DRDO complimented by PM's Principal Secretary for fulfilling vision

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), on Wednesday, stated that Dr P.K. Mishra, the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister complimented the organization for attaining the PM's vision of creating a Young Scientists Labs. The Principal Secretary praised DRDO for providing technology leadership for defence systems.

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'Fulfilled PM's vision'

The DRDO tweeted, "Dr. PK Mishra PS to PM complimented DRDO on fulfilling Prime Minister’s vision of creating 5 Young Scientists Labs manned by scientists of age less than 35. This will allow young scientists to innovate independently. He added that technology leadership will be determined by who drives it and the chosen areas. He appreciated DRDO’s role in providing technology leadership for defence systems."

The Principal Secretary was attending the 41st DRDO Directors’ Conference, where he said, "DRDO has taken the momentous step of setting up five Young Scientists’ Laboratories working in five niche technology areas such as Artificial intelligence, Quantum Technologies, Cognitive Technologies, Asymmetric Technologies, and Smart Materials." 

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The Prime Minister, in his first term, had advised the DRDO to have at least five laboratories of defence research agency to be headed by scientists younger than 35 years of age. The DRDO, soon after PM's nudge set up a new lab within the Electronics and Communications Systems (ECS) department fro young scientists. In 2014, at a DRDO event, Prime Minister had asked the scientists and the authorities to bring in some fresh, young faces and also to complete the projects on time. In a speech. he said, "The big challenge is how do we complete our work before time. If the world brings out a weapon in 2020, can we do it by 2018? Can you select five laboratories where everybody will be below 35 years in age? Even the decision-makers are below 35 years? You need to take a risk and bring some fresh air".

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Need for innovation

The Prime Minister had highlighted the need to be fast and lead the way in Defence Research and innovation. "That is why the challenge before India is that how do we complete work before time. If the world is coming up with some products in 2020, can we come in the field prepared with products in 2018. DRDO has to decide whether it has to respond to the situation or it has to be proactive and set agenda for the world and we have to set agenda for the global committee. We can be the world leader by not following but by showing the way,” the Prime Minister had said.

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