--- title: "DRDO Chairman, Rajya Sabha Chairman and Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker: Current Holders and Roles" url: https://anantamias.com/drdo-chairman/ date: 2026-04-22 modified: 2026-04-22 author: "Gaurav Tiwari" description: "UPSC guide to the DRDO Chairman, Chairman of Rajya Sabha and Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha covering powers, appointment, tenure and current holders in 2026." categories: - "Study Notes" image: https://r2.anantamias.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/drdo-chairman-featured-1024x576.png word_count: 2516 --- # DRDO Chairman, Rajya Sabha Chairman and Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker: Current Holders and Roles ## Introduction Three constitutional and institutional offices, one common confusion. Aspirants routinely mix up the DRDO Chairman (a scientific-administrative post), the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha (the Vice President of India ex officio), and the Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha (a constitutional presiding officer under Article 93). Each sits in a different limb of the Indian state: the executive science establishment, the Council of States, and the House of the People. This article pulls the three offices into a single cluster so aspirants can retain them by contrast rather than in isolation. It maps the constitutional basis, appointment, powers, salary, tenure and current holders as on 2026. ![DRDO Chairman, Rajya Sabha Chairman and Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker: Current Holders and Roles](https://r2.anantamias.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/drdo-chairman-content-1.png) ## Quick Facts at a Glance | Office | Basis | Current holder (2026) | Appointed by | | ------ | ----- | --------------------- | ------------ | | DRDO Chairman | Executive order, Ministry of Defence | Dr Samir V Kamat | ACC, Government of India | | Chairman of Rajya Sabha | Article 64 (VP is ex officio Chairman) | Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar | Elected as VP by electoral college | | Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha | Article 89(2) | Shri Harivansh Narayan Singh | Elected by RS members | | Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha | Article 93 | Vacant since 23 June 2019 | Elected by LS members | ## Background and Historical Context The **Defence Research and Development Organisation** was formed in 1958 by merging the Technical Development Establishment (TDE), the Directorate of Technical Development and Production (DTDP) of the Indian Army, and the Defence Science Organisation (DSO). It now operates 52 laboratories across India. The office of DRDO Chairman is held by an eminent scientist who simultaneously serves as **Secretary, Department of Defence Research and Development (DDR&D)**, under the Ministry of Defence, reporting to the Raksha Mantri. The **Rajya Sabha** was constituted on 3 April 1952 under Article 80 of the Constitution. Article 64 provides that the **Vice President of India shall be the ex officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha**. He does not belong to either House and has no vote except a casting vote in case of a tie. The Deputy Chairman, under Article 89, is chosen by members of the Rajya Sabha from amongst themselves. The **Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha** is provided under Article 93, which mandates that the House "shall, as soon as may be" choose a Speaker and a Deputy Speaker. Historically the post has, since 1990, gone to an Opposition member as a matter of convention. The 17th Lok Sabha (2019-2024) did not elect a Deputy Speaker, a prolonged vacancy that has been constitutionally debated. ## Key Provisions ### DRDO Chairman The **DRDO Chairman** holds the rank of Secretary to the Government of India and serves as **Scientific Adviser to the Raksha Mantri (Defence Minister)**. Appointment is made by the **Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC)** on the recommendation of the Department of Defence. The typical tenure is two years, extendable. The Chairman leads the organisation's seven clusters including Missiles and Strategic Systems, Aeronautical Systems, Electronics and Communication Systems, Naval Systems and Materials, Armaments and Combat Engineering, Life Sciences, and Systems and Technologies. As of 2026, **Dr Samir V Kamat** serves as Chairman DRDO and Secretary DDR&D, having assumed office in August 2022. ### Chairman of Rajya Sabha Under **Article 64**, the Vice President of India is ex officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. He