DRDO Chief sacked?

[Indo-guy]

Nuclear scientist Sekhar Basu likely to be named new DRDO chief - Firstpost

Vadachi Sal Pimpalala

 

[third eye]

That is your opinion .

I believe for amount of money invested by GOI as compared to other nations and number of hurdles they faced ...DRDO has done satisfactory job .

Hi @sancho

The armed forces do not find what the DRDO does to be anywhere near acceptable leave alone ' satisfactory" .

 

[Abingdonboy]

The armed forces do not find what the DRDO does to be anywhere near acceptable leave alone ' satisfactory" .

One can't make such sweeping statements bro. In some areas the DRDO's efforts are satisfactory and in other areas they are sub-par.

 

[Indo-guy]

The armed forces do not find what the DRDO does to be anywhere near acceptable leave alone ' satisfactory" .

so you mean armed forces are going to reject all the missiles developed by DRDO ?
I guess based on your version - armed forces should dismantle the various missile systems such as Prithvi, Dhanush , Agni and so on ...

 

[third eye]

One can't make such sweeping statements bro. In some areas the DRDO's efforts are satisfactory and in other areas they are sub-par.

Thats why its Chief gets marching orders.

Good money gets paid, Yes they need not score a perfect 10 but should come close.

 

[Water Car Engineer]

 

[Kinetic]

Parrikar says DRDO chief Avinash Chander too old for the job
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-new ... 06625.aspx


.
Chander, 64, may have only 17 days left in the hot seat but he’s
still focused on India’s strategic missile programme, which he
helped shape. Hours after receiving his exit order, the outgoing
DRDO chief told HT exclusively, “I don’t have much time left but
my priority will be to ensure that we conduct the third test of the
Agni-V missile before January 31.”
This will be the 5,000-km range missile’s first canister launch
aimed at injecting more mobility and flexibility into the weapon
system.
“Early induction will boost the military’s capabilities. The test will
be a crucial step towards the missile’s induction and will enhance
our strategic deterrence considerably,” said the man behind the
Agni series of missiles, whose existing variants can hit targets at
ranges of 700 km to 3,500 km.
It will be critical for Chander’s successor to keep the induction of
the 4,000-km range Agni-IV and 5,000-km Agni-V missiles on
schedule.




The decision was good but I am literally angry how Modi govt handled this. Dr Chander must be going but it could have been much better than this.





An old article pointing out the issue....

An old age problem -DRDO has become ageing body with top scientists on extension
Posted on October 3, 2014 by admin

For a country that boasts of one of the youngest populations in the world, it is strange that the field that perhaps deals with the most cutting-edge technology is dominated by scientists past their prime. Most top scientists at the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) who are tasked with creating future weapons are past the retirement age of 60 and are on service extensions.

Indeed, such is the state of affairs that the head of the research organisation, which encompasses 54 establishments and labs dealing with fields as diverse as ballistic missile defence and insect repellent cream, will get an 18-month contractual tenure from November when he turns 64, the maximum age till which service extensions can be given. This extraordinary contract, beyond the remit of extensions, was specially approved by the previous UPA government more than a year in advance for the present DRDO Chairman Avinash Chander.

Though not new, the old age crisis of the lumbering organisation has worsened as private sector prospects have brightened for young scientists. Internal surveys have found that nearly 87 per cent of the young scientists who join DRDO soon get disenchanted with the archaic, rigid structure of the research body that does not reward extraordinary performance with proportional career growth. Annual intake of new scientists has dropped to just 70, barely enough to replace those who take early retirement, thereby, rapidly increasing DRDO’s age profile.

It is still early to judge the Narendra Modi Government’s policies, but the perception that it is taking a strong stand on the issue has brought cheer to hundreds of young scientists itching to prove their worth in DRDO’s labs across India. A series of events, from the Prime Minister’s remark on promoting young scientists to the cabinet secretariat’s stinging order curbing DRDO’s unilateral age extensions to its scientists, have raised hopes that the problem is finally being addressed.

