DRDO chairman Samir V Kamat gets one-year extension

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet on Monday granted an extension of one year to Dr Samir V. Kamat, who is the Chairman of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). With approval, Dr Samir Kamat will hold charge of DRDO till May 31, 2025.

"The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the proposal of Ministry of Defence for extension in service of Dr. Samir V. Kamat, Secretary, Department of Defence Research and Development (DDR&D) and Chairman, Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) for a period of one year from 01 .06.2024 till 31 .05.2025 or until further orders, whichever is earlier," an official order issued by DoPT read.

Earlier, in a move that has taken forces by surprise, the Government on Sunday approved a one-month service extension to Indian Army chief Gen Manoj Pande up to June 30.
Government sources said that the successor of General Pande would be appointed by the government to be formed after the results on June 4. The Army chief was supposed to retire on May 31 after a 25-month tenure. The extension comes at a time when his successor has not yet been appointed.

"The Appointments Committee of Cabinet, on May 26, 2024, approved the extension in service of Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Manoj C Pande for a period of one month, beyond his normal age of superannuation (May 31, 2024) that is up to June 30, 2024, under Rule 16 A (4) of the Army Rules 1954," Defence Ministry said in a statement.