Defence Committee Advocates for Full Utilisation of DRDO Budget to Enhance Advanced Technologies

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence has expressed approval of the Defence Research and Development Organisation's (DRDO) advancements in deep-technology research and has urged the Ministry of Defence to ensure the complete utilisation of the allocated budgetary funds.

Under the leadership of BJP MP Radha Mohan Singh, the committee lauded DRDO's efforts in areas such as advanced materials, hypersonic technologies, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), drones, directed energy weapons, lasers, and artificial intelligence. The committee emphasized that focusing strategically on AI, cognitive technologies, quantum technologies, neuromorphic computing, military cyber technologies, and compound semiconductors will enhance India's long-term defence capabilities.

The Ministry of Defence has reassured the committee of adequate budgetary support for both DRDO and the armed forces. In the current financial year, DRDO has been allocated ₹26,816 crore, with an additional ₹500 crore under the Technology Development Fund (TDF) to expedite deep-tech and pioneering projects. Significantly, the funding ceiling for individual TDF projects has been raised from ₹10 crore to ₹50 crore, facilitating more extensive transformative projects.

In the past three years, the TDF has approved 12 projects valued at ₹23.61 crore, concentrating on quantum computing, AI, and robotics, and promoting collaboration with the private sector. DRDO has also set up 15 DRDO Industry Academia Centres of Excellence (DIA-CoEs) at leading institutions like IITs and IISc, spearheading research in 82 specialized areas aligned with future defence needs. Grants-in-aid amounting to ₹1,037.48 crore across 285 projects have been approved to foster a strong domestic defence R&D ecosystem.

This financial year, the TDF Directorate plans to distribute approximately ₹60 crore for deep-tech initiatives, alongside intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) projects assigned to Indian industries, reinforcing self-reliance under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.

These recommendations from the committee come at a time of rising geopolitical tensions, where progress in hypersonics, AI-driven systems, quantum technology, and directed energy weapons is vital for India’s strategic deterrence. By stressing full fund utilisation, the panel aims to avert delays in critical R&D projects and ensure that every rupee contributes to enhancing operational and technological capabilities.

The expansion of DRDO’s TDF and DIA-CoE initiatives signifies a more mature approach to defence innovation, blending public funding with academic and industry partnerships. Sustained financial support and collaborative efforts are expected to position India as a global leader in deep-tech defence, decreasing reliance on imports and boosting operational readiness across all branches of the armed services.