It’s about time, too. As many as 10 of the 16 top DRDO scientists are on extension. Apart from Chander, nine of the top-graded `Distinguished Scientists should have retired, but most are now on their second extension.

Rules mandate that DRDO scientists must retire at 60. They can, however, be given two two-year extensions under,extraordinary circumstances. Beyond the age of 64, there is no provision for service extension. Yet, the UPA government, in May 2013, approved an Appointments Committee of the Cabinet note to give an 18-month extension to Chander following his “date of retirement of 30.11.2014 on contract basis, with the same terms and conditions as he would be entitled to before the date of retirement”.

By doing this, the UPA went back on its promise to appoint a younger head to DRDO. (Both V.K. Saraswat and M. Natarajan, who preceded Chander, retired at 64.) The special provision made for Chander has become the subject matter of several complaints, the latest by one of DRDO’s own, younger scientists to the cabinet secretariat in August. “The post-retirement contract is not legal and has been made against the rules. A contractual employee can be taken for an advisory role but not to head an organisation,” Navin Gupta, the Kanpur-based DRDO Scientist ‘C’, said in his complaint.

While a convincing argument can be made that age is no criterion for innovation and that experience and continuity is needed to deal with certain technology areas, most scientists on extension in the DRDO are handling primarily administrative positions- from most director generals at the headquarters to the heads of six of DRDO’s 54 labs and establishments.

The impact of the extensions policy on DRDO’s talent pool is immense: an internal survey found that most of its entry-level scientists are unhappy about their career prospects and some 57 per cent of all scientists leave the organisation prematurely due to lack of professional satisfaction. Since 2008, nearly 500 entry and mid-level scientists have resigned or taken early retirement while intake of new scientists has barely kept pace. At a seminar on August 20, Chander admitted this was a problem that required urgent attention. “DRDO’s annual intake of young scientists has dipped to 70 per year, resulting in a rapidly rising average age which certainly is not a good sign for an innovation-centric organisation,” he said. The average age of DRDO scientists is creeping closer to 40.

When Modi, speaking immediately after Chander at the same function, said that at least five DRDO labs should only employ scientists under 35, it was the first indication that his Government was addressing the problem. Many thought that the PM picked the number, five, randomly, unaware that it had come from the most in-depth review of the DRDO ever done.

The review, conducted by the Rama Rao Committee in 2008, had identified five labs working in critical fields such as solid state physics, metallurgy, cryptology and lasers for ‘empowered‘ status in order to give them the liberty to quickly induct young talent, bypassing the cumbersome selection process.

The voluminous report suggested other far-reaching reforms, but the UPA government never fully implemented it. The new Government has dusted it and top officials are studying its recommendations. These include revamping the human resource structure to enable DRDO to hire talent from outside, including Indians working abroad, for key technologies; identifying a set of ‘empowered labs’ that have the freedom to hire and fire scientists; lowering the age of entry of talent; and looking abroad for key innovators. “A balance has to be struck. The optimised path may be being selective in granting extensions for specific research projects and not for administrative roles,” says Air Marshal Ajit Bhavnani (retd), who was a member of the review committee.

As for the old age issue, one of the first things the Modi regime has done, at least, is get the cabinet secretariat to issue a terse circular on September 26, directing DRDO to stop the practice of unilaterally granting age extensions to its scientists without the approval of the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, which is headed by the Prime Minister. Sources say extensions have been put on hold and all such future requests would be critically examined. Whether the Government is firm in this resolve will be tested by the upcoming grant of a contract extension to the DRDO chairman.

 

[Stephen Cohen]

In November the Govt should have given only a three month
extension and declared that we are looking for a replacement

Then this situation would not have happened

 

[Kinetic]

In November the Govt should have given only a three month
extension and declared that we are looking for a replacement

Then this situation would not have happened

Same thought here!!

 

[Krate M]

Don't worry he will be absorbed by the government like VKS in NITI aayog

 

[sancho]

Axe effect on DRDO Chief: Right move, wrong man

Love your job, but never fall in love with your Company. Because you’ll never know when the Company stops loving you! Not sure whether Dr Avinash Chander, India’s top missile scientist, whose services have been unceremoniously terminated by the government, ever remembered this old adage. Well, the Company in this case, could be the government...

