Lok Sabha Question No. 1519 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-11-27
Subject: Modernisation of DRDO
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: Vishnu Dayal Ram

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

## DEFENCE RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT ORGANISATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1519

TO BE ANSWERED ON 27 th  November, 2019

## MODERNISATION OF DRDO

## 1519. SHRI VISHNU DAYAL RAM:

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

- (a)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  modernize  the  Defence  Research  and Development Organisation (DRDO);
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether Vijay Kelkar Committee in its report has proposed to adopt state-of-the art technology for this purpose; and
- (d) if so, the details and the implementation status thereof?

## A    N    S    W    E    R

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

(SHRI SHRIPAD NAIK)

रक्षा राज्य मंत्री

( श्री श्रीपाद नाईक )

<!-- image -->

- a) & b): Modernisation of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is a continuous process, wherein new technologies, systems, sub-systems are indigenously  developed  for  Armed  Forces.  In  addition  to  this,  modernisation  of infrastructure facilities is also continuously taken up to support these activities.

DRDO has  over  the  past  decade  given  a  number  of  systems  to  the  Armed Forces viz. Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) 'Tejas', Main Battle Tank (MBT) 'Arjun' Mk-I, Nuclear Biological and Chemical (NBC) Recce Vehicle, Hull Mounted Sonars (HUMSA NG, HUMSA UG), Radars (Weapon Locating Radar (WLR) 'Swathi', 3D Low  Level  Light  Weight  Radar  (LLLWR)  'Aslesha'  Mk-I),  Electronic  Warfare systems  ('Samyukta',  'Varuna'),  Agni,  Prithvi  family  of  missiles,  Akash  Weapon System,  Supersonic  Cruise  Missile  'BrahMos',  Surface  to  Surface  Multi  Barrel Rocket  Launcher  System  'Pinaka'  Mk-I,  Heavy  Weight  Ship  Launched  Torpedo 'Varunastra', Anti-Torpedo Defence System 'Maareech', Computerised Pilot Selection System (CPSS) for Indian Air Force (IAF), Telemedicine System for Navy, Submarine Escape Suit (SES), etc. to name a few.

These  systems  are  contemporary  and  DRDO  products  worth  more  than  Rs. 2.75  lakh  Cr  have  been  inducted  or  are  in  the  process  of  induction  in  the  Services which  have  contributed  immensely  towards  the  development  and  upgradation  of defence equipment in the country which in turn has led to the modernization of the Armed Forces.

- (c)  &  d)  Performance  audit  of  DRDO  labs  is  done  on  case-to-case  basis  by  audit authorities in the last few years. Apart from this, DRDO has been audited by a number of committees in the recent past as listed below:
-  Kelkar committee - suggestions pertaining to DRDO have been implemented
-  Inclusion of representatives of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in Defence Research & Development Board
-  Review of DRDO by an independent committee

On  the  recommendations  of  Kelkar  Committee,  Rama  Rao  Committee  was constituted  in  February,  2007  by  the  Government  on  matters  related  to  DRDO. Suggestions under the purview of DRDO have been implemented.

*****