveri project, before the matter could finally reach the CCS.kaveri engin 2

Years of hard work won’t go waste: GTRE Director Dr C P Ramanarayanan, Director, GTRE, said that the DRDO decision might not be final. Leading a team of 900-plus staff at GTRE, Dr Ramanarayanan is now left with the task of inspiring the team to launch future projects. “This is not the end of the road. We have identified some 12 core areas of technologies and various teams are already at it. Years of hard work put in by the team won’t go waste either,” Dr Ramanarayanan, a torpedo specialist, told OneIndia.

kaveri engin 3He said world over not many countries have progressed ahead in making engines. “We have made a good start and despite the delays, proved our capabilities to our best of abilities. The lessons learnt will not go down the drain. India must become self sufficient in making aero engines and our efforts will continue,” he added.

Drdo

NTRO tranfers officer for exposing corruption

1 Comment

Dalip Singh | Mail Today | New Delhi, June 14, 2011

Suresh Sharma exposed corruption and nepotism in sensitive appointments made by top brass of NTRO. Read more at: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/national-technical-research-organisation-tranfers-officer-for-exposing-corruption/1/141405.html
Suresh Sharma exposed corruption and nepotism in sensitive appointments made by top brass of NTRO.

A senior official in the National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO) is facing the heat for blowing the whistle on corruption and nepotism in the premier intelligence body.

Director (establishment) Suresh Sharma was moved out of the NTRO’s Delhi headquarters after red-flagging large-scale irregularities in sensitive appointments made by the organisation brass.

The NTRO has been courting bad publicity following an as yet-unreleased report by the comptroller and auditor general (CAG), criticising the organisation for alleged irregularities in the purchase of UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles).

The organisation, set up after the Kargil war to spruce up technical intelligence, reports to the National Security Adviser who is answerable directly to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The PMO has sought the NTRO’s response on the CAG report.
In January, about a month before he was moved to Bangalore, Sharma wrote to NSA Shiv Shankar Menon accusing senior adviser P. V. Kumar of aiding irregularities in the appointment of external pilots and scientists, among other posts. Recently, Kumar was elevated as the NTRO head.

The PMO had forwarded Sharma’s complaint for appropriate action to Kumar, then acting chairman of the NTRO. As nothing seemed to have come of it, the PMO sent a reminder on March 30 and asked for an action taken report.

India today2The PMO also constituted a single-member inquiry panel under Kumar to look into the complaints of irregular appointments. Strangely, the complaints were marked to Kumar despite the fact that the supervisory role of the NTRO chairman was not above board.

A detailed questionnaire was faxed to the NTRO chairman more than a week back, seeking his response on the serious charges against him and allegations of corruption in the premier organisation. However, Kumar refused to file a reply despite several reminders.

Sharma had alleged in his letter to the NSA that Kumar had attempted to water down the true findings of his inquiry panel. Sharma could not be reached for comments despite making several calls to Bangalore.

Sharma, who was holding the charge of additional controller (administration) in the NTRO, stated in his fivepage complaint that he had tried to apprise Kumar of the appointments violating all government norms and corruption in the organisation.

“A lot of pressure was mounted on me to change my notes but, as a dutiful officer of central government posted in a very sensitive organisation, I did not succumb to any such pressure,” he wrote.

The letter quotes several instances to give a glimpse of what is wrong in the NTRO. A group captain (retired) posted at the Dehradun aviation base was shielded despite complaints of corruption pending against him. As a cover-up exercise, the NTRO ordered an inquiry against him. But its establishment division suggested the probe report not be accepted as it did not follow government regulations. Once the objections were raised on the official file, it was never returned to the establishment division, Sharma alleged.

Two officers were employed on a contract basis in the organisation at the joint secretary-level. The NTRO, overlooking the PMO’s directive putting a cap on employment at 65 years’ age, wanted to extend their services. The NTRO suggested the two could be appointed at ‘job contract basis’, which too was illegal.

The CAG report is also believed to have taken note of the irregularities. But it is suspected the government is not willing to make the report public as it would open up a can of worms which would be difficult for the PMO to defend.

Drdo

Defence deals stuck due to lobbying, Parrikar says

3 Comments

TNN | Nov 13, 2014, 12.29AM IST
PANAJI: Defence minister Manohar Parrikar on Wednesday said most defence deals are stuck because of lobbying, vested interests, and kickbacks that happened during the last 10 years of Congress rule at the Centre. He said his priority is to clear the controversy and speed up acquisition in a transparent manner.

