Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Defence addresses questions regarding DRDO's development of new defence technologies, collaboration promotion, initiatives for emerging technologies, attraction of youth to defence research, and intellectual property protection. The response details DRDO's project accomplishments, collaboration strategies with academic institutions and private startups, and schemes to attract youth and innovators into defence research careers. It also explains the measures taken to ensure intellectual property protection and commercialization of defence innovations.
Key Points / Main Content:
DRDO Project Accomplishments:
* DRDO completed 138 projects in the last three years, with 48 projects in 2023 (Rs. 4269.27 Cr), 60 in 2024 (Rs. 3989.97 Cr), and 30 in 2025 (Rs. 1859.89 Cr).
* Major projects completed include Nag Mk2, Astra Mk2, Anti-Drone Air Defence System, Heavy Drop System for C130/C17 Aircraft, Assault Rifle, EW Systems for Capital Ships and several others.
Collaboration and Engagement:
* DRDO collaborates with industry and academic institutes to strengthen national security requirements.
* The Long Term Directed Research Policy supports industry engagement through academia, allowing industry involvement in DIACOE projects via ToT or Technology Enhancement.
* The Directorate of ERIPR supports research activities in academic institutions and R&D centers through the Grants-in-Aid (GIA) scheme, including Extramural Research (ER) and Research Boards (ARDB, ARMREB, NRB, LSRB).
* The Technology Development Fund (TDF) Scheme integrates public and private sector industries, especially MSMEs and startups, to innovate in defence and dual-use technologies under DRDO mentorship.
Emerging Technologies:
* Deep Tech areas like AI, Quantum Technology, Hypersonics, etc., are identified for focused research.
* Project proposal formats are improved and flexibility is provided for project expenditure and manpower recruitment to fast-track development and deployment.
Attracting Youth and Innovators:
* Research Fellowship schemes provide opportunities for young scientists/engineers to conduct research.
* 500 students are sponsored for PhD programs in MHRD-funded institutions to work on DRDO projects.
* Five DRDO Young Scientists Laboratories (DYSLs) encourage innovation in emerging fields for scientists/engineers under 35.
* DRDO Paid Internship Programme offers opportunities to work on defence R&D activities.
* A two-year Post Induction Training School (POINTS) Programme offers M.Tech in Defence Technologies in collaboration with DIAT, Pune.
* A Join DRDO campaign video and web application are launched to attract young talent, along with outreach programs in collaboration with State Governments.
Intellectual Property Protection:
* DRDO ensures intellectual property protection by filing IPR applications (patents, designs, copyrights, trademarks) for innovations.
* DRDO has empanelled 10 IP attorney firms for filing IPR applications.
* Granted Indian patents are licensed royalty-free to Indian industry under the Make in India program. (List of 972 granted patents available on DRDO website)
* Outreach and awareness programs are conducted to promote IPR culture.
Impact Analysis:
DRDO:
* Impact: DRDO is tasked with executing numerous research projects, fostering collaborations, attracting young talent, and protecting intellectual property.
* Action Required: Continue to execute projects, manage collaborations, administer fellowship and internship programs, and file/manage IPR applications.
Academic Institutions and R&D Centers:
* Impact: These institutions can receive funding and collaborate with DRDO on research projects.
* Action Required: Apply for funding through the GIA scheme, participate in collaborative research projects, and engage with DRDO through various initiatives.
Private Sector Industries (MSMEs, Startups):
* Impact: Companies can engage in technology development and commercialization with DRDO.
* Action Required: Participate in the TDF Scheme, collaborate with DRDO on projects, license granted patents for commercialization, and engage in technology transfer initiatives.
Young Scientists, Engineers, and Students:
* Impact: Opportunities for research, fellowships, internships, and career paths in defence research.
* Action Required: Apply for fellowships, internships, and positions within DRDO, participate in outreach programs, and engage with DRDO through various initiatives.
Indian Armed Forces:
* Impact: Benefit from the development and deployment of new defence technologies and innovations.
* Action Required: Collaborate with DRDO in identifying technology needs, participate in trials and evaluations of new technologies, and adopt new defence technologies for operational use.
Key Entities Referenced
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO): An organization under the Ministry of Defence responsible for research and development of defence technologies.
Astra Mk2: A specific type of missile developed by DRDO.
Technology Development Fund (TDF) Scheme: A scheme to integrate public and private sector industries, especially MSMEs and startups, to promote innovation, research, and development of defence and dual-use technologies.
