DRDO Reorganization Issue

Presently, the head of DRDO is also the secretary to DRDO and scientific adviser to the defence minister. The government has put forth the proposal of splitting these posts so as to ensure that the Defence Minister gets objective and independent feedback on the performance of DRDO.

There is a also the need to decentralize the DRDO management for speedier decision making. To achieve this purpose the Rama Rao Committee in 2007 recommended for the formation of technology domain based centers or clusters of laboratories under the Directors General. The DG should be given full autonomy in their domain and at the same time should be made accountable for timely execution of projects. Government should also create a commercial arm of DRDO to develop technologies for civilian use.

Also there is a need to increase the private sector participation in defence production. For this the government should come up with innovative funding mechanisms and DRDO must encourage private R&D labs. Without restructuring DRDO with the elements of accountability and transparency, country cannot embark upon the path of indigenization and achieve the aim of Make in India.