presides over sittings, refers bills to committees, decides admissibility of questions and motions, and rules on points of order. He cannot vote except when the House is equally divided (Article 100). He draws salary as VP under the Vice-President's Pension Act, 1997 (INR 4 lakh per month) and not a separate Rajya Sabha salary. Under **Article 67(b)**, he can be removed by a resolution of the Council of States passed by an effective majority (majority of all then members) and agreed to by the Lok Sabha. The **Deputy Chairman** under Article 89 is elected by Rajya Sabha members from amongst themselves and presides in the Chairman's absence. He can be removed by an effective majority of the Rajya Sabha (Article 90). As of 2026, **Shri Harivansh Narayan Singh** (JDU, Bihar) is Deputy Chairman, re-elected on 14 September 2020 for his second term. ### Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha Under **Article 93**, the Lok Sabha shall choose two of its members to be Speaker and Deputy Speaker "as soon as may be". The Deputy Speaker presides in the Speaker's absence, performs the duties of the Speaker when the office is vacant (Article 95), and can be removed under Article 94 by a resolution of the House passed by an effective majority after 14 days' notice. The Deputy Speaker has all the powers of the Speaker while presiding. He can also chair Parliamentary committees like the Business Advisory Committee and the General Purposes Committee when nominated. He draws salary and allowances as a member, with additional allowances as Deputy Speaker under the Salaries and Allowances of Officers of Parliament Act, 1953. **Vacancy in the 17th Lok Sabha**: No Deputy Speaker was elected from 23 June 2019 to 4 June 2024. A PIL filed in 2021 challenged the prolonged vacancy. The 18th Lok Sabha, which convened in June 2024, is also yet to elect a Deputy Speaker as of early 2026. ![DRDO Chairman, Rajya Sabha Chairman and Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker: Current Holders and Roles](https://r2.anantamias.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/drdo-chairman-content-2.png) ## Significance for UPSC and General Knowledge - Article 64, 89, 93 and 95 are frequently tested in Prelims polity. - DRDO Chairman reflects the science-technology-defence nexus relevant for GS3. - Vacancy of Deputy Speaker raises GS2 debates on constitutional morality and the "as soon as may be" clause. - Harivansh Narayan Singh's re-election in 2020 set a precedent on Deputy Chairman tenure not being tied to Rajya Sabha membership biennials. - These offices appear in essay papers on parliamentary democracy, institutional integrity and science diplomacy. - The VP's role as Chairman has been topical after repeated disruptions, expunction controversies and the 2023 no-confidence motion move. ## Detailed Analysis: Powers, Tenure and Removal The three offices differ sharply in constitutional status and removal mechanisms, which is where question-setters often focus. The **DRDO Chairman** is an executive appointee with no constitutional protection. He serves at the pleasure of the government, subject to ACC discretion. His tenure extensions are routine and the post is treated as a technocratic apex. Unlike the Cabinet Secretary, the DRDO Chairman does not enjoy a fixed statutory tenure. Dr G Satheesh Reddy (2018-2022) and Dr Samir V Kamat (2022-) have led the organisation through major programmes including Agni-V MIRV, Akash-NG, LRAShM hypersonic missile test, and the Mission Divyastra of March 2024. The **Chairman of the Rajya Sabha**, being the Vice President, holds a five-year term (Article 67). His position is protected by a special removal procedure: a resolution of the Rajya Sabha passed by an effective majority and agreed to by a simple majority of the Lok Sabha, with 14 days' notice. He cannot be removed by the Lok Sabha alone. He is not eligible to be a member of either House; he draws salary as VP, not as Chairman. The **Deputy Chairman** is an internal officer of the House and can be removed by the Rajya Sabha alone by an effective majority. The **Deputy Speaker**, unlike the Speaker who technically continues till the next Speaker is elected after dissolution, can be removed during the term of the House by an effective majority on 14 days' notice. The post carries a dual character: members' privileges of a legislator plus presiding officer authority when in the Chair. The prolonged vacancy in the 17th Lok Sabha triggered fresh scholarly debate on whether Article 93's "as soon as may be" phrase creates a binding obligation. The Delhi High Court, in response to