SOURCE: AFI
The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has ambitious plans to restructure the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) within the first 100 days of its third term in power. However, resistance from senior DRDO officials has hindered the implementation of these recommended changes.
To expedite the restructuring process, the DRDO headquarters established an Overseeing Committee chaired by Dr Samir Kamat, the organization’s chairman and secretary of the Department of Defence Research and Development. This committee, along with thirteen specialized committees led by DRDO director generals, was tasked with ensuring timely implementation of the VijayRaghavan panel’s recommendations.
August 31 was initially set as the deadline for completing the reforms or, at the very least, establishing clear milestones for those that could not be fully implemented. Despite these efforts, internal resistance within the DRDO has persisted, complicating the reform process.
In a significant development, Dr Samir Kamat received a one-year extension beyond his scheduled retirement on May 31. This extension underscores his critical role in overseeing the implementation of the proposed changes and suggests the government’s determination to push forward with the reforms.
However, the ongoing pushback from within the DRDO raises concerns about whether the long-awaited restructuring will be achieved on time. The PMO’s ambitious plans face a formidable challenge in overcoming the entrenched interests and resistance within the organization. The success of these reforms will ultimately depend on the government’s ability to navigate these obstacles and drive change from within the DRDO.