Nuclear scientist Sekhar Basu likely to be named new DRDO chief

Nuclear scientist Sekhar Basu is likely to be named the new DRDO chief replacing Avinash Chander, government sources said on Wednesday.  A notification was issued by the government Monday terminating the services of Chander, who has headed the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) since June 2013. Chander, widely known as the man behind the Agni series of missiles, retired from his post Nov 30 last year and has since continued on contract. Basu, who heads the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, is the man behind the nuclear system that is driving the Arihant-class submarines of the Indian Navy. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said on Tuesday that it was on his recommendation that DRDO chief Avinash Chander’s term was ended as the officer had already retired. “I recommended that a person on contract should not be occupying such a senior position. This senior position should be filled by other eligible senior persons. There is no controversy here,” he said. “The tenure of DRDO chief would normally have ended in November but the previous cabinet had approved a three-year extension to his term, with the additional years being on contract,” Parrikar told reporters. IANS