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Vigilance heat forced BEL to drastically cut tender size for software in IAF’s Rs 7,900-cr IACCS project, but contract went to tainted US firm

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Yatish Yadav Jul 11, 2019 12:31:00 IST First Post
New Delhi: After Firstpost expose on glaring irregularities in the civil construction of Indian Air Force’s (IAF) highly sensitive Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS) project, a former manager of a defence public sector undertaking and a whistleblower has surfaced alleging corruption in the procurement of software for automated command and control system for air defence operations.

Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), a defence public sector undertaking is implementing the Rs 7, 900 crore project, which was initiated during the UPA regime.

The former manager of BEL, Bhupesh Sharma in a letter to the Ministry of Defence and the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) on 29 June 2019 has said that top management of the defence public sector undertaking, quietly buried the findings of a 2016 internal inquiry, which indicted six BEL officers for alleged corruption. Sharma alleged that despite a reminder from the Chief Vigilance Officer (CVO) of the company to the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of BEL in April 2018, no punitive action was taken against the accused officers.

Representational image of an air defence system. Reuters

Sharma, then part of the procurement committee, had blown the whistle over alleged manipulation in the procurement of Data Distribution Service (DDS) software to favour an American company. Sharma alleging victimisation said accused officers indicted by vigilance were rewarded by BEL while he was harassed for exposing deep-rooted corruption.
“Even after CVC intervention and reminders by CVO to CMD (Chairman and Managing Director) no action was taken against the erring officers. I was harassed and troubled to the extent that I was forced to resign. Instead of black listing the vendor M/S RTI USA, the order was finally placed on the vendor. The vigilance officer who did the enquiry in this case has also been given punishment posting to a remote unit of BEL. The message given by the top management was clear that anyone who speaks against corruption would be brutally suppressed and those who play along with the persons at the top having vested interests would be rewarded,” Sharma, who claims to have been decorated with innovation award, excellence awards and Raksha Mantri award for IACCS project , wrote to the CVC.

The documents also reveal that efforts were made by BEL officers to conceal the alleged irregularities by removing the files and purchase order. Even the investigators were denied full access to e-mails of concerned purchase department.

A detailed questionnaire sent to the Chief Vigilance Commissioner Sharad Kumar, Ministry of Defence and BEL CMD MV Gowtama remained unanswered.

Unravelling of software scam

Firstpost has reviewed the documents submitted to the Ministry of Defence and the CVC, which clearly shows that the procurement committee had engineered unwarranted specification in the procurement of DDS software to allegedly disqualify one of the two vendors in the race for the contract.

The two companies, M/S RTI, USA and M/S Prismtech, UK represented by M/S Mistral Solutions and M/S RTTS respectively were invited by the BEL for the procurement of DDS software. The vigilance report said procurement team had pre-decided to give the contract to M/S RTI USA and the entire process of real time demonstration to assess feasibility also known as Proof of Concept (PoC) was merely an eyewash.

Although UK Company had quoted value of the project in the range of about Rs 5 to 10 crore, the quote submitted by American company M/S RTI was about Rs 130 crore. However, since, the BEL had decided to grant the project to M/S RTI, USA through its Indian representative M/S Mistral Solutions, BEL officers inserted a particular specification which caught the eye of vigilance team investigating the case.

“Technical expert in his report has stated that there is a lack of clarity in the PoC evaluation process/criteria which leads to ambiguity and conspiracy. Also technical expert has confirmed that there are irregularities and inconsistencies in framing of specifications and conducting PoC. Scope of PoC for the DDS document does not specify any particular method of demonstrating the PoC and it generally highlights the features to be shown in the PoC. Hence the vendor can select any particular method and demonstrate the features. PoC evaluation criteria and the PoC test document is not uniform for all the vendors,” the vigilance report to the CVC said.

System Requirements Specification document signed with the customer by BEL indicates that there are no special specification requirements for the use and configuration of DDS and also the security of the data transferred using DDS. PoC scope does not highlight that the above security implementations should match and confirm to DDS OMG standards. Even though no vendor has a complete implementation of DDS X types still M/S RTI was shown complied during technical bidding regarding para 6.2 of technical specification,” the report further said.

The vigilance report made it clear that specifications mentioned above as ‘para 6.2 technical specs’ were allegedly modified by the procurement committee of BEL to suit American firm. Sharma claims he had opposed such manipulation and turned whistleblower by exposing the wrongdoings in his emails to vigilance and top officials of the BEL.

“I became the whistleblower when ordering of software for the IACCS project was forcibly being ordered on the resultant single tender basis (by manipulating and making the other vendor technically non-complied). I tried my best to stop the ordering by talking to all my seniors in the unit and finally when I was not heard, I wrote to CVO and all the directors of the company including CMD about the corrupt practices being followed in the unit,” Sharma wrote to the CVC.

It is also evident from the vigilance report that the UK firm was deliberately denied security clearance for demonstration though its India representative M/S RTTS was allowed and subsequently disqualified.

“The team (BEL) misinformed M/S Prismtech regarding non-availability of security clearance on 11 May 2016, though a security clearance was taken by Senior Manager DGM (Development & Engineering division of Network Centric System 1) for the period of 9 May-11 May 2016. The contradicting statements of senior executives and D&E engineers in relation to security clearance for M/S Prismtech representative’s leads to suspect that D&E does not want to give the opportunity to M/S Prismtech to demonstrate the features,” the vigilance report said.

Questions have also been raised by the vigilance team over the formation of a technical committee and PoC committee for the procurement. The report observed although the procurement involves a lot of technical parameters related to software and high value of approximately Rs 130 crore, the procurement committee was made with two mechanical engineers, one finance and two electronic engineers. The report slammed BEL further asserting that there were no software professionals in the technical specification team and approval of a procurement team with non-technical members reveals a lax approach of the management as they played a dubious role.