a PIL in 2022, declined immediate intervention, viewing the matter as a political question. Opposition parties have argued that the government's reluctance breaks the post-1990 convention of offering the office to the Opposition. The **order of precedence** is also instructive. The Vice President (Chairman of Rajya Sabha) ranks second in the Table of Precedence, after the President. The Speaker of Lok Sabha ranks sixth, the Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha and the Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha share rank eleven. The DRDO Chairman, at Secretary rank, falls at rank 26 among Secretaries to the Government of India. ![DRDO Chairman, Rajya Sabha Chairman and Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker: Current Holders and Roles](https://r2.anantamias.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/wiki-img-36.png)Image: Wikipedia. [Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defence_Research_and_Development_Organisation). ## Comparative Perspective | Parameter | DRDO Chairman | Chairman, Rajya Sabha | Deputy Speaker, Lok Sabha | | --------- | ------------- | --------------------- | ------------------------- | | Constitutional basis | None (executive order) | Article 64 | Article 93 | | Appointment / Election | ACC | Ex officio VP (electoral college) | Lok Sabha election | | Term | 2 years, extendable | 5 years (as VP) | Co-terminus with House | | Salary | Secretary scale | INR 4 lakh / month (VP) | MP salary plus allowances | | Vote in House | N/A | Only casting vote | Casting vote when presiding | | Removal | Pleasure of government | RS resolution + LS agreement | Effective majority of LS | | Rank | Secretary GoI | 2nd in order of precedence | 11th in order of precedence | ## Challenges and Debates The DRDO faces persistent challenges on project delivery timelines, dual-use technology transfer and the balance between indigenous development and imports. The Rama Rao Committee (2007) and the Vijay Raghavan Committee had recommended restructuring DRDO into a more mission-focused organisation. The 2023-24 defence budget allocated INR 23,264 crore to DRDO. The Vice President's conduct as Chairman of Rajya Sabha has been controversial. In December 2024, Opposition parties moved a no-confidence resolution against VP Jagdeep Dhankhar under Article 67(b), alleging partisan conduct. The motion lapsed on procedural grounds, but the episode reopened debate on the Chairman's neutrality and the admissibility of expunctions. The Deputy Speaker vacancy is the longest in parliamentary history and has been described by constitutional scholars as "hollowing out" Article 93. The government argues the post is not a mandatory convention; Opposition parties cite precedent. Aspirants should note this as a live constitutional controversy. ## Prelims Pointers - DRDO was founded in 1958; headquartered at DRDO Bhavan, New Delhi. - DRDO Chairman simultaneously holds Secretary DDR&D charge. - Current DRDO Chairman (2026): Dr Samir V Kamat, since August 2022. - DRDO operates about 52 laboratories across India. - Article 64: Vice President is ex officio Chairman of Rajya Sabha. - Article 89: Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha; elected from among members. - Current Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha: Shri Harivansh Narayan Singh (JDU), re-elected 14 September 2020. - Article 93: Lok Sabha shall choose Speaker and Deputy Speaker "as soon as may be". - Article 94: Removal of Speaker/Deputy Speaker by effective majority, 14 days notice. - Article 95: Powers of Speaker when office is vacant. - Deputy Speaker post vacant since 23 June 2019. - Salaries under the Salaries and Allowances of Officers of Parliament Act, 1953. ## Mains Practice Questions **Q1. "The prolonged vacancy of the Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha is a breach of the spirit of Article 93." Critically examine. (10 marks, 150 words)** - Explain Article 93's "as soon as may be" clause and the post-1990 convention. - Describe the vacancy since June 2019 and the 2021 PIL. - Conclude with the need for institutional compliance while balancing political realities. **Q2. Discuss the role of the DRDO Chairman in India's defence indigenisation strategy. (15 marks, 250 words)** - Outline DRDO's mandate and the Chairman's dual role as Secretary DDR&D. - Mention flagship programmes: Agni-V MIRV, Akash-NG, hypersonic LRAShM, Mission Divyastra. - Link to Atmanirbhar Bharat, positive indigenisation lists and Technology Development Fund. ## Conclusion The three offices discussed in this article illustrate how the Indian state combines constitutional formality with executive practice. The DRDO Chairman channels India's scientific ambition in defence. The Chairman of the Rajya Sabha anchors the upper House's presiding authority within the Vice Presidency. The Deputy Speaker's vacancy tests the living quality of Article 93. For UPSC, the sharp move is to memorise the articles, distinguish the removal procedures, and keep track of the current holders. Once the constitutional scaffolding is clear, aspirants can draw on current controversies, from the 2024 no-confidence motion against the VP to the ongoing Deputy Speaker vacancy, to add analytical texture to both Prelims and Mains answers. