Lok Sabha Question No. 3662 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-21
Subject: Research and Development Projects at JCBCAT
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: Shri Jagannath Sarkar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE DEFENCE RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT ORGANISATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3662

TO BE ANSWERED ON 21 st  March, 2025

## RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS AT JCBCAT

3662. SHRI JAGANNATH SARKAR:

Will the Minister of DEFENCE be pleased to state:

(a)  the  status  of  ongoing  research  and  development  projects  at  the  Jagadish  Chandra  Bose Centre  for  Advanced  Technology  (JCBCAT)  including  key  focus  areas  and  notable achievements made so far;

(b) the total number of scientists, professors and students who are currently engaged in research at JCBCAT along with a breakdown of their roles and contributions to various projects;

(c)  whether  there  are  plans  to  expand  the  scope  of  research  and  development  activities  at JCBCAT and if so, the details thereof including the specific areas being prioritized; and

(d) the details of future projects and emerging technologies which are being considered for development at JCBCAT particularly in research verticals such as unmanned robotics, directed energy weapons, secure systems, and other defence applications?

## A  N  S  W  E  R

## MINISTER OF STATE (SHRI SANJAY SETH) IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

(a):  The functional modalities of JCBCAT at Jadavpur University have been changed from self-accounting  unit  of  DRDO  to  academia  managed  DRDO  Industry  Academia  Centre  of Excellence  (DIA-CoE),  with  the  approval  of  Hon'ble  Raksha  Mantri.  This  DIA-CoE  is operating  from  IIT  Kharagpur.  All  the  ongoing  research  activities  of  JCBCAT  are  now managed by DIA-CoE, IIT Kharagpur.

JCBCAT had following key focus areas: -

- i. Unmanned and Robotics Technologies.
- ii. Secured Systems and Cognitive Technologies.
- iii. Directed Energy Technologies.

(b):    24  Grants-in-Aid  projects  were  sanctioned  to  JCBCAT.  The  details  of  Professors, Researchers and Scientists from DRDO labs are as following: -

- i. Ongoing projects (3 Nos.):  Professors: 10 Nos.; Researchers: 20 Nos.; Scientist from stake holding DRDO labs: 10 Nos.

- ii. Closed projects (21 Nos.): Professors: 65 Nos.; Researchers: 80 Nos.; Scientist from stake holding DRDO labs: 63 Nos.

The  projects  of  JCBCAT  have  been  transferred  to  DIA-CoE  IIT  Kharagpur  for monitoring and governance. The engagements of the Professors are as Principle Investigators (PI)  and  as  Co-principle  investigators  of  the  projects  for  executing  the  technical  activities. Scientists from stake holding labs are involved as co-developer &  provide regular inputs/feedback to the PIs for the progress of the project. Additionally, JRFs, SRFs, Research Associates and other technical manpower are recruited for the project activities.

(c)  &  (d):    Yes,  Sir.  DRDO  has  taken  initiative  to  further  expand  the  scope  of  research  at JCBCAT by adding new research areas like 'Underwater Robotics', 'Cyber physical defence systems' and 'Quality and Reliability and Safety Studies', to meet the futuristic technology requirement.

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