The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence has commended the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for its progress in deep-technology research and urged the Ministry of Defence to ensure the full utilisation of allocated budgetary funds.
Chaired by BJP MP Radha Mohan Singh, the committee praised DRDO’s initiatives in cutting-edge domains, including advanced materials, hypersonic technologies, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), drones, directed energy weapons, lasers, and artificial intelligence. The committee highlighted that strategic focus on AI, cognitive technologies, quantum technologies, neuromorphic computing, military cyber technologies, and compound semiconductors will strengthen India’s long-term defence capabilities.
The Ministry of Defence assured the panel of adequate budgetary support for both DRDO and the armed forces. For the current financial year, DRDO received ₹26,816 crore, including an additional ₹500 crore under the Technology Development Fund (TDF) to accelerate deep-tech and pioneering projects. Notably, the TDF funding ceiling for individual projects has been increased from ₹10 crore to ₹50 crore, enabling larger-scale transformative initiatives.
Over the past three years, the TDF has approved 12 projects worth ₹23.61 crore, focusing on areas like quantum computing, AI, and robotics, fostering private sector collaboration. DRDO has also established 15 DRDO Industry Academia Centres of Excellence (DIA-CoEs) at premier institutions such as IITs and IISc, driving research across 82 specialised verticals aligned with future defence requirements. Grants-in-aid of ₹1,037.48 crore across 285 projects have been sanctioned to cultivate a robust domestic defence R&D ecosystem.
For the current financial year, the TDF Directorate plans to disburse approximately ₹60 crore for deep-tech initiatives, alongside intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) projects assigned to Indian industries, reinforcing self-reliance under Atmanirbhar Bharat.
The committee’s recommendations come amid increasing geopolitical tensions, where advancements in hypersonics, AI-driven systems, quantum technology, and directed energy weapons are crucial for India’s strategic deterrence. By emphasising full fund utilisation, the panel aims to prevent delays in critical R&D projects and ensure every rupee contributes to operational and technological capability.
DRDO’s expanded TDF and DIA-CoE initiatives represent a maturing approach to defence innovation, combining public funding with academic and industry partnerships. Sustained financial backing and collaborative efforts are expected to position India as a global leader in deep-tech defence, reducing import dependence and enhancing operational readiness across all armed services.