“It appears that D&E engineers (Development & Engineering division) have played a pivotal role in finalizing specifications whereas others merely acted as spectators,” the vigilance report said.

The report has also raised doubt on the assessment process of technical specifications saying that evaluation of features is not the same for both M/S Prismtech and M/S RTI.

It said the PoC which were done by engineers from M/S Mistral Solutions, representative of RTI, USA, did not have relevant past experience to carry out PoC of DDS software and they could not answer anything technically or relevantly. The vigilance team during an interrogation of engineers from Development & Engineering division found that some engineers who were nominated as PoC members were not aware that they were part of an evaluation team.

Some were absent during the assessment, some engineers had relegated the job to their junior executives and no detailed review was done during the conduct of PoC and no senior executives have monitored the progress of PoC though it was such an important activity for the project. The test report of the American firm was also prepared in advance.

“From the test data report of M/S Mistral (representative of M/S RTI USA, it emerges that test data report was pre-prepared by suppliers and merely signed by BEL engineers. During examination of D&E engineers, it is observed that D&E-NCS has started working on evaluation versions of M/S RTI, USA since October 2015 through license agreements. During evaluation many issues came time to time and were resolved. This was probably the reason that PoC with M/S RTI, USA was merely a formality. The PoC conducted by M/S Mistral Solutions has been cleared despite number of irregularities/ inconsistencies,” the vigilance report said exposing the manipulation to favour a particular vendor.

The documents reveal that before the investigators could examine the documents related to alleged corruption, the files were removed by the concerned officers to erase the audit trail.

The vigilance report said, “Documents with respect to change of specifications which is intimated to M/S RTTS (India representative of M/S Prismtech, UK) was not found in the file, not informed to the investigator at any point and the same was concealed by purchase department. There was no documentary proof regarding the intimation of changed specifications to four cases to all the suppliers participated in the bidding. Currently, the purchase requisitions are also deleted in SAP (System Applications and Products) without assigning reasons and Unit Management has not given any reasons till now for the same.”

The vigilance report which was forwarded to the CVC on 24 November 2016, clearly opined that there are procedural violations in the subject case and there appear to be malafide intentions right from the beginning of coming out of consolidated requirements, generating the specifications for this software instead of PP drawings, arriving of PoC conditions, the manner in which PoC was conducted and M/S RTI, USA bid was accepted and M/S Prismtech bid was eliminated.

The vigilance recommended blacklisting of M/S RTI, USA, initiation of disciplinary action against officers involved and including the name of two senior officers in doubtful integrity list.

In defence procurements, the private companies are known to be hiring retired officials to exercise the influence. In this case too, vigilance raised apprehension about alleged manipulation as a former CMD of BEL was on board of Mistral Solutions. The vigilance had recommended a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), however, the matter was never referred to the premier investigative agency.

“It is learnt that M/S RTI’s malafide intention/ involvement with BEL D&E team cannot be underestimated as ex-CMD (BEL) Mr. Ashwini Kumar Datta is working in M/S Mistral Solutions which requires further investigation by the CBI,” the vigilance report said.

In its recommendation, the vigilance also said the finalisation of specifications and scope of PoC should be done by a competent technical committee and any vested interest/doubtful integrity executives should not be part of the panel.

Cover-up by BEL?

The alleged cover-up in the entire irregularities started after the project came under the scanner. The Rs 130 crore tender was scrapped and suddenly BEL realised that they have in house capability to provide that suspected security specifications that was inserted to allegedly favour a particular company.

However, Sharma said, the BEL management did not take any disciplinary action against accused officers, did not include two senior officers in doubtful integrity list and did not blacklist the American firm. In fact, Sharma alleged, a bogus re-tendering process was initiated on the single-vendor basis and this time the DDS software contract without suspected specification was awarded to same firm Mistral Solutions, India representative of RTI, USA at less than Rs 10 crore. The BEL GM, NCS Joydeep Majumdar in a letter to the CVO confirmed the contract to Mistral Solutions while claiming they have saved more than Rs 110 crore.

“Earlier security features were included in the RFQ for DDS software. M/S Mistral Solutions qualified technically. Mistral quoted Rs. 120 Crores, however, the technical committee after study found out that the security solution was available with CRL Bangalore (Central Research Laboratory) and no need to buy from Mistral. A proof of concept was carried out and it was found working with the proposed DDS. Thus, the committee decided to go for the same DDS from Mistral which was purchased earlier for CMS in NCS, SBU which was without security features and hence was valued very low. Also, since the NCS engineers are conversant with this DDS it will obviate learning the new DDS, if chosen otherwise. A fresh Single Tender Enquiry was floated and the expected order price is less than Rs.10 Crore,” GM Majumdar wrote to the CVO on 9 February 2017.

This new found solution to douse the scandal was clearly an afterthought, reveals the documents sent to defence ministry and the CVC. The vigilance report clearly stated that Request For Proposal (RFP) even before the procurement process began, was finalised in coordination with the CRL. Nowhere, documents mentioned CRL team’s observation that they have in-house capability of security solution and therefore there was no need to purchase it from a private vendor at such a high price.

Even after RFP, the two members of CRL were part of the evaluation process and nowhere during the assessment process, the members acknowledged having in-house capability for the security solution that could save taxpayers money. In fact, further investigation revealed that UK’s company India representative M/S RTTS had held meeting at CRL Bangalore but the issue of having this in house security specification capability was not raised.

“A meeting with the vendor M/S RTTS at CRL Bangalore was conducted and the vendor has informed during discussion that PoC had ambiguous requirements not in line with PoC document, hostile environment during conduct of PoC by some of the PoC team members, required infrastructure which has to be provided by BEL was not provided,” the investigation report said.

