Centre extends DRDO Chief Dr Samir V Kamat’s tenure for second consecutive year

Dr Kamat is a Fellow of the Indian National Academy of Engineering (INAE) and Institution of Engineers India (IEI).

The Central government on Monday extended the tenure of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) chief Samir V Kamat by one more year, till May 2026. This is his second service extension. Samir V Kamat was appointed as secretary of the Department of Defence Research and Development (DDR&D) and the DRDO chairman on August 25, 2022.

He was given one-year extension on May 27 last year, which was to end this month. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved extension of Kamat's service as DDR&D secretary and DRDO chairman under Fundamental Rule 56 (d) for a further period of one year from June 1, 2025 till May 31, 2026, or until further orders, the Personnel Ministry said. The rule allows the Central government to extend services of incumbents on select posts in public interest.

An alumnus of IIT Kharagpur and The Ohio State University, USA, he joined DRDO in 1989 and previously served as Director General (Naval Systems and Materials).

A distinguished scientist, Dr Kamat is a Fellow of the Indian National Academy of Engineering (INAE) and the Institution of Engineers India (IEI). He is a recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award from IIT Kharagpur, the Metallurgist of the Year Award from the Ministry of Steel, and DRDO's Scientist of the Year Award.

He has authored over 180 papers in international peer-reviewed journals.