Assessment Boards for promotion of DRDS Scientists in the grades 'B'/'C'/'D'/'E' to next higher grade are held during mid April- mid June at locations of major concentration of DRDO Labs/ Estts. viz Bangalore, Delhi, Hyderabad, and Pune. Depending on number of candidates in different disciplines, the interviews may be conducted at other locations also viz Balasore, Chandigarh and Dehradun. In Delhi, interview boards are conducted at RAC. The Assessment Boards are chaired by Chairman RAC or a Co-Chairperson from a panel which consists of reputed Scientists & Technologists. The Core Committee constitutes a Chairperson, two Core Members and the other members includes a Departmental Expert and two External Experts from the Subject. Normally, one External Expert of the Subject is from an academic institution and the other one from a scientific institution engaged in activities similar to DRDO, to assess both academic foundation as well as applied research & development. For each candidate Director of the Lab or his Representative is also the Member of the Assessment Board and SC/ ST rep is co-opted on requirement basis.
The Lab Director is requested by the Chairperson to brief the Board on the type of responsibilities entrusted to the candidate and the contributions made by the Scientist appearing in the interview. The board is supposed to interview the Scientist in the discipline indicated for assessment in the APAR.
After the Scientist enters the Board Room, the Chairperson reviews the Bio-data, and, then invites the Scientist to make a brief presentation (10-15 minutes) of the achievements and the future plans of action. The Scientist is required to highlight only personal contributions and achievements. After the presentation all the members of the Board are requested to interact with the Scientist turn-wise.
The Assessment Board, which consists of carefully selected Departmental and External Experts can help converge to a satisfactory judgment. There are some situations in which the Assessment Boards take adequate precaution to arrive at a decision e.g.
If the overall caliber of the Scientist as judged by the Assessment Board matches with the prescribed qualifying marks required for the current residency period, the candidate is recommended as `Fit For Promotion'. Otherwise the recommendation is `Not Yet Fit For Promotion'.
Hindi may be used as a medium at the interview if desired by the candidate.
The promotion of DRDS Scientists in the grades 'F' to 'G' and 'G' to 'H' is made w.e.f. 1st July under the Flexible Complementing scheme (FCS) on the basis of the evaluation of their Annual Performance Assessment Report (APAR) by the Internal Screening Committee and assessment by the Peer committee. The minimum residency period is five years as on 30 June of the year to which assessment pertains. Relaxation up to three months in qualifying service is given to those who joined after 01 July due to reasons beyond their control. Relaxation of one year residency period is granted to Scientists 'F' who have been consistently assessed as "Exceptionally Brilliant " having secured 90% or above marks in four successive CPARs. The Peer committee takes holistic view of the contributions made by the Scientists in the present grade and evaluates attributes such as quality of scientific R & D activity, timely completion of tasks assigned, management ability and leadership quality, motivation in facing challenges, dedication to work, potential for undertaking higher responsibility and areas of strength. Peer Committee may also recommend the special pay of Rs. 4000/- per month to Scientists 'F' recommended for promotion to Scientists 'G'.
The same Peer Committee shall assess the Scientists 'G' for promotion to the post of Scientist 'H' (Outstanding Scientist) who have completed 3 years regular service in the Grade and have been recommended by ISC, based on merit, achievements, leadership and managerial qualities. The Same Committee will also recommend conferring the Grade of Distinguished Scientists.
