Lok Sabha Question No. 3307 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-08-05
Subject: Defence Research Institutes
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: Pushpendra Singh Chandel

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

## DEFENCE RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT ORGANISATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3307

TO BE ANSWERED ON 05 th  August, 2022

## DEFENCE RESEARCH INSTITUTES

3307. SHRI KUNWAR PUSHPENDRA SINGH CHANDEL:

Will the Minister of DEFENCE be pleased to state:

- (a) the total number of defence research institutes in the country;
- (b) whether the Government has taken any initiatives for promoting research in the defence sector;
- (c) if so, the details thereof; and

(d) the funds spent on the defence research during the last five years?

## A  N  S  W  E  R

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

(SHRI AJAY BHATT)

(a):    As  on  date,  there  are  46  Labs/Estts  including  five  Young  Scientists  Laboratories  of DRDO in the country.

(b) & (c):  Yes, Sir. The Government has taken following initiatives for promoting research in the defence sector:

-  Creation of five Young Scientists Laboratories (DYSLs) to motivate youth for newer innovations- DRDO has created five DRDO Young Scientists Laboratories (DYSLs) to attract  young  Scientists/Engineers  to  join  DRDO  and  provide  R&D  environment  in emerging engineering fields and advanced technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Quantum Technologies, Cognitive Technologies, Asymmetric Technologies and Smart materials and provide adequate freedom to young scientists to prove their talent.
-  DRDO has  introduced  a  scheme  of  Research  Fellowships  to  provide  opportunity  to bright,  young  scientists/Engineers  to  carry  out  research  work  leading  to  earning  of higher qualification or for acquisition of research experience.  Further, other schemes like  Grants-in-Aid  Scheme  by  Extramural  Research  &  Intellectual  Property  Rights (ER&IPR), various Schemes/MOUs under Research Boards, Exhibitions, inter school and inter college level competitions etc. have also been initiated by DRDO to generate interest in Defence Technologies among school and college students.

-  Paid Apprenticeship Scheme, Internship to B. Tech/ M.Tech/ M.Sc Students, Exhibitions, inter-college level competitions etc. have also been initiated by DRDO to generate interest in Defence Technologies among school and college students.
-  Defence  Industry  Academia  Centre  of  Excellence  (DIA-CoE):  DRDO  is  providing financial  support  through  the  DIA-CoE  in  IITs/Universities  to  undertake  science  and technology projects and to create special tests facilities in theses DRDO funded centres. Currently, 10 such DIA-CoE have been established so far by DRDO.
-  Cyber and Artificial Intelligence (AI) Courses: DRDO has conducted certified courses in  AI  &  Machine Learning (ML) and so far more than 1000 professionals have been trained in these domains.
-  Collaboration  between  higher  educational  institution  and  DRDO  through  fellowships sponsored under Ministry of Human Resource Development funded institutions: Under this scheme, 500 students have been sponsored for PhD programmes in AICTE/Centrally Funded Technical Institutes under the Ministry of Human Resource Development  to  work  on  various  DRDO  projects  thereby  attracting  young  research scholars and provide them working exposures to state-of-the-art Defence technologies, high end research and development activities of DRDO.  Under this scheme, students get the opportunities to have first-hand experience of the ongoing R&D project in niche technology area.
-  Directorate  of  Technology  Development  Fund  (TDF):  TDF  was  created  for  projects under  Technology  Development  Scheme.    The  scheme  encourages  participation  of public/private industries especially MSMEs and Start-ups, so as to create an eco-system for enhancing cutting edge technology capability for defence application.

(d):    The  details  of  funds  spent  during  the  last  five  years  by  the  Department  of  Defence Research & Development (DD R&D) is as under:-

(Rs. in crore)

| Year    |   DD R&DExp |
|---------|-------------|
| 2017-18 |     15203   |
| 2018-19 |     17049   |
| 2019-20 |     17375.1 |
| 2020-21 |     15707   |
| 2021-22 |     18291   |

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