National Technical Research Organisation

NTRO (National Technical Research Organisation) was conceived as a Premier scientific organization, yet it continues to be more or less in a state of limbo. It’s a premier scientific agency under the National Security Adviser. It was set up in 2004. The National Technical Research Organisation, originally known as the National Technical Facilities Organisation (NTFO), is highly specialized technical intelligence gathering agency.

The agency develops technology capabilities in aviation and remote sensing, data gathering and processing, cyber security, cryptology systems, strategic hardware and software development and strategic monitoring.

In what Circumstances, NTRO was conceived?

NTRO was conceived in the post Kargil period when NDA Government set up a Girish Chandra Saxena task force to suggest measures to revamp of India’s intelligence apparatus. GC Saxena had been a chief of RAW and was Governor of Jammu & Kashmir that that time. His report threw light on huge gaps in the technical intelligence (techint) capabilities of our agencies, both defence and civil. The report discussed that there are two ways to fill this gap. Either each of the intelligence agencies should get additional allocation of funds to build their respective capabilities; or a new techint agency is set up. It was envisaged that this new agency should function in a neutral manner, without itself acquiring the role of an intelligence agency. The task force opted for the recommendation about the latter as National Technical Facilities Organisation (NTFO).

However, it took several years to issue the classified (top secret) notification before NTFO could be created in 2004.The NTFO was meant to attract the best multi-discipline scientific, technical and intelligence talent from within the country and abroad to set up world-class SIGINT, IMINT, CyberINT and cryptography facilities based on cutting-edge technologies. Its inputs were meant to be shared with the various intelligence agencies in real time. The chairman of the NTFO was given considerable discretion in the areas of appointments and acquisitions. To give the organisation greater freedom to fulfil its mandate, it was placed directly under the NSA and the PMO. At the instance of its first Chairman NTFO was renamed as NTRO.

Evaluation of the success/failures of NTRO

NTRO inherited a number of R&AW’s techint assets. An unhealthy rivalry over division of men and material between the parent body, i.e. R&AW and the newborn agency, NTRO has unfortunately set in.

NTRO has been bogged down by serious teething troubles, with squabbles among its hybrid cadres, brought in from the scientific (drawn mainly from the DRDO), intelligence and defence services, accentuated by the absence of approved recruitment rules.

It has also been inundated by a spate of complaints and media leaks by disgruntled and unscrupulous elements, who have been trying to push their personal agendas at the cost of the organization’s future. The appointment of a suitable person to the post of its chairman has been an issue. Thus, NTRO continues to be more or less in a state of limbo, performing far below its potential.