This document is an unstarred question (No. 3222) raised in the Lok Sabha on August 8, 2025, concerning delays in defence pilot projects under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The question, posed by Members of Parliament Shri Manickam Tagore, Shri Vijayakumar Alias Vijay Vasanth, and Shri Suresh Kumar Shetkar, seeks information on: (a) the number of delayed defence pilot projects and associated cost escalations; (b) details of defence pilot projects failing to meet objectives despite substantial expenditure; (c) whether accountability has been fixed for delays and independent audits conducted; (d) whether projects were sanctioned without adequate strategic justification and steps taken to prevent unproductive spending; (e) the involvement of foreign private contractors in delayed projects; and (f) whether complaints have been received from the Armed Forces regarding delays in critical defence pilot projects.
The Minister of State in the Ministry of Defence, Shri Sanjay Seth, responded that DRDO does not undertake projects categorized as "Pilot Projects," but rather "Mission Mode (MM) Projects" to deliver state-of-the-art weapon systems and platforms to the Indian Armed Forces. Consequently, questions (b) through (f) do not arise.
Key Entities Referenced
DEFENCE RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT ORGANISATION: An organisation under the Ministry of Defence, responsible for research and development of defence technologies.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India, where the question was raised.
SHRI MANICKAM TAGORE B: Member of Parliament who raised a question in the Lok Sabha.
SHRI VIJAYAKUMAR ALIAS VIJAY VASANTH: Member of Parliament who raised a question in the Lok Sabha.
SHRI SURESH KUMAR SHETKAR: Member of Parliament who raised a question in the Lok Sabha.
Indian Armed Forces: The military forces of India, the intended recipient of weapons systems and platforms developed by DRDO.
SHRI SANJAY SETH: Minister of State in the Ministry of Defence who provided the answer to the Lok Sabha question.
Mission Mode MM Projects: Projects undertaken by DRDO to deliver State-of-the-Art weapons systems and platforms to the Indian Armed Forces.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
DEFENCE RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT ORGANISATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3222
TO BE ANSWERED ON 08th AUGUST, 2025
DELAY IN DEFENCE PILOT PROJECTS
3222. SHRI MANICKAM TAGORE B:
SHRI VIJAYAKUMAR ALIAS VIJAY VASANTH:
SHRI SURESH KUMAR SHETKAR:
Will the Minister of DEFENCE be pleased to state:
(a) the number of delayed defence pilot projects along with the total cost escalation due to such
delays;
(b) the details of defence pilot projects which have failed to meet their objectives despite
substantial expenditure;
(c) whether the Government has identified/fixed accountability on anyone for such delays and
conducted any independent audit in this regard during the last five years, if so, the details
thereof;
(d) whether it is a fact that several pilot projects in the defence sector were sanctioned without
adequate strategic justification and if so, the details thereof along with the steps taken by the
Government to prevent further wastage of public funds on unproductive/non-priority defence
projects;
(e) whether any foreign/private contractors were involved in these delayed defence projects, if
so, the details thereof; and
(f) whether the Government has received any complaints/representations from the Armed
Forces regarding the delays in critical defence pilot projects and if so, the details thereof?
A N S W E R
MINISTER OF STATE (SHRI SANJAY SETH)
IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
(a) DRDO does not undertake any project under the category of Pilot Project. DRDO
undertakes Mission Mode (MM) Projects to deliver State-of-the-Art weapons systems and
platform to Indian Armed Forces.
(b) to (f) Does not arise in view of (a) above.
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