By Staff Correspondent
In a move that has captured the attention of defence circles and policy analysts alike, the Indian Government has again focused on the Defense Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), initiating a comprehensive review of its operations. This decision comes a mere 15 years after the last major restructuring, based on the recommendations of the Dr. P. Rama Rao Committee.
Leading the charge is the newly formed nine-member committee, headed by Prof. Vijay Raghavan, a distinguished former Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India. The committee boasts a varied panel, drawing expertise from the military, industrial, scientific, academic, and financial sectors. As reported by Shishir Gupta in The Hindustan Times on 23 August 2023, the committee’s mandate is extensive, tasking them with redefining the role of Defense R&D and the DRDO, fostering academia and industry collaboration, implementing a performance-linked incentive system, and modernizing administrative and financial processes, among other responsibilities.
This review process, while not unprecedented, raises questions about the necessity of such an overhaul in a relatively short period, especially given the apparent progress and initiatives undertaken by the DRDO in recent years. According to the Standing Committee on Defence’s March 2023 report, the organisation has made significant strides, particularly in terms of private sector integration and technology development.
However, this recent directive from the Ministry of Defence signals a different narrative, suggesting that the DRDO has not lived up to expectations despite the absence of any major missteps in recent months. This discrepancy places the Raghavan Committee in a precarious position, as they are tasked with diagnosing systemic issues within a tight three-month deadline amidst potential preconceived notions about the DRDO’s functionality.
The challenge is further compounded by the fact that the DRDO has actively sought to address organisational and functional shortcomings over the past fifteen years, albeit with limited success. The committee is now burdened with the task of not only identifying the reasons behind these shortcomings but also proposing innovative and effective solutions, potentially revisiting past recommendations such as the establishment of a Board of Research for Advanced Defence Sciences.
In light of the government’s push for increased private sector involvement in defence, it is anticipated that the Raghavan Committee will champion measures to expand this role in R&D. Nevertheless, the solution does not solely lie in structural changes or enhanced private sector participation. A holistic approach, encompassing policy reform, strategic role definition for the DRDO, and minimising bureaucratic control, is imperative for achieving meaningful progress in defence R&D.
As financial constraints continue to loom, with R&D allocation witnessing a decline from 6.38% of the total defence outlay in 2018-19 to 5.1% in 2023-24, the committee’s recommendations must also address this critical aspect. The outcome of the Raghavan Committee’s deliberations is a pivotal moment for the DRDO, with the potential to shape India’s defence research and development trajectory for years to come.