“My target is to clear all weapons purchase deals one by one on a priority basis, beginning next week,” said the country’s new defence minister, adding that he will also strengthen the army’s fighting capability, logistics, and infrastructure. He further said he will strengthen the armed forces with pre-emptive measures that discourage cross-border firing on the line of control.

He said India need not worry about Pakistan or China or any other country as the country’s defences are strong.
Speaking to party workers on his maiden visit to Goa after being sworn into the Union Cabinet, he said that after being extensively briefed over the last two days, he has realized that India has no need to worry about any other country.

Parrikar, who is on a five day visit to Goa, told media persons that everybody knows what happened in the Agusta Westland VVIP chopper deal and there was a question mark raised on the acquisition of fighter aircraft for the Indian Air Force (IAF). He refused to elaborate on the fighter aircraft deal.

“Most (defence) acquisitions made have some controversy. I don’t want to go into the details, but my job is to clear the controversy,” he said, adding that the more you go in for tightening on corruption, the more you raise the question, and the deals get more complex, and one should adopt a transparent method where no questions are raised.

Asked to react on incursions in Arunachal Pradesh by the Chinese military, Parrikar said this type of incursion and crossing the imaginary line of control happens many times in many sectors, but it is taken care of on the same day or within a couple of days. “Except on one or two occasions, there has been no serious incident.” He added the ministry will take steps to avoid such incidents in the future.

He said he will look at the country being able to produce indigenous weapons based on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘make in India’ concept. He also said that revamping of the DRDO is on the cards, but “as of now I have not taken any decision. Right now, I want them to perform”. He further said the ministry will concentrate on improving training capacity, and filling up vacancies of officers in the army.

Parrikar was given a rousing welcome at the Dabolim airport by Goa chief minister Laxmikant Parsekar and the state cabinet.

Drdo

Extensions without approval of ACC should be cancelled immediately

7 Comments
To                                                                                                         10th November 2014
Honorable Sh Narendra Modi,
Prime Minister,
Room No -152, PMO,
South Block,
New Delhi -110011

 

Subject: Extension of service after age of 60 years.

Sir,

Recently DOP&T published an OM F.No.22/35/2011-EO (SM.II) 24th September, 2014 Sub: Grant of extension/re-employment to Central Government servants beyond the age of superannuation.

In Para 1 of above  – The ACC has observed that in some of the cases, the Departments are not taking timely action to reconstitute the Departmental Peer Review Committee (DPRC) and are unilaterally extending the service of the officers beyond the age of superannuation without first obtaining approval of the ACC.

In Para 4 of above –  It is also reiterated that in absence of specific approval of ACC towards extension of his services beyond the date of superannuation, an officer should stand retired on his date of superannuation and under no circumstances should the Ministry/Department concerned extend his services beyond superannuation unilaterally without the approval & ACC.

Sir, with reference to above OM it is clear that ACC has observed that in some cases officials/scientists got service extensions without first obtaining approval of the ACC, and after straight order no one is retired on his date of superannuation.

It shows that system is having still few strong manipulators who are protecting individuals and putting some weird excuses so that above order is not executed after 46 days. It is really very astonishing facts that after your strong message some of rotten minded officials are not working in the national interest.

On 31st October 2014 evening when DRDO & DAE people got message that you have not granted extensions to scientists after series of recommendations of their so called superiors, they welcomed your decision and distributed sweets and celebrated the closing of extension era.

To maintain their spirit and boosting their moral it is requested that weed out those few officials from your system who are the obstacle of our country’s development and execute the above DOP&T OM urgently.

The cases of extensions without approval of ACC should be cancelled immediately and these scientists should be superannuated with effect from the date they got extension.

Regards

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

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

26 Comments

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Drdo

Army Tramples on Faulty DRDO Study on Siachen Deployment

4 Comments

By Pradip R Sagar
Published: 02nd Nov 2014 06:06:55 AM The New Indian Express – The Sunday Standard

Vigilant Indian soldier - Siachen
Vigilant Indian soldier – Siachen

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s surprise visit this Diwali to the world’s highest battlefield, Siachen, to applaud the Indian army troops deployed there again brought into national focus the difficulty of operating under such adverse climatic conditions.

A study by Defence Research and Development Organisation, India’s premier defence research institute, to find solutions and shorten the acclimatization period has been junked by the Army.

