The Defence Research and Development Organisation, the umbrella agency better known by its acronym, DRDO, is a privileged entity that exercises the right of first refusal on equipment demands raised by the services. The head of the DRDO serves as the scientific adviser to the minister of defense, a position in which he has veto power over what India can import. In a number of cases, the DRDO makes the unrealistic case for indigenous production, holding up procurement until it is proved incapable of making the supply. The dual role of supplier and evaluator has resulted in reduced
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