At a glance
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) designs and develops weapons, sensors and other military systems for India's armed forces. It works through a network of laboratories spread across the country, and hands production to defence public sector units and private industry. Its chairman is also Secretary of the Department of Defence Research and Development.
Key facts
- Set up: 1958, by merging the Technical Development Establishments, the Directorate of Technical Development and Production and the Defence Science Organisation
- Ministry: Ministry of Defence (Department of Defence R&D, created 1980)
- HQ: DRDO Bhawan, New Delhi
- Chairman: post held as additional charge by Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh since 31 May 2026
- Previous chairman: Samir V. Kamat (2022–May 2026)
- Missile programme: Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP), 1983, led by A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
- Torpedo lab: Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL), Visakhapatnam
- Missile lab: Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), Hyderabad
- Motto: "Balasya Mulam Vigyanam" (the source of strength is science)
How it works
DRDO develops a system and transfers the technology to a production agency, such as Bharat Dynamics Limited (missiles, torpedoes), Bharat Electronics Limited (radars, electronics) or HAL (aircraft). The services then place orders through the Ministry of Defence.
Labs that exams ask about:
| Lab | City | Work |
|---|---|---|
| DRDL | Hyderabad | Missiles (Agni, Prithvi, Akash development) |
| NSTL | Visakhapatnam | Torpedoes, underwater weapons (Varunastra) |
| ADA | Bengaluru | Tejas light combat aircraft |
| CVRDE | Chennai | Combat vehicles (Arjun tank) |
| ARDE | Pune | Armaments (Pinaka rocket system) |
| DRDE | Gwalior | Chemical and biological defence |
Key systems: Agni (ballistic missiles; Agni-5 MIRV test "Mission Divyastra", 2024), Prithvi, Akash (surface-to-air), Nag (anti-tank), Astra (air-to-air), Pinaka, Tejas, Arjun, Varunastra (heavyweight ship-launched anti-submarine torpedo), and the anti-satellite test Mission Shakti (2019). BrahMos is a joint venture of DRDO and Russia's NPO Mashinostroyeniya.
Timeline
- 1958: DRDO formed
- 1980: Department of Defence R&D created
- 1983: IGMDP launched
- 2019: Mission Shakti ASAT test
- 2024: Agni-5 MIRV test (Mission Divyastra)
- 2026: Samir V. Kamat's tenure ends; Defence Secretary takes additional charge (31 May)
Recent developments
- 15 Oct 2026: The Ministry of Defence signed a ₹1,543 crore contract with Bharat Dynamics Limited for Varunastra torpedoes, designed by DRDO's NSTL, along with a ₹2,563 crore contract with NSIL for the GSAT-7C satellite for the IAF.
- 31 May 2026: Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh took additional charge as DRDO Chairman after Samir V. Kamat's tenure ended.
Exam traps
- Varunastra was designed by NSTL (Visakhapatnam) but is built by BDL (Hyderabad).
- DRDL Hyderabad (missiles) is different from DRDE Gwalior (chemical defence).
- BrahMos is an India–Russia joint venture, not a purely DRDO missile.
- DRDO was formed in 1958; IGMDP began in 1983.
- Tejas was designed by ADA, an agency under DRDO, and is built by HAL.
Quick check
- Q: Which DRDO lab designed the Varunastra torpedo? A: NSTL, Visakhapatnam.
- Q: In which year was DRDO formed? A: 1958.
- Q: Who led the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme? A: A. P. J. Abdul Kalam.
Further reading
Sources
- https://www.drdo.gov.in/drdo/our-luminaries
- https://currentaffairs.adda247.com/rajesh-kumar-singh-takes-additional-charge-as-drdo-chairman-after-samir-kamats-retirement/
- https://www.indiandefensenews.in/2026/05/defence-secretary-rajesh-kumar-singh.html
- https://pwonlyias.com/drdo-defence-research-and-development-organisation/
In the news
Every time this topic has appeared in our current affairs, newest first:
- Week of 15–21 October 2026MoD signs ₹4,106 crore contracts for GSAT-7C and Varunastra torpedoes