I'd reported on
January 19 in
The Indian Express on the new "independent and external" panel of experts that has been ordered by the government to revamp and keep tabs on DRDO. The terms of reference hadn't been properly set out at the time. They are now. Here they are, as part of Defence Minister AK Antony's answer in Parliament today (this is an FYI post!) :
"In the light of recommendations of the "Report of the Committee on Review of Defence Procurement Procedure to integrate Users, Ministry of Defence and the Industry", (April 2005, Kelkar Committee Report), a Committee has been constituted under the Chairmanship of Dr. P Rama Rao with seven members - four superannuated officers and one each from the three Services and from defence finance, and one each from industry, Public Sector Units (PSUs) and Academic institutions.Mordernize administrative, personnel and financial systems to achieve speedier implementation of projects.
Develop synergistic cooperation with sister R&D agencies, such as DAE/DOS/DOD/CSIR and academia to keep pace with advances in science and technology and to ensure immunity against denial regimes.
Attract and retain high quality manpower by various measures including offering incentives and providing opportunities for DRDO scientists to acquire higher degrees in India and military R&D experience abroad.
Ensure that technical specification of Staff requirements are consistent with the national scientific and technical knowledge base, and experience with fielded imported systems.
Maximize technological appreciation and knowledge - acquisition from user trials, test & evaluation and in service use of imported equipment and stores.
Maximise utilization of private industry (particularly technocrat-entrepreneur owned) not only for system / sub - system development but also for development of enabling technology, design and proof - of - concept research.
Utilize the expertise of selected NRIs and foreign consultants, particularly those with experience in military - related R&D; explore opportunities of collaborative efforts with foreign academic and R&D institutions and military industries in the environment of liberalized economy.
Recommend measures to ensure that a certain percentage in value of acquisition is directed towards ongoing and futuristic efforts to indigenously build industrial capability in the country.
Sounds broad. Oh well!