Rajesh Kumar Singh assumed additional charge of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) Chairman

Key facts

• Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh has been given additional charge of the posts of secretary, Department of Defence Research and Development, and chairman of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) effective from May 31.
• The appointment was issued by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) following the retirement of the previous DRDO chief, Samir V Kamat.
• Samir V Kamat served as the DRDO chairman since August 2022, focusing on quantum computing, stealth unmanned combat aerial vehicles, and the electromagnetic aircraft launch system (EMALS).
• Rajesh Kumar Singh is a 1989-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the Kerala cadre who took over as defence secretary on November 1, 2024.
• Prior to his current role, Singh served as Secretary in the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) from April 24, 2023, to August 20, 2024.