Revive work on biological defence programme: NITI Aayog member to DRDO

NITI Aayog member V K Saraswat, who was earlier associated with the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO), exhorted researchers to “revive work on a bio (logical)-defence programme”.

He was addressing a video conference to mark the National Technology Day on May 11 - celebrated as the National Technology Day - when he urged DRDO scientists to shift focus on the six of its laboratories that study life sciences, reported the Business Standard.

The six DRDO laboratories that work on life sciences are: Defence Bioengineering and Electromedical Laboratory in Bengaluru, Defence Institute of Bio-Energy Research in Haldwani, Defence Food Research Laboratory in Mysore, Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences in Delhi, Defence Institute of High Altitude Research in Leh, and Defence Institute of Psychological Research in Delhi.

Notably, India is among the 183 countries that signed the Biological Weapons Convention of 1975. This prohibits the possession of “biological agents and toxins” for purposes other than “prophylactic, protective, or peaceful”. The convention, however, allows member countries to develop biological weapons for defensive purposes.