Rajnath unveils Delegation of Financial Powers to DRDO

• In a major reform to enhance efficiency, accountability, and timely execution of strategic R&D projects, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh released the Delegation of Financial Powers to DRDO (DFP-2026).

• The DFP-2026 will facilitate faster production and induction of systems, platforms & technologies emerging from the R&D ecosystem into the defence forces.

• It will contribute to enhanced self-reliance in defence technologies and strengthen the nation's defence preparedness.

• The DFP-2026 aims to significantly enhance functional empowerment at various levels within the Department of Defence R&D. 

• The revised framework addresses several critical requirements, including dedicated financial provisions for trial campaigns, tests and evaluation activities, and authorisation for sanctioning pre-project R&D initiatives. 

• The reform is aimed at clear segregation of financial powers for grants-in-aid pertaining to extramural research projects, defence innovation accelerator centres of excellence, and technology development fund projects under the respective schedules.

Defence Research and Development Organisation

• DRDO is the research and development wing of the Ministry of Defence. 

• Its vision is to empower India with cutting-edge defence technologies and a mission to achieve self-reliance in critical defence technologies and systems, while equipping our armed forces with state-of-the-art weapon systems and equipment in accordance with the requirements laid down by the three services.

• DRDO was formed in 1958 from the amalgamation of the then already functioning Technical Development Establishment of the Indian Army and the Directorate of Technical Development & Production with the Defence Science Organisation. 

• DRDO was then a small organisation with 10 establishments or laboratories. 

• Over the years, it has grown multi-directionally in terms of the variety of subject disciplines, number of laboratories, achievements and stature.

• Today, DRDO is a network of more than 50 laboratories that are deeply engaged in developing defence technologies covering various disciplines such as aeronautics, armaments, electronics, combat vehicles, engineering systems, instrumentation, missiles, advanced computing and simulation, special materials, naval systems, life sciences, training, information systems and agriculture. 

• Several major projects for the development of missiles, armaments, light combat aircrafts, radars, electronic warfare systems etc are on hand and significant achievements have already been made in several such technologies.

• DRDO’s pursuit of self-reliance and successful indigenous development and production of strategic systems and platforms such as Agni and Prithvi series of missiles, Light Combat Aircraft Tejas, multi-barrel rocket launcher Pinaka, air defence system Akash, etc have given a quantum jump to India’s military might, generating effective deterrence and providing crucial leverage.