...Delays many and the captain takes the hit: The media selectively picked up PM Modi’s ‘chalta hai attitude’ comment and projected the same as the main reason for Dr Avinash downfall. It unfortunately painted a picture that blamed Dr Avinash for all the ills of DRDO. The innumerable number of delayed projects, senior officials’ grouse against him within the DRDO for not getting promotions, the media’s constant anti-DRDO campaign and a demanding government at the helm of affairs ensured that Dr Avinash’s exit was imminent.
“Young scientists are deeply hurt and demoralized with the government’s decision. He had established a deep connect with us. He always told us the importance of working for the motherland and not chasing money. I still have preserved my resignation letter on which he wrote – No way, we need you,” says a middle-level scientist now part of a team working on a new missile project.
Insiders say that Dr Avinash was identifying all projects that were fetching bad name for DRDO. “He was clear that areas DRDO couldn’t make any breakthrough needed to be closed down and three such projects had already been notified in that direction,” another scientist said.

Did DRDO ignore Modi’s warning bell? While addressing a DRDO event in Delhi last year soon after taking over as the PM, Modi had expressed his wish of DRDO handing over the reins of a couple of labs to youngsters. Though a top Director General had earlier told OneIndia that the process of identifying youngsters had begun, nothing substantial ever came out. Moreover, the DRDO never grabbed Modi’s wish and followed-upon on his dream of running DRDO on new set of tyres.
Parrikar’s statement becomes more meaningful in the context of PM’s wish. “We should introduce in scientific world, slightly younger generation," he said.
However, many online defence enthusiasts are already taking on the government for the surprise move. “What is the logic? If a 64 years old guy is not fit to run an organisation, how is 64 years old Modi fit to run the country,” so goes a comment. “Parrikar’s statement is for media consumption. Why would he not be informed before being removed to bring in young blood? So, his 40 years of service is all waste now?” asks another...

Tarmak007 -- A bold blog on Indian defence: Axe effect on DRDO Chief: Right move, wrong man

 

[Indo-guy]

Don't worry he will be absorbed by the government like VKS in NITI aayog

is that the right and appropriate use of his expertise in ' missile technology ' .. ???

 

[Krate M]

is that the right and appropriate use of his expertise in ' missile technology ' .. ???

As DRDO chief he would have been responsible for more than just missile technology. He would also have a good knowledge of the state of research in various fields in India and also capabilities of various universities and companies. He would also be aware of future strategic planning and needs of India. A very good choice for future planning committee.

 

[Indo-guy]

As DRDO chief he would have been responsible for more than just missile technology. He would also have a good knowledge of the state of research in various fields in India and also capabilities of various universities and companies. He would also be aware of future strategic planning and needs of India. A very good choice for future planning committee.

so are you trying to say that basically one ex DRDO Chief VKS who is already there in Niti Ayog is not enough ...?

how many people from DRDO are needed for strategic planning ???
won't Mr Avinash Chander who had been spear heading crucial projects like Agni VI , K5 SLBM , been better off instead if he was retained as Technical advisor or some similar appropriate post on these projects ?

won't his long standing lead association and involvement with Agni system would have been better utilized in the areas he is likely to make maximum contribution ?
He is regarded as architect of Agni system ...not just like that . Is it that after crossing age of 64 years , brain of missile scientists suddenly stops working ...just like any other Tom, Dick and Harry ?
There was reason why UPA govt gave extension to Mr Avinsah chander ...It was aimed to enable him to complete the strategically critical projects .
don't you think Agni VI , K5 SLBM are too important for India ? I am not saying that these projects will be totally stalled in absence on Mr Avinash Chander's leadership ....but don't you think that it will still have impact on the team working on these projects ?

and would it not have been better for GOI to give graceful exit to Mr Avinash Chander who delivered Agni V to the nation in timely manner ???

 

[Krate M]

@Indo-guy
Agree on more graceful way of departure. This needed a bit more delicate approach. This was at least a media management disaster, repeat at least.