Sharma claimed, the BEL officials brought up the issue of CRL having security solution only after procurement came under the vigilance scanner to conceal the alleged irregularities.

Subsequently, the CVC, not pleased with soft action of merely issuing warning letters to accused officers, wrote to BEL CMD MV Gowtama on 5 July 2017 for taking appropriate action.

“The Commission has observed that the tender was scrapped but the violations are serious in nature. The officers concerned have been let off with very lenient action. The Commission has desired that the CMD, Bharat Electronics Limited may review it sou-moto, if provision exists,” Ajay Kanoujia, Director, CVC wrote to Gowtama.

Later on 17 July 2017, Manager Vigilance in a note decided to send a reminder to the CMD observing that action against accused officers were indulgent.

“In the subject case, CVC’s observation were in line with Corporate Vigilance’s observations that a lenient view has been taken by the disciplinary authority without analyzing corporate vigilance letter/report, to close the case with minor penalty actions for the reasons not mentioned in the corporate vigilance report. In this regard, in line with CVC recommendations, it is proposed to send a letter to CMD to initiate appropriate major disciplinary proceeding action on attempts done by delinquent officers,” the note said.

Further, file noting suggests that another reminder for action in the case was sent to the CMD on 9 April 2018. It is also learnt that similar irregularities were unearthed in the procurement of database (DB) and Operating System which were later rectified after an internal probe flagged the wrongdoings.

Similarly, in civil construction, the issue of a single vendor for design consultant and procurement from the related parties have come under the vigilance scanner. Instead of taking action against the accused officers named in the vigilance report, the defence public sector undertaking has suspended members of the investigation team, who exposed the corruption.

“The same modus operandi has been followed with the vigilance team which brought out the corruption in selection of the design consultant and civil infrastructure ordering. The report of the vigilance enquiry has been downplayed and every member who was part of the vigilance enquiry has been charge sheeted, suspended or given punishment postings,” Sharma wrote to the CVC.

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Chinese firm Delhi chose for CCTVs on US radar

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Concerns have also been raised on the firm being owned by the Chinese government, adding a twist to the controversy over a Delhi government project to install 1.5 lakh CCTV cameras across the city.

By Shaurya Karanbir GurungET Bureau|May 23, 2018,

The Chinese firm is however, not new to controversies, with a growing number of US organisations either removing or barring the use of company’s products.

A Chinese firm whose subsidiary has been shortlisted to supply security cameras for the national capital is on a US watch list, with an advisory on threats, including remote hacking and potential backdoor access.

Concerns have also been raised on the firm being owned by the Chinese government, adding a twist to the controversy over a Delhi government project to install 1.5 lakh CCTV cameras across the city.
While Defence public sector unit Bharat Electronics LimitedNSE 1.13 % (BEL) has been selected, it bid to supply cameras manufactured by Prama Hikvision India Private Limited. Chandra Shekhar, a senior official with Prama Hikvision told ETthat Prama Hikvision is a subsidiary of Hikvision.

However, Prabhat K Bhattacharya of its PR firm Consocia Advisory, claimed Hikvision owned 58% of the Indo-China venture Prama Hikvision.

The project came under controversy after Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee president Ajay Maken alleged that the AAP government had compromised national security. The Chinese firm is however, not new to controversies, with a growing number of US organisations either removing or barring the use of company’s products. The firm’s cameras were removed from the US Embassy in Afghanistan and another of its army base.

Similarly, the US Air Force last year cancelled a tender for Hikvision video surveillance. The US government’s GSA — which provides centralised procurement for it — has removed Hikvision manufactured products from sale. Security concerns of Hikvision products have been raised in the UK as well.

A US Department of Homeland Security advisory dated May 4, 2017 states that the products are “remotely exploitable” and require a low skill level to exploit. The vulnerabilities, advisory explains, are “improper authentication” and “password in configuration file”.
“Successful exploitation of these vulnerabilities could lead to a malicious attacker escalating his or her privileges or assuming the identity of an authenticated user and obtaining sensitive data,” the advisory reads. Prama Hikvision, however, claims that “allegations of a backdoor are false”.

“We have not, nor would we, intentionally place a “backdoor” in any of our products for any government or third party. Access and control of the video cameras and content will be restricted only to the end users and Prama Hikvision will not be able to access them at all,” the company said in response to an ET questionnaire.

In India, these security concerns may have not deterred procurement. Delhi government officials claim that the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), defence ministry and Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) have procured cameras from Hikvision, in response to Maken’s allegations.

Individual questionnaires were sent to these organisations but received no response.

On its part, BEL said there is no compromise on security while supplying products for defence forces. “The requirement is for civilian use and not for any military application…BEL will never compromise on the security related aspects while supplying its products for defence forces. Supply of CCTV cameras for public use in various constituencies in Delhi does not violate any security norms,” BEL said in response to queries by ET.

While the contract is yet to be signed, controversy looms large with the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi creating a high-powered committee to create a standard operating procedure for installing CCTV cameras and the AAP-led government opposing the move.

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Make in India and a Dilly-Dallying Defence Ministry

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Published: 17th January 2018 The New Indian Express
The flip-flop over the purchase of Spike anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs) from Israel is symptomatic of a larger battle between Make in India proponents and those who argue that waiting for the wheel to be reinvented makes no strategic sense. Particularly when the reinvention involves the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), renowned for its inordinate delays. In October 2014, months after the Modi government came to power, India’s Defence Acquisition Council cleared the purchase of at least 8,000 Spike missiles and more than 300 launchers. Just before Modi’s historic visit to Israel, the deal was finally firmed up, much to the disappointment of the US, which was lobbying to sell Raytheon-Lockheed Martin’s Javelin ATGM—some argue it’s a better weapon. The Israeli ATGMs were to be co-produced in collaboration with Bharat Forge’s Kalyani Strategic Systems in Hyderabad.