Keeping unforeseen events in mind, the Army wanted to reduce the pre-acclimatisation training period to faster deploy its troops to high-altitude locations in cases of emergency. And for this, the DRDO was mandated to carry out a study on how to reduce the pre-acclimatisation training period in May 2009 with budget of over `3 crore. Delhi-based Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences (DIPAS), a wing of DRDO, carried out the study for which they selected 210 soldiers. In order to study the soldiers’ physiology changes, they were asked to stay in a make-shift chamber filled with nitrogen for intermittent periods. But the Army has rubbished the study report and criticised the methods adopted by the DIPAS scientists.

In a strongly worded four-page letter to DIPAS on 10 September, the office of the Director General Armed Forces Medical Services (DGAFMS) has raised serious objections and sought explanation on various key points related to the study including selection of troops for the study, use of multiple investigators to collect data, use of master step test as an indicator of exercise performance for high altitude and disparity in heart rate date from the same cohort at different points of the report.

DIPAS had used intermittent hypoxia study at sea level before dispatching soldiers to high-altitude locations. Explaining the terminology, a DRDO scientist said that Intermittent Hypoxic Training (IHT) is a test protocol usually given to the individual with reduced oxygen concentration as prevailed in high altitude for pre-acclimatising them at sea level in a normobaric hypoxic chamber, before they are deployed for high mountain warfare.

On the basis the outcome of the study, two costly normobaric hypoxic chambers were planned to be set up in Chandigarh to cater northern command and Sukhna for eastern command troops with a cost of over `10 lakh.

Reacting strongly to the samples of troops taken, that had men who had already served in high-altitude postings, the DGAFMS raised concerns on the validity of conclusions drawn from the data presented. While seeking justification for the selection of re-inductees as study subjects, the Army has said, “Current knowledge on the phenomenon of de-acclimatisation is limited. It is accepted by many experts in the field that certain physiological changes induces on exposure on high altitude may persist beyond one month of return to sea level.”

“Hence the choice of re-inductees as study subjects raises questions about the validity of date being presented, especially since the aim of the project is to extrapolate the findings to healthy soldiers being rapidly inducted to high altitude, in all probability, for the first time,” DGAFMC said in his detailed response to DIPAS study.

When contacted, DRDO spokesperson Ravi Gupta refused to comment as it is a classified matter.

Drdo

RTI-DRDO-PMO

1 Comment
 To                                                                      Date – 21 October 2014
Shri Syed Ekram Rizwi,
Director & Central Public Information Officer,
Prime Minister’s Office,
South Block,
New Delhi – 110011

Hello,
Kindly provide me with the following information requested under the purview of the Right to Information Act, 2005 in respect of following complaints/representations  to Hon’ble Prime Minister with details as under.

  1. 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
  2. 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
  3. CORRUPTION IN DMSRDE (DRDO), KANPUR BY DR. ARVIND KUMAR SAXENA, DIRECTOR, dated 11 September 2014
  4. 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
  5. DRDO Corruption – Modus Operandi example prevailing corruption in DRDO labs, dated 11 June 2014
  6. The Appointment Committee of the Cabinet appointed Sh. Avinash Chander on contract basis, dated 27 May 2014
  1. Provide the present status of the complaints.
  2. Action taken by PMO on the complaint.
  3. If any reply received by PMO on subject matter from respective matters from ministry of Defence or directly from DRDO please provide the copy of replies.
Regards
Prabhu Dandriyal
21-Sunderwala, Raipur
Dehradun-248008
Phone 0135- 2787750, Mobile- 9411114879,
e-mail id prabhudoon@gmail.com, website www.corruptionindrdo.com

Registration Number     PMOIN/R/2014/61418

 
Drdo

No extensions sans ACC okay: Government to DRDO

5 Comments

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Drdo

बहुत देर भई नन्द लाला (पाण्डेय जी) रिपोर्ट कब सबमिट करोगे, समय निकल जायेगा

3 Comments
To                                                                   26th September 2014
Dr D C Pande,
Scientist ‘H’, Outstanding Scientist,
 Chairman 2nd Fact finding Committee constituted for DMSRDE corruption
LRDE, DRDO, Bangalore   

 

Dear Pandey Ji,

As you very well aware the complaints against Dr.Arvind Kumar Saxena, Director, DMSRDE, Kanpur and estimated amount involved in corruption is about 7.5  crore is a tip of ice berg only.