Artificial Intelligence (AI): An emerging technology being developed and deployed by DRDO.
DRDO Young Scientists Laboratories (DYSLs): Laboratories created by DRDO to encourage innovation and incubation among young scientists and engineers.
Make in India: A Government of India program to encourage domestic manufacturing, under which DRDO is licensing granted patents to Indian industry on a royalty-free basis.
Defence Institute of Advanced Technology (DIAT), Pune, Maharashtra: An institution collaborating with DRDO to offer M.Tech programs in Defence Technologies for newly recruited scientists.
Indian Army: A branch of the Indian Armed Forces that uses the Laser Ordnance Disposal System.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
DEFENCE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ORGANISATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1029
TO BE ANSWERED ON 25th July, 2025
DEVELOPMENT OF NEW DEFENCE TECHNOLOGIES BY DRDO
1029. SHRI ANUP SANJAY DHOTRE:
Will the Minister of DEFENCE be pleased to state:
(a) the details of recent accomplishments of the Defence Research and Development
Organisation (DRDO) in developing new defence technologies;
(b) the manner in which the Government is promoting collaboration between DRDO, academic
institutions and private startups;
(c) the details of existing initiatives to fast-track the development and deployment of emerging
technologies like artificial intelligence, robotics and hypersonics;
(d) whether these schemes attracts youth and innovators into defence research careers and if
so, the details thereof; and
(e) the manner in which the Government ensures intellectual property protection and
commercialization of defence innovations?
A N S W E R
MINISTER OF STATE (SHRI SANJAY SETH)
IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
(a) DRDO has successfully completed 138 projects during the last three years. Yearly break-
up is
Year No. of projects Cost (Rs. in Cr.)
completed
01-Jan-2023 to 31-Dec-2023 48 Rs. 4269.27 Cr.
01-Jan-2024 to 31-Dec-2024 60 Rs. 3989.97 Cr.
01-Jan-2025 till date 30 Rs. 1859.89 Cr.
Some of the major Projects completed are:
Nag Mk-2, Astra Mk-2, Dhruvastra-Air to Surface Missile, Anti-Tank Guided Missile for
MBT Arjun MK-II, Solid Fuel Ducted Rocket Ramjet Technology for Air Launched Tactical
Missiles, Anti-Drone Air-Defence System, Mission Planning System and Dual mode Seekers
for Terminal Guidance, Radome for AESA Radar, Hemispherical Resonating Gyroscope
(HRG), Terahertz Proximity Sensor, Delivery of Third AEW&C Aircraft System to IAF,
…2/--2-
High-Speed expendable Aerial Target ‘Abhyas’, Unmanned Small Airship System, Anti-Icing
System of a Gas Turbine Engine, Heavy Drop System for C-130 & C-17 Aircraft, Assault
Rifle, Light Machine Gun, Mounted Gun System, Improved Propulsion System for 120mm &
125mm Tank Gun Ammunition, Futuristic High Explosive Technologies, Landing Gear for 1
t class UAV, Wheeled Armoured Platform (WhAP) CBRN, Supersonic Missile Assisted
Release of Torpedo, Advanced Technologies for Torpedo Defence System, Ground based
Integrated EW Systems, Discrete and Portable COMINT Stations for Mountains, EW Systems
for Capital Ships, Aircrafts & Helicopter of Indian Navy, NextGen Microwave Receiver
Modules for EW Applications, D-Jag System Internal RWJ System for Jaguar DARIN III
Upgrade Aircraft, Tactical Radios for Land Systems, Data Links for Airborne Platforms,
Compact Transhorizon Communication System, Advanced SATCOM Technologies &
System, InfraRed Search and Track Technologies, Hyper Spectral Imaging Technologies &
Infrastructure, Advanced Laser Threat Detection System for Armoured Fighting Vehicles,
Micro-optics and Freeform Optics based Devices, Ku-band Transmitter for Mobile
Troposcatter System, Laser Ordnance Disposal System for Indian Army, Beam Combined
Fiber Laser Source, Photonics Radar, Surface Wave Over The Horizon Radar, Operational
Planning and Management System, Indigenous Geographical Information System for Tri-
Services, Laser Diode Technology, GaN HEMT based MMICs for Applications up to X-band,
Nuclear Defence Technologies for Armed Forces, Biomechanical Human Endurance Machine,
Thermal Infrared Signature Technologies, Oxygen Solution for High and Extreme Altitudes
etc.
