The Ministry of Defence (MoD) is prioritizing the development of indigenous defence technologies through increased funding for Research and Development (R&D) projects at the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Over the past three years, DRDO has been sanctioned projects totaling Rs 29,558.66 crore. The yearly breakdown of sanctioned projects and costs is as follows: 40 projects (Rs 3,842.71 crore) from January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2023; 43 projects (Rs 22,175.49 crore) from January 1, 2024, to December 31, 2024; and 20 projects (Rs 3,540.46 crore) from January 1, 2025, to date.
Key projects include the Kaveri Derivative Engine (KDE) for remotely piloted strike aircraft, with specific allocations for the Flightworthy Kaveri Dry Engine Development (Rs 472.42 crore) and Technology Demonstration of Kaveri Derivative 'Dry' Engine (Rs 251.17 crore).
To foster civil-military partnerships, the MoD is implementing structural reforms such as identifying Development-cum-Production Partners (DcPP) for faster prototype development and production. Industries are being integrated into academic projects through the DRDO Industry Academia Centre of Excellence (DIACoE). The Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC) is collaborating with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for a common approach to Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) certification, including adopting civil drone certification for lower weight UAVs as provisioned in CEMILAC's IMTAR V2.0. CEMILAC is also engaging with international certification agencies like EASA and ANAC, and aircraft OEMs like Airbus and Embraer.
DRDO has Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with defence industrial corridors like TIDEL Park Ltd and UPEIDA to share knowledge and resources. Fifteen DRDO Industry Academia Centres of Excellence (DIACoE) have been established across the country at institutions like IISc Bangalore, IITs, and Central/State Universities.
DRDO has introduced a new Transfer of Technology (ToT) policy with zero ToT fees for industry partners (DcPP and Development Partner DP) and zero royalty for supplies to the Indian Armed Forces and Government Departments. World-class test facilities in DRDO labs are now accessible to industries, and DRDO patents are available on the DRDO website free of cost.
The Technology Development Fund (TDF) provides financial support to Indian industries for innovative defence product design and development. The Dare to Dream 4.0 contest, launched during Def Expo, encourages innovation through the Indian scientific community, promoting individuals and startups in Defence Aerospace.
This information was provided by Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Sanjay Seth in a written reply to Shri Tejasvi Surya in the Lok Sabha.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Defence: The primary government organization allocating funds for indigenous defence technologies in India.
DRDO: Defence Research and Development Organisation, an agency under the Ministry of Defence, sanctioned projects worth Rs 29,558.66 crore over the last three years.
Kaveri Derivative Engine KDE: Power plant for remotely piloted strike aircraft IUCAV aircraft.
Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification CEMILAC: Certification agency of DRDO, working with DGCA for UAV certification and interacting with EASA, ANAC, Airbus and Embraer for civil-military derivative aircrafts certification.
DGCA: Domestic civil counterpart of CEMILAC, for common approach in Unmanned Aerial Vehicle UAV certification.
Technology Development Fund TDF: A fund launched by DRDO providing financial support to Indian industries for the design development of innovative defence products.
IISc Bangalore, Karnataka: One of the locations where DRDO Industry Academia Centres of Excellence DIACoE has been established to encourage research for defence technologies.
Indian Armed Forces: Beneficiary of zero royalty ToT policy of DRDO.
Ministry of Defence
DEVELOPMENT OF INDIGENOUS DEFENCE
TECHNOLOGIES
Posted On: 25 JUL 2025 3:19PM by PIB Delhi
Ministry of Defence (MoD) is allocating funds towards the R&D for indigenous defence technologies. During
the last three years, DRDO was sanctioned projects worth Rs 29,558.66 crore. The yearly break-up of funds is
as follows:
No. of projects
Year Cost (Rs. in Cr)
sanctioned
01-Jan-2023 to 31-Dec-2023 40 Rs 3,842.71 Cr
01-Jan-2024 to 31-Dec-2024 43 Rs 22,175.49 Cr
01-Jan-2025 till date 20 Rs 3,540.46 Cr
Kaveri Derivative Engine (KDE), is the power plant for the remotely piloted strike aircraft (IUCAV aircraft).
In this regard two projects have been sanctioned namely Flightworthy Kaveri Dry Engine Development with
the cost of Rs 472.42 crore and Technology Demonstration of Kaveri Derivative 'Dry' Engine with the cost of
Rs 251.17 crore.
Several structural reforms are being undertaken to enhance civil-military partnership in the defence
ecosystem. Some of the key reforms are given as under:
· Development-cum-Production-Partners (DcPP) are identified to ensure faster prototype development
and faster transition to production phase, thereby enhancing the defence ecosystem.
· Industries are included in the loop for faster realisation technologies developed through academic
projects, through DRDO Industry Academia-Centre of Excellence (DIA-CoE).
· Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC), the certification agency of DRDO, is
working closely with its domestic civil counterpart i.e. DGCA for common approach in Unmanned Aerial
Vehicle (UAV) certification. CEMILAC’s MoD approved guiding document certification IMTAR V2.0 has
provisioned the adoption of civil drone certification for lower weight UAV thus enabling common
certification criteria for both civil military use.
· CEMILAC is also interacting with certification agencies (EASA & ANAC) and aircraft OEM (Airbus
& Embraer) for civil-military derivative aircrafts methodology for certification so that domestic DcPP can
obtain certification in India.
· DRDO has entered into MOUs with defence industrial corridors TIDEL Park Ltd and UPEIDA to
collaborate as knowledge partner for sharing of ideas, resources and expertise for development of Defence
Industrial Corridors.
· DRDO has established 15 DRDO Industry Academia Centres of Excellence (DIA-CoE) across the
country at IISc Bangalore, various IITs and Central/State Universities to encourage directed research for
developing new technologies for defence and security in identified areas.
· DRDO has evolved a new ToT policy and procedures with zero ToT fee for its industry partners
(Development cum Production Partners (DcPP)/ Development Partner (DP)) and zero royalty for supply to
Indian Armed Forces and Govt Deptt.· Several world class test facilities have now been opened for industries in DRDO labs and necessary
SOP has been formulated.
· DRDO patents are available on DRDO website for use by industries. These patents are available free of
cost to industries to enable Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
· DRDO has launched Technology Development Fund (TDF) which provides financial support to the
Indian industries for the design development of innovative defence products.
· Dare to Dream 4.0 contest as launched during Def Expo with 10 problem statements to encourage
innovation through the Indian scientific community. Dare to Dream is a scheme to promote individuals and
start-ups for innovations in Defence & Aerospace.
This information was given by Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Sanjay Seth in a written reply to Shri Tejasvi Surya
in the Lok Sabha today.
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VK/Savvy/Nirmit
(Release ID: 2148337)