Then, barely days after Modi’s return from Israel, rumours surfaced about the deal being scrapped in favour of indigenous production of the MP-ATGM, a derivative of the Nag missile. Days before the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to India, Rafael admitted India had indeed cancelled talks to close the deal. This led to howls of protest from the Indian Army, with Army Chief General Bipin Rawat pointing out that the DRDO missiles would not be ready till 2022, which would impact India’s operational capabilities at a time when both its western and northern borders were heating up.

Now it appears that New Delhi might execute part of the terminated tender by directly importing 5,500-odd missiles and 275 launchers via an inter-governmental agreement, instead of a commercial deal with Rafael. India needs to get over its dependence on imported weapons, which constitute almost 70 per cent of its inventory at the moment. But last-minute scrapping and reworking of deals not only undermine our credibility in the defence market, they also highlight the lack of a think-through by our defence ministry.

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‘Internal politics’ forces DRDO scientist to quit

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By Pradip R Sagar | Published: 08th October 2017
NEW DELHI: With a dream to work for his country after spending a successful stint overseas, Dr Gausal Ahmed Khan applied for the post of senior scientist in the country’s premier defence research institute—DRDO—in 2009. Eight years down the line, Khan’s dreams were shattered when he was forced to resign in September owing to ‘internal politics’.
Khan, a physiologist, worked on a project to reduce the acclimatisation time of Indian Army personnel stationed at high altitude locations like Siachen. He has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi exposing nepotism, politics, and corruption prevailing in the DRDO. “Unfortunately my scientific temperament and hard work proved to be a disqualification in one of the country’s most reputed organisations—DRDO,” Khan wrote to the PM.

Dr Gausal Khan

“Bereaved, my broken and humiliated conscience prompted me to write to you and apprise you of the prevalent politics, corruption, and other work conditions in DRDO. I am writing with a hope that in future work condition in DRDO may improve and will prevent scientists from leaving the organisation,” he added.

While disclosing how he was involved in litigation after not given credit for his work, he said, “I spent the last three years in the organisation defending myself in unwanted litigations imposed on me by higher officials due to their politics, personal vengeance, and family lineage.”

Khan got some relief when he approached the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) against a disciplinary case imposed on him. The Tribunal in its order stated: “He has been conferred with ‘developing world scientist award’ at international level for his research of unique nature.

Assuming that there are some lapses on the applicant (scientist), the disciplinary authority should have taken a lenient view on account of the excellent scientific research by him which brought laurels not only individually for him but to the country as whole. However, the respondent (DRDO authorities) has not given due credit for his research in the scientific field. This depicts sorry state of affairs. Instead of appreciating his research work, he has been treated shabbily and awarded punishment in gross violation of law”.

When contacted Khan, who is leaving for the US, said, “I came with a vision and a dream. My working conditions forced me to leave. But before leaving, I wanted to apprise the top leaders of the poor work atmosphere. PM talks about self-reliance in defence, but we cannot achieve it unless we weed out corruption and internal politics.”

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DRDO’s Agra lab spends Rs 49.50 cr, 6 yrs, in developing surveillance system which fails Army standards

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Arvind Chauhan | Jul 24, 2017, 10:01 AM IST
AGRA: The Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE), a laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), spent Rs 49.50 crore to develop a balloon-based platform for surveillance and communication, but failed to meet Army standards after years of work, according to a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG).
For the project, ADRDE also imported special fabric worth Rs 6.20 crore but never used it during trials of the system. Last year, CAG rapped ADRDE for failing to produce combat free fall (CFF) parachutes for special forces in more than a decade after incurring expenses of Rs 10.75 crore.
According to the report, the ministry of defence sanctioned a technology demonstration project, ‘Nakshatra’, to ADRDE in July 2011, to develop an aerostat platform with net payload capacity of 300 kg and an endurance of seven to 14 days, with balloon life of four to five years.
“Based on the earlier experience with ” — another medium-size aerostat developed by using polyurethane (PU) coated nylon fabric, the ADRDE decided to use laminated fabric, which was supposed to double the endurance of the aerostat to two weeks and shelf life from 18 months to 4-5 years. Therefore, the ADRDE imported laminated fabric at the cost of Rs 6.20 crore,” stated the report.
“Interestingly, the imported laminated fabric was never used and the DRDO lab used only PU coated nylon fabric for the balloon. Later the project was shut down in January 2017, as the Army did not accept the product, incurring a loss of Rs 49.50 crore to the exchequer,” the report added.
Speaking to TOI, public relations officer S M Jain of ADRDE said, “The project was a complete success. We tested the technology of ADRDE at Gurdaspur, Punjab, close to the India-Pakistan border in 2016. Further, the Army demanded that the trials be extended for two more years at various locations close to international borders, but they didn’t give us more funds to conduct the trials. So the operational feasibility of the system was never tested and the project was shut down.”
ADRDE officials also claimed that the balloon made of laminated fabric was kept as a spare and would have been utilised in case of any damage to PU coated nylon fabric balloon.
Army officials however said that the system trials of ‘Nakshatra’ were only carried out for three days. “So the effectiveness of the communication sets loaded on the balloon could not be ascertained. We requested ADRDE to deploy the system for three months to test its efficacy, before we could take over the system for extended trials,” an official said.
Only a few countries in the world have such systems of their own, including the US, Germany, France and Japan.

