Target Students – DRDO’s new strategy!

India is shining. The economy is shining and growth rates are shining too. Though FDI has gone down over the last year and there are many problems from inflation to black money and corruption, knowing our country, it will be fool hardy to consider it outside the race of the world beaters. As only we Indians know, we always perform only when everyone else expects us to fail. Obviously if the economy is shining and we still growing pretty well, how can the defence sector stay far behind?

There have been huge complaints against the DRDO of regular corruption, under the table deals and not doing its job of protecting the nation.

But at the end of the day it’s still the top most Defence Research Body in the country. For a while they have been coming up with some interesting initiatives which hopefully if implemented in true faith could benefit the country. After the creating the most powerful explosive in the world last year

it has this time moved to a completely different strategy. As it has been said time and again that the young population is the future of the country, DRDO is getting ready to partner with college students on various research projects and proposals to boost the defence growth of the country.

Would DRDO consider our proposals? What can a student suggest to a defence organization of the country? Since Defence is such a critical field wherein you have to always ensure that high level of secrecy would it be the right move to take students in? Wouldn’t this hamper the security of the country?

Yes defence is a highly critical field for any country. Yes the worries about secrecy in such a scenario maybe there. But then with the setting up of a technology park near IIT Chennai where students would be selected to work with scientists in this field involves attaining multiple goals.

Firstly it’s about giving students real practical exposure in the highly technical world out there. The next thing it gives students a real true opportunity to contribute to matters of national security and play their part in contributing to their nation. Obviously there would be people who may compromise security and things like that. But not allowing students to engage in such activities would surely be unfair.

The prototype for Netra, a UAV designed by IIT Bombay students for counter terrorist operations is presently in the production stage. If they can do it why can’t anyone else? And whatever people say about ISRO, moves such as this one

and the present one from DRDO will surely have a beneficial impact on our society if implemented well.

Do you think students should be allowed to work on projects for the defence sector?