DRDO gets continuity as chief gets 18 more months

Giving the lie to sustained media speculation about sweeping change in the Defence R&D Organisation (DRDO), Prime Minister Narendra Modi has endorsed the current leadership. On Friday, DRDO chief Avinash Chander was given an 18-month extension that lets him head the organisation till May 31, 2016.

The United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government had appointed Chander for a three-year term, starting June 1, 2013, though he had already been given two extensions of service. When the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government took charge, rumour had swirled that Chander would not continue beyond November 31, 2014, when he would reach the age of superannuation, that is, 65 years.

Expectation of change was further fuelled on Modi's first visit to the DRDO on August 20, when he publicly criticised its "chalta hai (anything goes)" attitude, and suggested the DRDO empower younger scientists. The PM specifically suggested manning five of the DRDO's 52 laboratories with scientists who were all under 35 years of age.

That speculation was put to rest on Friday. Announcing Chander would indeed retire from government service when he superannuated on November 30, he was retained for another 18 months on contract.

"The appointment of Avinash Chander beyond his date of retirement, that is, November 31, 2014, for 18 months would be on contract basis, with the same terms and conditions as he would be entitled to secretary (defence R&D) before the date of retirement. His contractual term will end on 31 May, 2016," said a defence ministry announcement.

Besides the post of secretary (defence R&D), Chander is also director-general of the DRDO (possibly being upgraded to chairman, DRDO), and Scientific Advisor to the Raksha Mantri (SA to RM).

Chander is a missile specialist who had, as the director of the Advanced Systems Laboratory, Hyderabad, developed the Agni from a 1,500-km missile that was of practical use only against Pakistan (targets in China are all beyond this range) to a 3,500- km-range missile that was India's first viable deterrent against China.