New Delhi, June 29 (IANS) Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday released the Delegation of Financial Powers to DRDO (DFP-2026), a major reform to enhance efficiency, accountability, and timely execution of strategic R&D projects in the defence sector.

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, authorisation for sanctioning pre-project R&D initiatives, and clear segregation of financial powers for grants-in-aid pertaining to Extra-Mural Research Projects, Defence Innovation Accelerator-Centres of Excellence, and Technology Development Fund projects under the respective schedules.

The minister said that DFP-2026 will facilitate faster production and induction of systems, platforms and technologies emerging from the R&D ecosystem into the Defence Forces. The new framework will foster stronger collaboration with the industry and academia, reinforcing the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat. It will contribute to enhanced self-reliance in defence technologies and strengthen the nation’s defence preparedness, he added.

Chief of Defence Staff General N.S. Raja Subramani, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, who is holding additional charge of Secretary, Defence R&D and DRDO Chairman, Secretary, Defence Production, Sanjeev Kumar; Secretary, Ex-Servicemen Welfare, Sukriti Likhi; Controller General of Defence Accounts Anugraha Narayana Das, DG, Naval Systems & Materials, DRDO, R.V. Hara Prasad, DG, Resources & Management, Dr Ravindra Singh, Director, Directorate of Finance & Material Management Dr Maiya Din, and other senior officials were present during the event in the national capital.

The DRDO regularly transfers indigenous technologies to Indian public and private industries to boost the ‘Make in India’ initiative. Through Licensing Agreements for Transfer of Technology and the Technology Development Fund, the DRDO empowers MSMEs and startups to manufacture critical aerospace and defence equipment to bolster the preparedness of the armed forces.

–IANS

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