(b) DRDO, Industry and Academic Institutes are collaborating for carrying out Directed
Research and translating research to technology for strengthening the future requirements of
national safety and security. To support the engagement of startups, MSMEs and private
industry, Long Term Directed Research Policy of industry engagement through academia has
been launched. The policy provides the guidelines for involving the industry in DIA-COE
projects either through ToT or for Technology Enhancement by engaging industry as Co-PI
(Principal Investigator).
Directorate of ER&IPR, under the Grants-in-Aid (GIA) scheme, supports research activities in
academic institutions and R&D centres for the development of technologies for its ongoing
and future projects. The GIA funding is provided through Extramural Research (ER) Scheme
and four Research Boards (RBs), namely, Aeronautics Research & Development Board
(AR&DB), Armament Research Board (ARMREB), Naval Research Board (NRB), and Life
Sciences Research Board (LSRB). Directorate of ER&IPR provides funding support to Indian
Academia and R&D Centres for basic and applied research where current TRL of the proposed
technology is between 1 and 3.
The funding opportunity is equally open to all the Institutions/ Colleges/ Universities/ R&D
Centres and the directorate gives weightage to the requirement of DRDO labs and the expertise
of the investigator.
…3/--3-
Technology Development Fund (TDF) Scheme is a unique mechanism to integrate the public
and private sector industries especially MSMEs and startups that may work in collaboration
with the academia or research institutions to carry out innovation, research and development
of defence and dual use technologies under the mentorship of DRDO.
(c) Deep Tech areas including AI, Quantum Technology, Directed Energy, Advanced
Materials, Hypersonic, UAVs etc. are identified by the competent authority. DIA-CoEs are
also carrying research in these specialized areas as per their identified research verticals. To
fast track the development and deployment process, project proposal format are
revised/improved, flexibility of recruiting research manpower in projects, flexibility to use
available funds among different heads of project expenditure without immediate concurrence
and also joint Academia-Industry project SOP is promulgated.
(d) The following schemes are available in DRDO to attract youth and innovators into defence
research careers: -
(i) Scheme of Research Fellowships: DRDO introduced a scheme of Research
Fellowships to provide opportunity to bright, young scientists or engineers to carry out
research work leading to earning of higher qualification or for acquisition of research
experience. In addition to this, 500 students have been sponsored for PhD programmes under
MHRD funded institutions to work on various DRDO projects thereby attracting young
research scholars and provide them working exposure to state-of-the-art defence
technologies.
(ii) DRDO Young Scientists Laboratories (DYSLs): DRDO has created five DRDO Young
Scientists Laboratories (DYSLs) to encourage innovation and incubation, through
empowerment of young Scientists/ Engineers below 35 years of age 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 an adequate freedom to young scientists to
prove their talent.
(iii) DRDO Paid Internship Programme: DRDO offers an internship programme for
students pursuing their graduation/post-graduation in relevant disciplines of engineering and
science. This initiative offers unique opportunity to aspiring professionals to work on high-
impact defence R&D activities alongside some of the country’s brightest minds. This
practical experience shall strengthen the technical knowledge of students for future roles in
advanced research & engineering within defence technology.
(iv) An extended two years Post Induction Training School (POINTS) Programme for
newly recruited scientists of DRDO by offering M.Tech in Defence Technologies has been
introduced in collaboration with DIAT, Pune.
…4/--4-
(v) In order to attract/support young talent and innovation in Defence R&D, an exclusive
Join DRDO campaign video highlighting the opportunities available has been launched on
DRDO website and a web based application to capture the research interest of bright minds
of the country. DRDO is also conducting outreach programmes to attract young talents by
participating in job fairs, exhibition, etc. in various states in collaboration with State
Government authorities and encourage them to join DRDO.
(e) DRDO is ensuring intellectual property protection by filing IPR applications on
innovations made by DRDO, Academia and Indian Industry by filing various forms of IP like
patents, designs, copyrights, trademarks etc. DRDO has empanelled 10 renowned IP attorney
firms for filing of all IPR applications of DRDO. DRDO has also taken up licensing of all
Indian granted patents on a royalty free basis to the Indian industry under the Make in India
program of the Government of India (List of 972 granted patents available on DRDO website).
DRDO is also conducting various outreach and awareness programs to promote IPR culture
among DRDO, Academia and Indian Industry.
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