Delegation of financial powers to DRDO: Rajnath unveils key reforms to enhance efficiency, timely execution of R&D projects

NEW DELHI: Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Monday unveiled major reforms to enhance efficiency, accountability and timely execution of strategic R&D projects by “delegation of financial powers (DFP-2026 ) to Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)”.Rajnath said the DFP-2026 will facilitate faster production and induction of systems, platforms and technologies emerging from the R&D ecosystem into the defence forces and added that the new framework will foster stronger collaboration with the industry and academia, reinforcing the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.He furthered that the revised framework will contribute to enhanced self-reliance in defence technologies and strengthen the nation's defence preparedness.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.

Chief of Defence Staff General NS Raja Subramani; defence secretary and DRDO chairman Rajesh Kumar Singh; secretary (defence production) Sanjeev Kumar; secretary (ex-servicemen welfare) Sukriti Likhi; controller general of defence accounts Anugraha Narayana Das; DG (Naval systems & materials), DRDO RV Hara Prasad; DG (resources & management) Ravindra Singh; director, directorate of finance & material management Maiya Din and other senior officials were present during the Delhi event.