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Situation of R&D in India and plight of competent scientists

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The following article written by DR BHAGWAN D AGGARWAL, a biomedical scientist and a healthcare industry consultant with significant international experiences at pharmaceutical consulting companies and global research institutions, published in dailyO on 4th June is perfect picture of today R&D scenario of India.

We are daily  witnessing such worth of 1000 of crores scientific instruments purchasing not based on utility, but their higher prices – because higher price gets more “commission” and exhaust the budget. If GOI investigate sincerely, then only one organization DRDO can fetch 50000 crores rupees instruments which are lying idly without any use in more than 50 labs.

I’m a scientist. I returned from US to find why India can’t become a superpower

It is high time not just to make additional policies and regulations, but to disrupt the prevailing complacency, harassment and corruption.

DR BHAGWAN D AGGARWAL –  4th June 2017, daily O

India is still lagging behind in scientific research by every metric of productivity and quality.

No doubt, investment and salaries have increased significantly in research in recent years, but still not sufficient to make an impact.

The prevalent dismissal working conditions, harassment and gross mismanagement that I experienced, could be the main reasons.I would like share my experiences.

I returned to India in 2009 after working for eight years in the US, and three years in Europe at some of the best research institutions and universities such as the University of Pennsylvania, Thomas Jefferson University, ICGEB (Trieste, Italy).

I published several papers in the best peer-reviewed journals. Though, my salary in India was meager, I was happy to return and contribute.

I tried very hard to fit in at my institute and the organisation to deliver my best in research, teaching and training activities, but unfortunately, I did not get any support from anyone in my endeavors.

I was working in a national institute of occupational health but, ironically, the working conditions were dangerous and unhealthy. For instance, carcinogen-laden UV helmet was unmarked that I used unknowingly for months, open and unsecured blood contaminated and bio-hazardous waste.

The lab facilities such as culture lab was locked for weeks and the imaging microscope was locked for years. Even my office cabin was locked for years and I was forced to use a small instrument lab (for PCR and molecular biology) as my office. I did not get my requested instruments (basic and low cost) for four years. I was denied PhD guideship, though I had several peer-reviewed research publications, PhD from JNU, New Delhi (the premier university of India) and 10 years of research experience at the best institutions.

Many times, the scientific instruments are purchased, not based on utility, but their higher prices – because higher price gets more “commission”

I was denied an opportunity to present my research at the Gordon Conference even though my paper was accepted with financial assistance, and my applications for collaboration were delayed and denied.

I faced many hurdles from the administration such as no account of expenditure was provided after repeated requests. And when I tried to organise workshops or training seminars, I was forced to deal with petty issues.

I raised all these issues to the highest level (from the director of the institute to the director-general of my organisation) but no action followed. Only the harassment continued.

Still, I kept trying for almost five years, but only to get more stressed and frustrated.

At last, I resigned but my resignation was labelled as “conditional” and I was subjected to further harassment by sham investigations and inquiries and, at one point, I was intimated to surrender my passport.

My job applications to other government agencies were blocked to cause serious damage to my career and my research. I feel betrayed by the system back home.

Finally, I left the country and came back to the US.

I may not be the only one, there may be many more who returned to India and got their talent wasted and might be feeling the same way as I do.

Although, I worked in one of the most stressful and unhealthy work environments in my research career, but still I had some satisfaction of training and educating young minds and delivering lectures.

In hindsight, I think it was the students’ affection and their keen desire to learn which kept me motivated during those five years. I witnessed the worst management with no accountability and pathetic apathy.

This might be the case in most of the institutions barring only few. Many times, the scientific instruments are purchased, not based on utility, but their higher prices – because higher price gets more “commission”.

Less than 10 per cent of the instruments are ever utilised with less than 1 per cent instruments’ lifetime use time, especially for expensive equipment (Rs 5,000,000 (about US $80,000) or above).

The prevalent mismanagement, corruption and stressful and unhealthy work-environment are wasting the talent and scarce resources of a poor country and bleeding the science.

I believe whatever small percentage of the GDP India is spending on science, most of it is a waste.

Mismanagement and stressful work environment discourage any scientist or researcher to do any meaningful and quality research.

Most of the top leadership of research institutes /organisations such as directors, director-generals, vice-chancellors are appointed in their mid-50s (55+) who worked (tolerated) in the same system for 20-30 years.

This type of leadership is complacence and they are afraid to take any risk, which could jeopardise retirement or post-retirement career.

Institutions do not have any transparency, accountability and/or established grievance resolution process. Notoriously delayed justice (of 15-20 years) through judicial courts is only encouraging this practice.

Policies and regulations do not work in absence of good people to implement and enforce. It is high time for India, not just to make additional policies or regulations, but to disrupt the prevailing complacency and culture of mismanagement, harassment and corruption in institutions by recruiting the best scientists in their mid-40s from outside of institutions, as leaders with “animal spirit” (as Dr Manmohan Singh, former prime minister, used to refer to).

These young leaders can take risks to challenge the complacency and change the prevailing culture of corruption and harassment in institutions to bring the much-needed “disruptions” to boost productivity and quality of research in a country of billions.

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DRDO’s cause for Agni test delay under cloud

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By Hemant Kumar Rout Published: 04th July 2016
BHUBANESWAR:The clarification of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on the inordinate delay in test firing of India’s most potent and longest range nuclear capable ballistic missile Agni-V has put a question mark on the competency of the premier arms research and development agency.

