To guard against loss of key scientists engaged in strategic projects like the development of 5,000 km-range Agni missile, underwater launched missiles and anti-missile systems, the defence ministry has proposes to raise the service age limit of select DRDO scientists to 65 years. |
Among others who would benefit from the proposal reportedly cleared by the Sixth Pay Commission would be scientists working on advanced composites, metallurgists and others. |
The bonanza is not confined to select scientists as the Ministry of Defence has proposed in general to raise the retirement age of DRDO scientists across-the-board to 62 years. |
These proposals finalised by the ministry have been vetted by Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI) and according to sources, have been cleared by the Sixth Pay Commission. |
The proposals, in fact, formed part of the new incentive package for DRDO personnel and were about to be formally enforced late last year before Defence Minister AK Antony suggested that it would be better to have the new pay commission's approval on them. |
The package has been devised by the government as part of new measures to check exodus of DRDO scientists to greener pastures. According to official figures tabled in Parliament, DRDO has lost 1,404 scientists during the past few years and the department is losing them at the rate of six to seven per cent per year, which has left many key strategic projects almost stranded. |
The move to increase the retirement age of scientists comes as projects like increasing the strike range of Agni missile and development of the Underwater launched missiles are in key stages. |
"The next two to three years are very crucial for these programmes," a top DRDO official said. He said many other key projects were also likely to fructify in the same period. |
"So we cannot afford to lose some of the key personnel engaged in developing these systems," he said. |
Other incentives in store for DRDO personnel in the Pay Commission include 30 per cent of the new basic pay scales as special intellectual capital pay, increase in professional update allowance from Rs 5,000 to Rs 25,000 per annum. |
In addition, new recruits would straightway get three increments on initial selection and higher qualification allowance of Rs 1,000 per month for recruits who have post-graduate degree in engineering or Ph D in science subjects. |
Under the new package, programme directors will get special compensatory allowance of Rs 5,000, for the chief controller it would be Rs 10,000 and for Scientific Adviser to the Defence Minister Rs 20,000. |
The package also provides for performance linked increments for young scientists, Rs 10,000 per patent approved and sharing of royalty of DRDO products which make it to commercial markets. |