In a bid to reform the country’s defence R&D establishment after sacking missile scientist Avinash Chander on Tuesday, the government plans to bifurcate the post of scientific advisor to the defence minister-cum-DRDO chief, held by one person till now,
The move will lead to the appointment of a secretary (defence R&D), who will also double up as the scientific advisor to the defence minister, and a DRDO chief.
Both the positions are currently held by Chander, who will demit office on January 31, almost 16 months before his tenure approved by the previous UPA regime was to end. Till the new appointments are made, the senior-most cluster head in DRDO, director-general of aeronautical systems K Tamilmani, will be in charge from February 1.