DRDO Chief Selvin Christopher has been quoted by a news agency that Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) Agni-V has been stuck due to a technical snag with its battery and not because of any other considerations. Christopher, however, did not respond to confirm the report. Other senior scientists involved in the Agni-V programme also refused to comment.
The fourth test of the home-grown missile, already tested successfully thrice, has been postponed twice. The test holds significance as it would pave way for the missile’s early induction in the armed forces.
On May 8, The Express had run a story titled ‘PM’s US visit trips Agni-V launch plans’ citing that the test was postponed due to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s US visit. Dismissing it, the DRDO Chief was quoted saying there is a problem with the battery and the issue can be resolved. This has, however, raised eyebrows as it appears that the organisation has failed to rectify the fault for the last several months.

Battery is required for on-board electronics which need power. Defence experts said the glitch could not be that big which will take so much time to be rectified.

As it pertains to the defence armaments of the nation, can the DRDO devote so much time for rectifying the glitch?

An eminent national security expert and professor at New Delhi-based Centre for Policy Research (CPR) Bharat Karnad termed it a lame excuse by the DG of DRDO.

“The Agni-V test was originally slated during Autumn of 2015. Is it Christopher’s contention that the supposed battery ‘snag’ is so grievous in nature that ASL, Hyderabad has been unable to fix it for the last nine months?” he wondered.

Actually, Karnad observed that the clarification of the DRDO chief confirms the suspicion that Agni-V testing has been stalled for political reasons to avoid friction with the US.
Indian Express 4 July 2016

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Request for cancellation Post Retirement Contractual Appointment of Sh Avinash Chander as DG, DRDO to save the premier organization from the clutches of corrupt and incompetents officials

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To                                                                                  26th November 2014
Hon’ble Shri Narendra Modi,
Prime Minister,
PMO, South Block,
New Delhi-110011

SUBJECT:   Request for cancellation Post Retirement Contractual Appointment of Sh Avinash Chander as DG, DRDO to save the premier organization from the clutches of corrupt and incompetents officials.  

Sir,

Shri Avinash Chander, DG, DRDO, SA to RM and Secretary, DRD is retiring on 28 November 2014 at age of 64 after getting two unconstitutional & unrequired extensions of two-two years.

As a matter of fact and requirement under FR & SR, a retired Government servant cannot be appointed as Head of the Organisation with all administrative and financial powers after his retirement on contract. There is provision of appointing retired Government servant on need basis following with due prescribed procedure under rules keeping in view of transparency and open opportunity for all eligible persons.

DRDO is very prestigious organisation  for Defence related indigenous R&D with budget of Rs. 15283 crore for FY 2014-2015 but what is fate of 90% + projects of DRDO, Government, media and public knows very well.

DRDO is better known as “Delay Research & Derailed Organisation” and you are committed to revamp DRDO. The whole nation especially the scientific community appreciated your steps and measures taken for DRDO in present and planned for future.

Appointment of Hon’ble Manohar Parrikar, an eminent engineer from IIT as Defence Minister by you was very much appreciated by nation, media and scientific community.

That will definitely help overhauling and revamping of DRDO by eradication of corruption from DRDO, maintain accountability and transparency in DRDO.

The integrity and moral fibre are two main attributes of Government servant but unfortunately Shri Avinash Chander could not maintain these two in his tenure from 31st May 2013 to 28 Nov 2014 as DG, DRDO, SA to RM and Secretary, DRD which is very much evident from the various complaints pending against him before PMO and Cabinet Secretariat.

In his tenure, number of court cases increases in many fold,  Sh Chander set example to promoting and recruiting incompetents (Ms Tesy Thomas promotion to Sc H and her husband CMDR S K Patel‘s appointment as Sc G and after few days he was made Director, QRS). This act follows discontentment among the senior scientists of DRDO.

The number of SC/ST and minorities complaints increased.

Not able to manage media instead of two crores budget for Public Interface.

There was not a single mentionable product/technology delivered instead Sh Chander tried to show the old products again like EDK the MoU was already signed by DRDO in 2012, Chander spends crores of rupees for that in US visit for unacceptable technology, no evidence are of reorganizations of said product internationally because there are  numerous advance technologies are available.

Secondly, the Bio digester, DRDO three times earlier dedicated this to nation and interestingly it is not as said by DRDO spin off technology it is mere only gobar gas plant in the name of innovation of DRDO the said microbes are already found in cow dunk.  One senior scientist from DRDO itself already exposes this propaganda of DRDO to CVC

The contractual appointment after retirement has also been challenged by some citizens before Government and media also highlighted the pro & cons of this matter.

Therefore, it is requested to Hon’ble Sir to cancel the post retirement contractual appointment of Shri Avinash Chander, DG, DRDO, SA to RM and Secretary, DRD before 30th November, the date of his retirement and not continue him further in DRDO in interest of nation and scientists of DRDO.

Regards
Prabhu Dandriyal
www.corruptionindrdo.com
 
Copy to:
Hon’ble Sh ManoharParrikar
Defence Minister
Room No -104, Min. of Defence
South Block
New Deli-110011
Drdo

Why do people want to go private organizations? Is it because they do good work and they are rewarded? Do you have any method of incentives for good work done by scientists? Please elaborate – (CC R&D HR)

1 Comment

As per the reply in Parliament ( LOK SABHA) against UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 596, ANSWERED ON 09.12.2013, the total 487 scientists left from DRDO from 2008 to 30th November 2013. Scientist B- 289, Scientist C- 152, Scientist D – 26, Scientist E-  13, Scientist F – 7.

Why they left – Financial reasons – very few, most young scientists join this great premier scientific organization with great enthusiasm that they will contribute their best to serve the nation, but unfortunately they encounter incompetent, greedy, bosses who got these higher posts on the basis of flattering/corruption /nepotism.

Examples are numerous but this is one real reason “I grew up in a small town called ———— and my father works for ——. All my childhood I spent in scientific community and I dreamt of becoming a scientist one day. I did that and I ignored offers from private sector and Joined DRDO.

