DRDO does not undertake any project under pilot project category: Govt
The defence ministry was asked 'the number of delayed defence pilot projects" along with the 'total cost escalation due to such delays".
In a written response, Minister of State for Defence, Sanjay Seth, said, 'DRDO does not undertake any project under the category of Pilot Project. DRDO undertakes Mission Mode (MM) projects to deliver state-of-the-art weapons systems and platform to the Indian Armed Forces." In a separate query, the ministry was asked the details of the significant contributions of the DRDO and its associated labs to civilian technological advancements, scientific research and national innovation ecosystem.
'DRDO under the Ministry of Defence through the Technology Development Fund (TDF) scheme provides grants-in-aid to private industries, especially MSMEs and startups for the development of cutting-edge defence technologies/systems/sub-systems/components up to the prototype level along with strong handholding, mentorship and support of the DRDO for the successful realisation of defence technologies against requirements of SHQs/DRDO/DDP," Seth said.
At present, 81 projects worth Rs 343.90 crore have been sanctioned to various industries under the TDF scheme. So far, 30 technologies have been successfully developed, he said.
Also, the DRDO-developed 'dual use spin off" technologies are transferred to the industries. Till date, 637 Licensing Agreement for Transfer of Technology (LAToT) have been signed for the dual use (spin off) technologies for the benefit of the society at large, the minister said.
The government also informed that the National Cadets Corps (NCC) is presently operational in 21,819 educational institutions across the country.
'The National Education Policy (NEP), which is being implemented, has highlighted the importance of the National Cadet Corps (NCC) and its inclusion in secondary and higher secondary schools. Appropriate material highlighting the role of armed forces in national security and nation building has been added to the NCERT books," Seth said. PTI KND ARI
view comments
First Published:
August 08, 2025, 19:15 IST
Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Indian Express
3 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
Rahul Gandhi demands clean, pure voter list
NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday said the Opposition is protesting for the right to vote for every Indian, and demanded a "clean and pure" voter list. He said the Election Commission is silent as the truth is before the entire nation, after his charge that over one lakh votes in an assembly constituency in Karnataka were found to be fake in a research conducted by his party. Gandhi participated in the protest march by Opposition MPs from Parliament House to the EC office, but was prevented midway by the police and detained. They (EC) cannot talk as the truth is before the entire nation," he said as he was being taken away in a bus by the police. "This fight is not political, but for saving the Constitution," he asserted.
Time of India
3 minutes ago
- Time of India
Biofuels are a pathway to rural prosperity: Sanjeev Chopra, Secy, DFPD
Biofuels are emerging as more than just a decarbonisation tool for the transport sector. They are also a pathway to rural prosperity , agricultural value creation and greater energy security , according to Sanjeev Chopra , Secretary, Department of Food and Public Distribution . The Indian government can take cues from global experience. Brazil's long-standing ethanol programme, which blends sugarcane-based ethanol in petrol at levels of up to 27 per cent, has reduced oil imports, strengthened rural incomes and created a thriving bioenergy industry. The United States has used corn-based ethanol, blending around 10 per cent in most petrol sold nationally, to support its farm sector while lowering transport emissions. Indonesia has taken a biodiesel route, mandating a B35 blend that uses palm oil to replace petroleum diesel, cutting imports and supporting palm oil growers, with higher blends under consideration. 'Together, we can turn surplus production into sustainable energy, rural growth into national resilience, and agricultural value into enduring prosperity,' Chopra said at the SIAM conference on biofuels. He stressed that ethanol and electric mobility should not be viewed as competing technologies but as complementary routes to achieving environmental and economic goals. 'It is not about either-or. These technologies can grow in a complementary manner, ensuring that consumer needs, producer capabilities and environmental goals are all met,' he said. Diversifying the feedstock base Chopra outlined government initiatives to ensure sustainable and diversified ethanol feedstocks. From October 2025, a pilot will reduce the permissible broken rice percentage in government procurement, freeing up 50 lakh tonnes of fortified rice in five states for ethanol production without affecting food security. 'The idea is to ensure that surplus rice, which is already fortified and stored in the system, can directly support our fuel blending needs without affecting food security,' he noted. Maize production has also been rising sharply, from 340 lakh tonnes to an expected 425 lakh tonnes in two years, with a focus on high-yield varieties and improved post-harvest management. Trials with sweet sorghum at the National Sugar Institute in Kanpur have shown it can be processed in existing sugar mills without major equipment changes, potentially supplying up to 10 per cent of India's ethanol requirement if grown alongside sugarcane. Strengthening rural economies and energy security Chopra linked the biofuel drive to broader rural and economic benefits. By creating additional markets for crops such as sugarcane, rice, maize and sorghum, ethanol production can help stabilise farm incomes, reduce surplus stockpiles and cut India's dependence on imported oil. He also underlined that this approach could protect the country from global supply chain vulnerabilities in critical materials like lithium and semiconductors, which affect electric vehicle production. 'A diverse energy strategy makes us more resilient, both economically and environmentally,' he said.
Time of India
3 minutes ago
- Time of India
Tesla plans to expand charging network in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru
Academy Empower your mind, elevate your skills American electric vehicle maker Tesla plans to expand its super charging network in Delhi-NCR, Mumbai and Bangalore as it plans to start deliveries in India by September, a senior company official said on company, which opened its second experience centre in India at Aerocity here in the national capital, plans to have supercharging stations in Gurugram and Noida, besides one more in Saket, Tesla Regional Director (South East Asia) Isabel Fan said here at the opening company had opened its first experience centre in Mumbai last month, along with the launch of its Model Y with a price starting at Rs 59.89 and Mumbai are priorities for the company, she said, adding, in the next few weeks, the company will open its supercharging station in Gurugram to be followed by others in Saket (South Delhi) and the Mumbai area, Tesla is planning to set up supercharging stations at Lower Parel, Navi Mumbai and Thane to add to the existing one at Bandra Kurla Complex, Fan added."The other new market, new states... We cannot miss Bangalore very soon," she said, adding, "we don't commit five-year plan that we cannot deliver. So whatever we share is a commitment in the upcoming (period)." Fan also said the company will soon launch its mobile service, remote diagnostics, service centre and Tesla Approved Collision Centre in India.