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What is the role of the DRDO Chairman? The DRDO Chairman heads the Defence Research and Development Organisation, which runs India's military R&D across 52 laboratories. The Chairman simultaneously serves as Secretary, Department of Defence R&D, and Scientific Adviser to the Raksha Mantri. Appointed by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, the Chairman holds Secretary rank and oversees missiles, aeronautics, naval systems, armaments, life sciences and strategic programmes like Agni-V and Mission Divyastra. ### Why are these offices important for UPSC? They test core polity provisions: Article 64 (VP as ex officio Chairman of Rajya Sabha), Article 89 (Deputy Chairman), Article 93 (Speaker and Deputy Speaker), and Articles 94 and 95 (removal and vacancy). The DRDO Chairman adds a GS3 angle on defence indigenisation and Atmanirbhar Bharat. Current controversies like the Deputy Speaker vacancy since 2019 and the 2024 no-confidence motion against the VP provide analytical material for Mains. ### How is the Chairman of Rajya Sabha related to the Deputy Chairman? The Chairman is the Vice President of India ex officio under Article 64, presiding over sittings and deciding admissibility of motions. The Deputy Chairman under Article 89 is elected by Rajya Sabha members from amongst themselves and presides when the Chairman is absent. The Chairman can be removed only by a resolution of the Rajya Sabha with Lok Sabha agreement. The Deputy Chairman can be removed by the Rajya Sabha alone by effective majority. ### Who is the current DRDO Chairman? As of 2026, Dr Samir V Kamat serves as Chairman DRDO and Secretary, Department of Defence R&D. He assumed office in August 2022, succeeding Dr G Satheesh Reddy. A metallurgical engineer by training with a PhD from Ohio State University, Dr Kamat previously headed the Armaments and Combat Engineering Cluster. He has overseen Mission Divyastra (March 2024 Agni-V MIRV test) and several hypersonic and naval systems programmes. ### When did India last have a Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha? The last sitting Deputy Speaker was M Thambidurai of AIADMK, whose term ended with the dissolution of the 16th Lok Sabha on 23 June 2019. The 17th Lok Sabha did not elect a Deputy Speaker during its entire five-year term, making it the first full-term House without one. The 18th Lok Sabha, convened in June 2024, has also not elected a Deputy Speaker as of early 2026, making it a live constitutional concern under Article 93. ### What are the powers of the Deputy Speaker? When presiding, the Deputy Speaker has all the powers of the Speaker including interpreting rules, maintaining order, deciding admissibility of questions and motions, and casting a vote in case of a tie. Under Article 95, when the office of Speaker is vacant, the Deputy Speaker performs the Speaker's duties. He can chair Parliamentary committees like the Business Advisory Committee. He draws salary as an MP plus additional allowances under the 1953 Act. ### How is the Vice President elected as Chairman of Rajya Sabha? The Vice President is not directly elected as Chairman; he holds the office ex officio under Article 64. He is elected as Vice President by an electoral college of members of both Houses of Parliament through a single transferable vote proportional representation system under Article 66. The term is five years, subject to removal under Article 67(b) by a Rajya Sabha resolution agreed to by the Lok Sabha. ### How is the Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha removed? Under Article 90, the Deputy Chairman can be removed from office by a resolution of the Rajya Sabha passed by an effective majority of all the then members. The motion requires 14 days' notice. Unlike the Chairman, removal does not need Lok Sabha concurrence. He can also vacate office by ceasing to be a Rajya Sabha member or by resigning to the Chairman in writing.