The establishment that I joined promised me excellent work in my field of analysis and designing. At 21, I joined and things of course were very indifferent to what I dreamt of.

We had bureaucracy and people were not happy. The organization was something like a hierarchy controlled rather than intellectual oriented. I had an excellent team and my STA’s are one of the best. People never cared to harness their potential. Have no idea why.

Most of the works that we were supposed to do were outsourced; this is one thing that I fought with everybody. I did not want to work for my salary; I wanted to work for pleasure.

Finally, my team was able to deliver some engineering marvels that my superiors said it was impossible to do. My growing frustration with outsourcing was a big issue for me. A single step ahead in the project is like fighting with in.

After 5 years of service, I came to US to pursue my further studies.”

The absolute power to Lab Directors is also a big reason to derail the organizations.

The training of young scientist started with collecting quotations, making specifications, filing indents of not required instruments & items on direction of their bosses to get good APAR and promotions. If the scientist not compromise with his integrity for helping out the corruption of his bosses and Director, then immediately his harassment started by all means including transfers.

One scientist from GTRE, Bangalore genuinely approached the Director for his transfer but the egoist Director after receiving transfer order from DRDO Hqrs told him “ I will see who is going to relieve you if you pressurized me. Your dead body only can only be relieved” It is not a joke and this is the real scenario of DRDO.

The individual  ask transfer without having GOD father in DRDO always get same treatment, his carrier start spoiling by Lab Directors, if Lab Directors is annoyed with any individual of lab means he will going to face social boycott by  whole lab because one try to help him means he will also come under threat zone. Targeted individual start facing each and every step of his day to day work like NO TD, No support for project work, no recommendation for good work, APAR/ACR dropped to average and many more obstacles are common.

If Lab Director sniff that the individual is watching corruption or raising voice for that, it means that that individual is now going to get a kick without following the rules to remotest area with instruction that make sure that this man does not get peace at all.

DRDO has an unwritten thumb rule that when any Lab Director is not happy with any individual it means that he must be transferred to other destination without justifying the reason and the best part of this is that entire DRDO HQRS backsthat egoist corrupt director. This has resulted in the DRDO we know today.

All 25 questions raised by the Cabinet/PMO / Parliament Committee are really the honest approach to make DRDO a productive organization. DRDO is wasting more than two lakh crores worth of infrastructure without any mentionable output. DRDO should accept Genral Mallik’s comment after KARGIL WAR “casualties in the conflict could have been reduced had the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) not come in the way.”

Unfortunately, DRDO still does not understand the importance of the country’s needs. It still wastes money on SDR type of technologies, which already exist, and DRDO is ready to give second extension for PDC, like Sh R C Agarwal, who got a second extension without output.

It is requested DRDO Hqrs now Modi Ji giving full opportunity to save and grow DRDO in real means, अब तो जागो औरभ्रष्टाचार, भाई भतीजावाद, अयोग्य लोगो को आगे बढ़ाने का कार्य बंद करो।  देश के विकास की और देखो।  जय हिन्द 

DR Gausal Khan’s, DIPAS representation also throws light of DRDO culture please go through the following pages.

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Drdo

DRDO gave bogus answer to Hon’ble Parliament via then Defence Minister Shri A.K. Antony

1 Comment

Parliament of India is supreme constitutional institution in which Hon’ble Member of Parliament (MP) can ask questions to Government Ministries regarding issues of public welfare, working of Government, issues of national interest and others as specified by Parliament rules &  procedures with permission of chair.

It is expected that concerned ministries will provide true and correct information to Parliament through concerned minister of the ministry of GOI. The Hon’ble ministers provide the reply to parliament questions based on inputs provided to them by the concerned department. Hon’ble Members of Parliament very frequently put questions in Parliament related to DRDO.

DRDO was having its own cell for preparing the reply to Parliament Questions headed by Dr. J.P. Singh, Scientist ‘F’ under Dte. of Planning & Coordination. Now after implementation of Rama Rao Committee, DRDO has restructure its organization setup and a new Dte of Parliamentary Affairs has been created with effect from 01 Sept 2013 under CCR&D(R&M) and Dr. J.P. Singh, Scientist ‘G’ is the first Director of this Directorate of Parliamentary Affairs. As a matter of fact Dr. J.P. Sigh is highly qualified scientist of DRDO with M.Sc. (Physics), MLISC and Ph.D. but since several years he is posted at DRDO HQ and looking after Parliamentary Affairs in DRDO. Dr. J.P. Singh was promoted as Scientist ‘G’ wef 01 July 2012 and having seniority no. 346 among all Scientist ‘G’ of DRDO as seniority roll as on November 2013,  still by superseding all his seniors he was appointed as Director, Dte of Parliamentary Affairs , DRDO HQ with blessings of his God Father.

To provide false and misleading information to Hon’ble MP’s by any ministry on behalf of the hon’ble minister is disrespect to Parliament and against the decorum of the House. As per Chapter 8: Privileges of Rajya Sabha Manual to provide false & misleading information to Parliament is breach of privileges and contempt of Parliament.

In 15th Lok Sabha, a Parliamentary Question No. 2732 was raised by Hon’ble members of Lok Sabha Shri Pradeep Kumar Singh, Shri Kirti (Jha) Azad and Dr. M.Jagannath which was answered by then Defence Minister Shri A. K. Antony on 10.12.2012. (Copy Annexed as downloaded from Lok Sabha website). The subject of the question sought was “WORKING CONDITIONS OF SCIENTISTS AT DRDO” (Very much relevant to present condition of DRDO)

Ex Defence Minister Shri A. K. Antony answered parliament question no. 2732 regarding extended tenure of DRDO Scientistsand as a practice the answer was prepared by DRDO Parliamentary Affair expert awardee scientist Dr. J. P. Singh who was looking Parliamentary Affairsin Directorate of Planning and Coordination, DRDO HQ in the year 2012.

