The Government of India has approved a one-year extension of service for Dr Samir V Kamat, Chairman of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), extending his tenure until May 31, 2026. This marks his second extension since assuming charge in August 2022.
The extension was approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet and also covers his concurrent role as Secretary, Department of Defence Research and Development (DDR&D).
Dr Kamat, an alumnus of IIT Kharagpur and The Ohio State University, USA, joined DRDO in 1989 and has served in various leadership roles, including as Director General (Naval Systems and Materials). He is widely regarded as one of India’s foremost defence scientists and has significantly contributed to indigenous research and development in critical defence technologies.
Recognised with numerous accolades, Dr Kamat is a Fellow of the Indian National Academy of Engineering (INAE) and the Institution of Engineers India (IEI). He is a recipient of IIT Kharagpur’s Distinguished Alumni Award, the Ministry of Steel’s Metallurgist of the Year Award, and DRDO’s Scientist of the Year Award. He has authored over 180 scientific papers in international peer-reviewed journals.
On May 22, Dr Kamat visited Solar Industries in Nagpur, one of India’s leading indigenous defence manufacturers. During the visit, he reviewed the production processes and ongoing projects. In a media interaction, he highlighted the growing importance of private industry in strengthening India’s defence ecosystem.
“The private sector is playing a crucial role in the defence sector. To achieve the goals of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and enhance our combat readiness, it is essential to support indigenous defence manufacturing,” he said.
Dr Kamat also expressed satisfaction with the performance of DRDO-developed weapon systems reportedly used during recent military operations, hinting at their successful deployment in the conflict with Pakistan earlier this month.
The extension ensures continuity in leadership at a time when DRDO is playing a central role in advancing India’s technological edge in defence amid growing geopolitical challenges.