Sh. Avinash Chander (Padam Shree) appointed 1st FFIC under Chairmanship of Dr.S.S. Negi, Scientist ‘H’ as Chairman and Shri Manoj Bali , Scientist ‘G’ and Shri Jagdeep, Scientist ‘F’ as members of FFIC. This FFIC visited DMSRDE, Kanpur on 13-14 March 2014 and submitted FFIC report in a speedy manner in April 2014. This illegal committee submitted fake report as directed by Shri Avinash Chander who patronage Dr. AK Saxena and in lieu of obedience both Dr.SS Negi and Manoj Bali were awarded by big boss.

You are aware that Dr. SS Negi has been appointed as Director, IRDE, Dehradun and Shri Manoj Bali, Scientist ‘G’ is promoted as Scientist ‘H’ superseded 55 senior scientists as his senirity roll no is 71,  despite several honest and eligible scientists have been ignored.

You have been appointed as Chairman of 2nd  FFIC by big boss with same hope that you also show your loyalty and obedience towards him but your honesty came in path and you still not submitted the report to big boss and not giving clean chit to Dr. AK Saxena who is very close friend of mini DG & DOP Dr. A.K. Singh. Thereby your name is not in today list of promotes for the year 2014 for Distinguished Scientist. May be it will come in supplementary list?

You are fully aware that now Government has been changed and our Prime Minister is not happy with DRDO’s Chalta hai attitude,   for FFIC as maximum time for submission report is three months as per DOPT Inquiry Manual, CVC expects preliminary investigation to be completed within three months.

You have visited DMSRDE, Kanpur on 09-10, July 2014 and completed the FFI. Now third month is coming to end soon and Director (Vigilance), MOD has sought Director (Vigilance & Security), DRDO for consolidated report by his letter dated 04 August 2014.

In recent judgment of Madras High Court, Hon’ble justice commented “Scientist have no excuse that they have no administrative knowledge” and thereby two great senior officials have been sentenced three week imprisonment. Although DRDO हाथ क़ानून से भी लम्बे है today they filed SLP in Supreme Court and got time further with the help of poor tax payers money. पर कब तक ?

Don’t worry sir, one chance still there for you with for being DS in case you submit true report solely based on voice of your sole. You remember that “गरीबों की सुनो वो तुम्हारी सुनेगा, इस साल नहीं हुआ लेकिन अगले साल प्रमोशन होगा”.

क्योंकि अगले असेसमेंट तक अविनाश चन्दर जी तो होंगे नहीं मोदी जी २ अक्टूबर को झाड़ू लगा कर भारत को स्वच्छ बनाने का अभियान छेड़ रहे , भाई साहेब अब सफाई तो होगी ही उसको कोई नहीं रोक सकता ।

You submit the report to justice with poor tax payers money so that culprits of corruption in DMSRDE could be punished CVC and higher authorities.

Regards

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

 

Drdo

In Between ISRO and DRDO- Where Lies the Difference?

3 Comments

Friday, September 26, 2014, 9:01 [IST]- Oneindia news

After the initial euphoria over the emphatic and the most incredible success of ISRO’s Mars Mission has settled down, it would be interesting to do some analysis as to why ISRO stands apart from other similar organizations when it comes to crossing one milestone after another and that too in a field where very few dare to venture.

Space research is not everyone’s cup of tea and even though most of the major economies of the world have their own independent space research programmes, only a handful have been successful in making a significant mark in this field.

The Milestone Machine named ISRO

Even before the envious milestone of reaching Mars in its very first attempt, ISRO has been known for having had more than 100 launches and with the ISRO workhorse namely the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) alone having been responsible for launching 65 satellites into the orbit out of which 30 are of Indian origin and 35 of foreign origin.

Earlier this year, ISRO also succeeded in taming the unruly horse namely the GSLV or the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle with the launch of GSAT-14 weighing 1982 Kg by GSLV-D5 rocket. Today ISRO is not just known for its flawless but frugal engineering and space research credentials but also for making the impossible achievements possible with a fraction of the budget that NASA has.

The Big Question- What Sets ISRO Apart and Where Does DRDO Falter?

So what sets ISRO apart? What makes ISRO so globally competitive and how is it possible that a nation which can on its own make a spacecraft and make it travel for more than 660 million Km, finds it difficult to make a quality combat aircraft?

Isn’t it strange that a nation which has outsmarted NASA in terms of frugal engineering and low cost Mars Mission finds it difficult to retain its own engineering talent? Is it not a reality that ISRO has succeeded where DRDO has faltered if not failed?

