A New India
Chapter 176 - 176: Planning the Foundation of DRDO

The room was filled with quiet anticipation. Rohan sat at the head of the long, polished table in his office, glancing over the papers in front of him.

He had called for this meeting weeks ago, knowing it was time to bring the nation's top military and scientific minds together to discuss something crucial, something that could change the course of India's defense future.

The doors opened, and General Singh, head of the Indian Army, walked in first, followed closely by Chief of Defence Staff, General Negi, and representatives from the Air Force and Navy.

They were joined by some of India's brightest scientific minds, including Dr. K.G. Narayanan from IISc, and Professor Mishra from IIT Delhi.

Also in the room was Sardar Patel, the Defense Minister, looking as focused as ever.

Once everyone was seated, Rohan spoke.

"Gentlemen, thank you for coming," he said, his voice calm but full of purpose. "We're gathered here today to discuss something essential to our nation's future. We've made strides with HAL, but now we need to take the next step, even beyond private companies we need something a body dedicated solely to research and development in defense. We need a Defense Research and Development Organization."

The room was silent for a moment. It wasn't a new idea, Rohan had mentioned it before but now, it felt real.

General Singh was the first to speak. "We're with you, Prime Minister. But setting up an organization like this won't be easy. What exactly will its role be?"

Rohan leaned forward, clasping his hands. "The DRDO will be responsible for developing new technologies for our defense forces everything from missile systems to radar, from communication equipment to aerodynamics. We need to consolidate all ongoing defense research under one umbrella and create something focused, something with a clear purpose."

Sardar Patel nodded. "We've been scattered for too long," he said. "There's been good work done at IISc, the IITs, and HAL, but there's no cohesion. DRDO will bring all this together and direct it toward one goal making India self-reliant."

General Negi, the Chief of Defence Staff, spoke next, his voice measured but thoughtful. "Prime Minister, will this organization work directly with the military, or will it be a civilian-led institution?"

"It will be a civilian organization," Rohan said, choosing his words carefully. "But it will work closely with the military. The military's needs will dictate the research priorities, but scientists must have the freedom to innovate. That's the only way we'll push the boundaries."

General Singh leaned back in his chair, nodding. "We've seen too often how military bureaucracy can slow things down. If this is going to work, it needs to stay nimble. Let the scientists lead, and we'll provide the guidance."

Dr. Narayanan, the aerospace expert from IISc, spoke next. "Prime Minister, you're asking for a monumental shift in how we approach defense research. This isn't just about creating an organization. We need the right structure, a structure that ensures the best minds are working on the most important projects. We can't afford to waste time or resources."

Rohan turned to Dr. Narayanan. "That's exactly what we're here to discuss. We need to decide on the structure of DRDO, the divisions, the roles, the processes. We need to ensure that every part of the organization is aligned toward the same goal."

Sardar Patel pulled out a document and spread it on the table. "We've drafted a preliminary structure based on existing research institutions around the world. Here's what we're proposing."

He slid the document across the table, and the men leaned forward to look.

"The organization will be divided into major divisions, each focusing on a specific area of defense technology," Patel began. "These divisions will report to a central Director General, who will oversee all operations."

Dr. Narayanan nodded. "That makes sense. What divisions are you proposing?"

Patel pointed to the first section of the document. "We'll have divisions for missile systems, military communications, electronic warfare, radar technology, armament systems, and aerodynamics. Each division will have a Director, who will report to the Director General."

General Negi studied the paper closely. "And how will the military be involved? We need to ensure our needs are being met."

"There will be a Defense Advisory Council," Rohan said, "made up of senior military officials and scientists. They will work together to ensure that the research aligns with the military's needs. But the scientists must have the freedom to explore new ideas. That's how breakthroughs happen."

General Singh tapped the table lightly. "I agree. We've seen how innovation can be stifled when everything is too rigid. But we also need to keep in mind that our primary focus should be on practical applications. We need to develop systems that can be implemented in the field."

Dr. Narayanan interjected. "We can focus on short-term practical applications while also working on long-term innovations. For example, missile systems and radar technology will be immediate priorities, but we should also look at developing aircraft technologies and even space research in the future."

Rohan nodded. "Exactly. The DRDO will have the flexibility to work on both. We're not just building for today, we're building for the future. And speaking of the future, we'll need to recruit some of the brightest minds in the country. We can't limit ourselves to existing scientists.

We need young talent, fresh graduates from the IITs and IISc, to join DRDO and bring new ideas."

Sardar Patel smiled faintly. "We'll also need to make sure they don't go abroad. Too many of our brightest are leaving India for research opportunities in other countries."

Rohan's expression hardened. "That's why we need to make DRDO an attractive option. These young scientists need to feel like they're part of something bigger than themselves. They need to know that the work they do here will protect their country and shape the future."

General Singh, who had been quiet for a few moments, spoke again. "We'll also need testing facilities. Laboratories, workshops, and proving grounds where these technologies can be tested in real-world conditions."

"That's already being considered," Rohan assured him. "We'll use existing facilities for now, HAL, IISc, and the DRDO centers that are already working on smaller projects. But as we expand, we'll build our own dedicated testing grounds. We need to ensure that everything we develop works in the field."

The room fell into silence for a moment and then

Dr. Narayanan broke the silence. "There's one more thing to consider. We need to look at international collaborations. The number of scientists we have drawn to India must increase for our speed of development to match up with our plans."

Rohan agreed. "We'll bring in international experts where necessary, but the core of DRDO will remain Indian. This will be our organization, led by our people. We will collaborate, but we won't rely on anyone else."

General Negi leaned forward, his voice firm. "If we get this right, it will change everything. India won't just be a country with a strong military, we'll be a country that develops world-class defense technology. We'll no longer be dependent on other nations."

"That's the goal," Rohan said, his voice steady. "We have the talent. We have the vision. Now, we need to build the structure to make it happen."

As the meeting wrapped up, he said in a final tone

"Let's start working and establishing DRDO as soon as possible because after this i will announce new policies regarding skill enhancement and other thing's"