Defense DRDO
Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) – Complete GK Capsule for Railway Exams
1. Key Facts & Figures
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Defence Research & Development Organisation |
| Established | 1958 (January 1) |
| Headquarters | DRDO Bhawan, Rajaji Marg, New Delhi |
| Chairman | Dr Samir V Kamat (as on 2024) – also Secretary, Deptt. of Defence R&D |
| Under Ministry | Ministry of Defence, Govt. of India |
| Total Labs/Estts | 52 (51 labs + 1 academy) |
| Total Employees | ≈ 25,000 (7,000 scientists + 18,000 tech-support) |
| Budget 2023-24 | ₹23,264 crore (BE) – 5.7 % of total defence budget |
| Motto | “Balasya Mulam Vigyanam” (Sanskrit: “Strength’s Origin is Science”) |
2. Important Milestones & Dates
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1948 | Defence Science Organisation (DSO) – post-independence nucleus |
| 1958 | DRDO formally born by merging TDEs & DSO (Govt. Resolution 30 Jan 1958) |
| 1962 | First indigenous product – 7.62 mm SLR rifle |
| 1974 | Smiling Buddha (Pokhran-I); DRDO provided sensors & data |
| 1983 | IGMDP (Integrated Guided Missile Dev. Programme) launched |
| 1989 | Agni-I first flight (22 May) |
| 1998 | Pokhran-II; DRDO led weaponisation (11-13 May) |
| 2008 | K-15 SLBM launched from submerged pontoon (26 Feb) |
| 2010 | AMCA 5th-gen fighter project sanctioned |
| 2012 | Agni-V first flight (19 Apr) – 5,000 km range |
| 2014 | DRDO@56 celebration; “Self-Reliance” tagline adopted |
| 2018 | ASAT Mission “Mission Shakti” (27 Mar) – 300 km LEO target |
| 2020 | COVID-19: 50+ products in 90 days (ventilators, 2-DG drug) |
| 2021 | LCA Tejas Mk-1A order (₹48k cr) cleared; Ghatak UCAV project go-ahead |
| 2022 | NAGASTRA-1 (man-portable anti-tank guided missile) |
| 2023 | AD-1 endo-atmospheric interceptor flight-tested (Nov) |
| 2024 | Ugram 155 mm gun cleared for user trials |
3. Major DRDO Systems – Quick Table
| System | Type | Range / Speed | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agni-P | Ballistic Missile | 1,000–2,000 km | Tested 2021, induction underway |
| Agni-V | ICBM | 5,000+ km | Inducted; canisterised |
| BrahMos | Supersonic Cruise | 290–450 km / Mach 2.8 | Operational (all 3 services) |
| Akash-NG | Surface-to-Air | 70 km | Flight trials complete |
| QRSAM | Quick Reaction SAM | 30 km | Army induction 2023 |
| Astra Mk-1 | Air-to-Air BVR | 110 km | IAF & Navy operational |
| Nirbhay | Sub-sonic cruise | 1,000 km / Mach 0.7 | Development trials |
| Prahar | Tactical Prithvi | 150 km | Army trials |
| PINAKA Mk-I | MBRL | 37 km | Inducted |
| PINAKA Mk-II | Enhanced MBRL | 75 km | Inducted |
| ATAGS | 155 mm/52 cal towed gun | 48 km | User trials 2023 |
| Arjun Mk-1A | Main Battle Tank | 68 t | 118 ordered (2021) |
| LCA Tejas | Light Combat Aircraft | 1.8 Mach | IOC-2004, FOC-2019, Mk-1A 2024 |
| LCH Prachand | Light Combat Helicopter | 330 km/h | IAF & Army 2022 |
| DRDO Netra | AEW&C | 250 km radar range | 3 delivered to IAF |
| Rustom-2 | MALE UAV | 24 h endurance | LSP stage |
| SWARM | Loitering Munition | 50 km | trials 2023 |
4. DRDO Laboratories – Zone-wise
Aeronautics
| Lab | Location | Key Work |
|---|---|---|
| ADA | Bengaluru | LCA, AMCA |
| GTRE | Bengaluru | Kaveri aero-engine |
| CEMILAC | Bengaluru | Certification & air-worthiness |
Missiles & Strategic
| Lab | Location | Key Work |
|---|---|---|
| DRDL | Hyderabad | Agni, Prithvi, BMD |
| RCI | Hyderabad | Avionics, seekers |
| HEMRL | Pune | Propellants, explosives |
Naval Systems
| Lab | Location | Key Work |
|---|---|---|
| NSTL | Visakhapatnam | Torpedoes, sonars |
| NSTL(Kochi) | Kochi | Marine materials |
Life Sciences
| Lab | Location | Key Work |
|---|---|---|
| DIPAS | Delhi | High-altitude protection |
| DEBEL | Bengaluru | Pilot clothing, bio-energy |
5. One-Liner Rapid Revision Facts
- DRDO formed on 1 Jan 1958 by merging Technical Development Establishments.
- Pokhran-I (1974) – DRDO designed the implosion system & sensors.
- IGMDP headed by Dr APJ Abdul Kalam – 5 missiles: Agni, Prithvi, Akash, Trishul, Nag.