Dr. J. P. Singh awarded in June 2011 for“Disseminating Information pertaining to DRDO’s Contributions” to the Parliament and its Committees. Subsequently he was also promoted as Scientist ‘G’ after superseding so many scientists who are actually doing science in various Lab/Estt of DRDO and his promotion is clear cut violation of FCS (Flexible Complementary Scheme) guide lines which says FCS benefits strictly for those scientists who are doing science or totally involved in scientific & technical assignments.

The justification for granting service extensions to so called scientists of DRDO now totally exposed and Modi Ji’s Government is taking stern action no output, no undue benefits.

But in respect of answer of  “Whether the Government favours the policy of retaining officers or specialists after their retirement; “ was totally false –DRDO never ever justified the extensions of their scientists, if you see the DOPT guidelines for service extensions FR 56 (d) it is clearly mentioned“the expertise of individuals should be of international stature” but 99% of service extensions given by DRDO to those scientists who has no patents, no international papers, no awards, even their own town does not know about his existence. DRDO posed them like without him the ongoing project will not move a single step but in reality all scientist on extensions 62-64 are either holding the post of DG or CCR&D at DRDO HQ and busy in administrative work only and not contributing in scientific activities (R&D) of DRDO.

It can be found in bio-data of all Distinguished Scientists/Outstanding Scientists on extension after age of 60 years that paper published are from in- house DRDO publications, awards in- house DRDO awards or the awards sponsored ones like by deemed universities who receiving funds from DRDO or societies who also received funds for their day to day activities from DRDO. The gang of bluffer scientists made a grip (मकड़जाल) to confuse and mislead the politicians in the name of indigenous technology development related to Defence.

The one example of the service extension of the so called great scientist as Shri Antony mentioned in his answer “This extension is grantedkeeping in view their knowledge and meritin theconcerned fields. Therefore, DRDO is utilizing rich experience and knowledge of these scientists in on-going research works” is of Shri R. C. Agarwal, Director, DEAL, DRDO, Raipur Road, Dehradun.

As per information of DRDO website he joined DRDO after B. Tech and subsequently he did M. Tech while working in LRDE and he got DRDO various in-house awards but not mentioned the name of awards and type of awards in his bio-data(whether local lab awards). Similarly it is mentioned that he contributed in so many projects (as a team member everyone in DRDO contributed with various project what is special). It is also mentioned that he published number of technical papers in national and international journals (no numbers, no details whether as main author or as co-author). Hence, big question mark is on his bio-data and extension in service)

This great scientist of DRDO nobody knows him in Dehradun what is his national or international existence, only SA knows who forwarded his name to ACC.

He got 60 to 62 years extension in June 2011 just after his bypass surgery in Feb 2011– see the DRDO top HR capability. ( Now everyone knows the capability of DRDO HR as Madras High Court punished  Sh.G MALAKONDIAH, CC (R&D) HR, DRDO with Simple Imprisonment for a period of three weeks and also pay a fine of Rs.2,000/)

In the name of 100 Cr project Software Defined Radio (SDR) (PDC 36 Months) the status of project till date same as in the time of sanction. He purchased SDR 3000, SDR 5000 that was the achievement and spends 57% of funds in his first extension. Take lot of leaves, availed LTC to J&K, second LTC Sikkim etc and wasted precious money of poor tax payers.

Again he got second service extension 62 to 64 years same in the name of Software Defined Radio (SDR) (PDC 36 Months) but nothing mentionable has been done so far, currently project review is going on in Bangalore and the best part is that as Shri Antony told “DRDO utilizing rich experience of scientist” and so called scientist is in 27 days vacation to US and again wasting precious money of poor tax payers.

Can DRDO justifies the extension game –never but who cares to common man question? But Modi ji give hope that now no extension without proper justifications and cases should be initiated at least four months before retirement.

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF     DEFENCE

LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED       QUESTION NO   2732

ANSWERED ON                 10.12.2012

WORKING CONDITIONS OF SCIENTISTS AT DRDO

2732 .   

Singh Shri Pradeep Kumar

Azad Shri Kirti (Jha)

Jagannath Dr. M.

Will the Minister of DEFENCE be pleased to state:-

(a)                Whether dozens of top scientists at the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) are working on extended tenures;

(b)               Whether DRDO is facing the problem of human resource especially shortage of scientists for their projects;

(c)                If so, the details thereof;

(d)               Whether the Government favours the policy of retaining officers or specialists after their retirement; and

(e)               If so, the reasons for retaining them and steps being taken to impart training to new scientists and improve efficiency of DRDO?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF DEFENCE (SHRI A.K. ANTONY)

(a)                Presently, 11 Distinguished (top) Scientists are working in Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on extended tenures.

(b)               (b) & (c): There is no critical shortage of manpower in DRDO. However, a case has been taken up with Government for augmentation of its manpower to meet the requirements of ongoing and future projects.

(c)                (d) & (e): As per existing provision, scientists and technologists can be given extension in service. This extension is granted keeping in view their knowledge and merit in the concerned fields. Therefore, DRDO is utilizing rich experience and knowledge of these scientists in on-going research works.

DRDO has been giving due importance to training. The Organization has dedicated training institutes, such as Targeted Training Centre at Bangalore, Institute of Technology Management (ITM) at Mussoorie, Training Institute at Jodhpur, Military Institute of Training (MILIT) at Pune. DRDO has a well established training policy, whereby training programmes for scientists are organized / sponsored in technical and techno-managerial areas through renowned academic institutes / universities / other organizations from India and abroad.