Lok Sabha Question No. 2782 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-11
Subject: Scientists Leaving DRDO
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: Vishnu Dayal Ram

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

## DEFENCE RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT ORGANISATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2782

TO BE ANSWERED ON 11 th  March, 2020

## SCIENTISTS LEAVING DRDO

2782. SHRI VISHNU DAYAL RAM:

Will the Minister of DEFENCE j{kk ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) the statistics of the number of scientists who have quit their jobs in DRDO during the last five years, year-wise;
- (b) the reasons for which the scientists are quitting jobs from DRDO; and
- (c) the steps being taken by the Ministry to retain talent in DRDO?

## A    N    S    W    E    R

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

(SHRI SHRIPAD NAIK)

रक्षा राज्य मंत्री

( श्री श्रीपाद नाईक )

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- (a)  &  (b):    In  total  132  number  of  scientists  left  DRDO  during  last  five  years  on personal grounds.  The year-wise details are as follows:
- (c)  In order to arrest the brain drain and make the career of Scientists in DRDO more lucrative, the following incentives are given to Scientists in DRDO:-

| Year   |   Nos. |
|--------|--------|
| 2015   |     37 |
| 2016   |     38 |
| 2017   |     22 |
| 2018   |     17 |
| 2019   |     18 |
| Total  |    132 |

## Financial Incentives:

-  Professional  Update  Allowance: Scientist  'B',  'C'  &  'D'  are  granted  Rs. 22,500 p.a., Scientists 'E' & 'F' Rs.45,000/- p.a. and Scientists 'G'  and above Rs.67,500 p.a. as Professional Update Allowance.
-  Additional Increments: There was a provision of two additional increments for the Scientists C, D, E & F at Level 11, 12, 13 & 13A respectively in the Pay Matrix in 7 th Central  Pay Commission (CPC) terms. However, as of now the same have been stopped by PCDA.  A case has been taken up by this HQ with CGDA to resume the payment of two additional increments.
-  Variable Increments: Up to six increments are granted to deserving Scientists at the time of promotion under Flexible Complementing Scheme (FCS) based promotion  scheme  on  the  basis  of  the  performance  of  the  Scientists  in Assessment Board.
-  Special  Pay: A  special  pay  of  Rs.2000  (5 th CPC)/Rs.4000  (6 th CPC)  was granted to Scientists 'G' in lieu of higher pay scale through Cabinet sanction. The grant  of  special  pay  has  been  discontinued  in  7 th CPC  as  part  of  list  of allowances recommended for abolition.

## Career Growth related incentives:

-  DRDO follows  the  Merit  based  Flexible  Complementing  Scheme  (FCS)  for Defence  Research  Development  Services  (DRDS)  Cadre,  where  promotions are  based  purely  on  merit  without  any  linkage  to  availability  of  vacancies  or seniority.  The merit is assessed by the duly constituted Assessment Board for the purpose.  Under the FCS, Scientist  recruited at the level of Sc 'B' in the feeder grade of Gp 'A' can move up to the level of scientist 'H' in Level 15 Higher Administrative Grade (HAG)  scale and thereafter, the level of Distinguished Scientist in the Level 16 (HAG + scale), which is achievable on personal up-gradation basis.

DRDO has conventional parity with Deptt. of Atomic Energy (DAE) & Deptt. of Space (DOS).  The Incentives upto 06 Variable increments to Scientists, Professional Update  Allowance  are  applicable  to  all  the  three  organizations  and  derive  their authority  from  the  common letters issued by  Ministry of Finance for three strategic departments.

DRDO has  been  requesting  for  PRIS  (O)-Organizational  (20%)  and  PRIS  (G)Group  (10%)  two  components  of  Performance  Related  Incentive  Scheme  (PRIS) available to other strategic scientific organizations namely DAE and DOS, but not to DRDO.

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