- BrahMos is Indo-Russian JV (DRDO + NPOM); named after Brahmaputra + Moskva rivers.
- ASAT missile used PDV Mk-II interceptor; hit Microsat-R at 283 km altitude.
- 2-DG drug developed by INMAS & DRL for COVID-19.
- ATAGS holds world record 48 km range with base-bleed shell.
- Arjun MBT is 68-ton; 120 mm rifled gun.
- LCA Tejas is lightest supersonic fighter in its class.
- DRDO Netra is based on Embraer ERJ-145 platform.
- Kaveri engine dry thrust: 46 kN, wet: 73 kN.
- Nirbhay uses Manik small turbofan engine.
- HSTDV (2020) achieved Mach 6+ for 20 s – critical for hypersonic vehicles.
- Young Scientist Labs (2020) – 5 labs headed by scientists < 35 yrs.
- Technology Transfer portal – https://drdo.gov.in/tech-offer – 1,500+ patents free for MSMEs.
6. Multiple-Choice Questions (15+)
Click to view MCQs with Answers
DRDO was established in which year?
a) 1947 b) 1950 c) 1958 d) 1962
Ans: c) 1958The present Chairman of DRDO (2024) is:
a) Dr G Satheesh Reddy b) Dr Tessy Thomas c) Dr Samir V Kamat d) Dr VK Saraswat
Ans: c) Dr Samir V KamatDRDO’s motto “Balasya Mulam Vigyanam” means:
a) Science is Power b) Strength Originates from Science c) Defence Needs Science d) Science for Nation
Ans: b) Strength Originates from ScienceThe IGMDP was launched in:
a) 1974 b) 1983 c) 1990 d) 1998
Ans: b) 1983Which missile was NOT part of IGMDP?
a) Agni b) Trishul c) Shaurya d) Nag
Ans: c) ShauryaThe first flight of Agni-V took place on:
a) 19 Apr 2010 b) 19 Apr 2012 c) 27 Mar 2018 d) 11 May 1998
Ans: b) 19 Apr 2012What is the range of BrahMos cruise missile (2024 version)?
a) 290 km b) 450 km c) 800 km d) 1000 km
Ans: b) 450 kmWhich DRDO lab developed the ASAT interceptor PDV Mk-II?
a) DRDL b) RCI c) ASL d) DEBEL
Ans: c) ASL (Advanced Systems Laboratory)The world-record range of 48 km is achieved by which DRDO gun?
a) Dhanush b) ATAGS c) M777 d) Haubits FH77
Ans: b) ATAGSThe Light Combat Aircraft Tejas is developed by:
a) HAL b) ADA c) NAL d) GTRE
Ans: b) ADAThe COVID-19 drug 2-DG was developed by DRDO in collaboration with:
a) Sun Pharma b) Dr Reddy’s c) Cipla d) Glenmark
Ans: b) Dr Reddy’sWhich of the following is a MALE UAV of DRDO?
a) Lakshya b) Nishant c) Rustom-2 d) ALH
Ans: c) Rustom-2The hypersonic vehicle HSTDV achieved Mach:
a) 4 b) 5 c) 6+ d) 8
Ans: c) 6+The naval anti-ship missile launched from submarine is:
a) Nirbhay b) K-15 (B-05) c) Shaurya d) Prahar
Ans: b) K-15 (B-05)Which city hosts the maximum number of DRDO labs?
a) Delhi b) Hyderabad c) Bengaluru d) Pune
Ans: c) Bengaluru (≈ 12 labs)DRDO’s Young Scientist Laboratories were started in:
a) 2018 b) 2019 c) 2020 d) 2021
Ans: c) 2020The induction batch of Arjun Mk-1A tanks ordered is:
a) 68 b) 118 c) 124 d) 200
Ans: b) 118Which DRDO missile uses solid-ramjet technology?
a) Astra b) SFDR c) QRSAM d) Akash-NG
Ans: b) SFDR (Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet)The AEW&C platform Netra uses which aircraft?
a) Airbus A321 b) Embraer ERJ-145 c) Dornier 228 d) Boeing 737
Ans: b) Embraer ERJ-145DRDO’s budget share in total defence budget 2023-24 is approx:
a) 2 % b) 5.7 % c) 10 % d) 15 %
Ans: b) 5.7 %
7. Quick Revision Chart (Pin & Save)
| To Remember | Value |
|---|---|
| DRDO Born | 1-1-1958 |
| Total Labs | 52 |
| 5 Missiles of IGMDP | A-P-T-A-N (Agni-Prithvi-Trishul-Akash-Nag) |
| ASAT Date | 27 Mar 2018 |
| Agni-V Range | 5,000+ km |
| ATAGS Range | 48 km |
| Kaveri Engine | 46 kN dry |
| COVID Drug | 2-DG |
| Hypersonic Demo | HSTDV – Mach 6 |
| Arjun Mk-1A Order | 118 |
| LCA Name Meaning | “Radiance” in Sanskrit |
Keep revisiting this capsule; 2-3 questions every year in Railway & Defence exams come straight from DRDO milestones.
BETA
