Defence Research & Development Service


Defence Research & Development Service is a Central Group 'A' Civil Service of the Government of India. DRDS scientists are Gazetted defence-civilian officers under the Ministry of Defence. They are responsible for developing new technologies and military hardware for the Indian defence and security forces.

History

came into existence in 1958 by the merger of the Technical Development Establishment and the Directorate of Technical Development and Production with the Defence Science Organisation. DRDS was formed in 1979, and a separate Department of Defence Research and Development was created in 1980, which later on administered DRDO and its 52 laboratories/establishments. A senior DRDS scientist was made the Director General of DRDO, Scientific Adviser to the Raksha Mantri and ex officio Secretary of the Department of Defence Research and Development.
However, in 2015, the post was bifurcated and the senior DRDS scientist held the post of Director General of DRDO and the Secretary of the Department of Defence Research and Development. And a younger and experienced DRDS scientist was made the Scientific Adviser to the Raksha Mantri. Further in 2015, the post of Director General, DRDO was renamed as Chairman, DRDO.

Recruitment

DRDS scientists are recruited into DRDO by one of the following means:
Being engaged in defence technology research and development, the DRDS scientists have to be abreast with the latest technologies around the world and are trained at the premier Defence Institute of Advanced Technology, Pune. Since the DRDS scientists also have the responsibility of managing the workforce, establishments and projects of DRDO, they are trained in management at the . They are also educated and trained at the Indian Institutes of Technology, Indian Institutes of Management, and Indian Institute of Science, other civil and defence academies of India as well as at other foreign universities.

Functions

DRDS scientists are engaged in developing defence technologies covering various fields like aeronautics, armaments, electronics, land combat engineering, life sciences, materials, missiles, and naval systems.

Hierarchy

DRDO follows the merit-based promotion system for its Group A scientists rather than the seniority-based promotion system which is followed by the other civil services of India. The merit-based promotions ensure that only the exceptionally performing scientists are promoted to higher grades irrespective of their seniority and it is common to see a junior scientist superseding his seniors. In 2014, the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi also called for reforms at the laboratory level and asked to appoint scientists below the age of 35 to head at least five laboratories and / or establishments out of the fifty-two establishments of DRDO. DRDS scientists can apply for service extension beyond the age of superannuation to ensure continuity of highly critical defence projects.

Notable officers