In fact one should remember what Prime Minister Modi had to say to the top brass of DRDO in the month of August this year. He had expressed his anguish at the ‘Chalta Hai’ attitude of DRDO for its inability to finish projects on time and made it clear to them that the world would not be waiting for them.

Modi had stated to the top brass of DRDO no unclear terms, ‘”The world will not wait for us. We have to run ahead of time. We should not say in 2014 that a project conceived in 1992 will take some more time,” (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/World-wont-wait-for-you-PM-Narendra-Modi-tells-laggard-DRDO/articleshow/40550218.cms).

Clearly Modi was referring to DRDO’s numerous long delayed projects including that of the Light Combat Aircraft as well as that of its failure with several others including the Kaveri Engine, the Advanced Light Towed Array Sonar (ALTAS) projector the agonizing delay in the Long Range Surface to Air Missile or LR-SAM, which it was doing in collaboration with Israeli Aerospace Industries.

One though cannot deny the success of DRDO for materializing the Agni and Prithvi range of missiles and making some reasonable progress with some others such as Akash, Prahaar, Shaurya, Brahmos and with the anti ballistic missile systems. Barring the missile projects, the success rate of DRDO has been extremely unsatisfactory.

The other key problem with DRDO is its inability to realize its areas of core competence and concentrate on them. Instead it tried to put its hand on everything and ended up failing in many. On the contrary ISRO is known for its core competence and sticking to it.

Not Just DRDO but all Defence PSU’s and Ministry of Defence should be Blamed as well

In fact the blame should not just be with DRDO but equally with all the Defence PSUs and the Ordnance Factory Boards (OFB) who all suffer from similar laid back attitude and producing flawless quality products has not their hallmark.

At a time when ISRO has exemplified how a Mars Mission can be made successful at with fund less than what was used for even some of the top line Hollywood flicks, DRDO and its brethren in defense production are masters in cost overrun, delays and snail pace.

A major part of the blame for the sheer difference in the performance of ISRO and DRDO has to taken by the Ministry of Defence as well. The Ministry of Defence has failed to evolve with time and is manned with bureaucrats devoid of any specialized knowledge of strategic and defence affairs.

Their idiosyncratic tendency to cancel tenders at the whiff of a gossip of a wrong doing, without taking the issues of national security and priority for weapons, their tendency to manage issues of technology with a bureaucratic mindset and sheer inability to harness the potential of the private sector has done much harm.

The Real Reason for ISRO’s Success- No Bureaucratic Red Tape and Meddling in its Affairs

The real reason for which ISRO has succeeded is because it always had the free hand to perform without the needless bureaucratic hurdles to throttle their work.ISRO works directly under the supervision of the Prime Minister as part of the Department of Space and is managed by specialized technocrats rather than generalist bureaucrats. The ISRO website states:

‘The Space Commission formulates the policies and oversees the implementation of the Indian space programme to promote the development and application of space science and technology for the socio-economic benefit of the country. DOS implements these programmes through, mainly Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), National Atmospheric Research Laboratory (NARL), North Eastern-Space Applications Centre (NE-SAC) and Semi-Conductor Laboratory (SCL). The Antrix Corporation, established in 1992 as a government owned company, markets the space products and services.’

Contrast this with the ad-hoc manner in which Ministry of Defence operates and the arms length distance it keeps from the end users of defense products, i.e. the Indian Army, Air Force and Navy. The Ministry of Defence completely lacks a strategic intent and has failed to create a Defence Commission on the lines of Space Commission to formulate policies and oversee implementation.

Further, it has failed to create a dedicated cadre of personnel with impeccable understanding of defense issues and issues related to the importance of development of indigenous capabilities. Fact of the matter is that defence PSUs or the DRDO were never taken to task everyone was happy with the lackadaisical approach and the dependence on imports.

Put DRDO directly under Prime Minister’s Supervision, just like ISRO

One cannot deny the success of DRDO in terms of making India capable of making developing missiles but at the same time, one also cannot overlook its sheer failure in other areas of defence research. The best thing to do, to salvage the situation would be to directly bring DRDO under the supervision of Prime Minister’s office.

In fact the whole Department of Defence, much on the lines of Department of Space should be directly under the Prime Minister and should ideally be supervised by a Defence Commission manned by defence experts and technocrats. Only that can salvage India’s defence research and bring it at par with its space research feats. DRDO has immense potential and talent to make excellence a norm like ISRO. All that it would take is to put it right under the supervision of Prime Minister and release it from the clutches of bureaucratic meddling.isro org