The Defence Research and Development Organisation has funded the city-based Dr C.R. Rao Advanced Institute of Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science (AIMSCS) to conduct studies on the latest warfare technology including decoding of enemy’s military secrets and strengthening India’s defence capabilities.
The Rs 2.8 crore sanctioned to AIMSCS was for research in two critical areas of defence — radar technology and cryptanalysis. While research in radar technology will help boost the country’s defence system, the cryptanalysis project deals with coding and decoding secret or encrypted messages. Cryptanalysis needs mathematically-advanced computerised schemes. DRDO chief and eminent defence scientist Dr V.K. Saraswat has been in the news for sanction of funds to AIMSCS, of which he is the honorary president. Defence sources refute the allegation of misuse of funds saying that the money was sanctioned for the critical projects as they were taken up by eminent researchers including Prof. Vellenki Umapathi Reddy, Prof. S.B. Rao and Prof. Virender Sule.
“The project on radar systems including target detection, resolution and identification was taken up due to the potential of the research outcome and its usefulness to DRDO’s futuristic radar development activities. Top scientists including Prof. P.R. Mahapatra of Indian Institute of Science reviewed the proposal and recommended sanction of funds,” a senior defence official said. Sources said the morale of the DRDO team has been hit after the allegation of irregularity in the sanction of funds. C.R. Rao institute received funding from a several agencies including the Government of India (Rs 10 crore), Planning Commission (Rs 5 crore), National Technical Research Organisation (Rs 12.48 crore) and AP government (Rs 50 lakh).
The project on cryptanalysis was recommended by director of Scientific Analysis Group, Delhi, based on the critical areas of research in the futuristic areas of cryptanalysis and cryptography.
According to them, such collaborative work with premier institutes of the country have played a crucial role in overcoming the damaging impact of isolation forced upon India and its strategic research organisations under the harsh international denial regimes. Involvement of academic and research institutes with expertise in the critical areas is an established process in the country and elsewhere.
“Only because Dr Saraswat is the president of the institute, it does not bind the research body from seeking projects and funding from various government bodies, research organisations including those of DRDO,” another DRDO official said.