DRDO’s Pralay, Pinaka and Mission Divyastra have signalled an indigenisation pivot in India’s strategic weapons. Critically evaluate DRDO’s restructuring after the 2023 panel and the remaining gaps in defence R&D.

Introduction:

Mission Divyastra demonstrated Agni-5 MIRV capability on 11 March 2024, placing India in a small club of MIRV-capable powers; Defence R&D for 2025-26 stands at ₹26,816 crore — about 0.7% of the total defence outlay — even as the K. Vijayaraghavan Committee (2023) recommended a comprehensive DRDO restructuring against the backdrop of long programme cycles.

Indigenisation pivot:

Pralay quasi-ballistic missile was inducted in 2023; Pinaka was exported to Armenia in 2024; BrahMos exports began to the Philippines from 2024. Tejas Mk1A inductions (2024-25) and Akash-NG, plus iDEX with 500+ contracts to defence startups, signal an indigenisation pivot anchored by Atmanirbhar Bharat positive lists, while INS Vikrant (September 2022) deepened naval indigenisation.

Restructuring under the Vijayaraghavan report:

The 2023 panel recommended a Defence Technology Council chaired by the Prime Minister, a leaner DRDO focused on frontier technologies, separation of research from production, and structured private-industry partnerships. The Anusandhan National Research Foundation Act 2023 complements this by channelling civilian research with industry co-funding.

Residual gaps:

India's public R&D remains ~0.65% of GDP (DST R&D Statistics 2024); private defence R&D is thin; programme cycles for indigenous engines, AESA radars, and submarine propulsion stretch over decades. Critical-mineral dependence and platform-integration risks linger.

Way forward / Conclusion:

Operationalise the Defence Technology Council, raise national R&D to 2% of GDP per ANRF targets, expand iDEX and TDF, and ring-fence frontier-tech budgets — quantum, AI, hypersonics, directed-energy — by 2030 under MoD.