The motto of Defence Research and Development Organisation is -
- (1)Jagratam Aharnisham
- (2)Tejasvinavdhitamastu
- (3)Balasya Mulam Vigyanam
- (4)Vayam Rakshamah
Answer
Why
Correct — option (3), Balasya Mulam Vigyanam.
DRDO's own About page (archived January 2021) quotes the phrase with its meaning: "Balasya Mulam Vigyanam"—the source of strength is science. The page says this drives the nation in peace and war.
Wikipedia's DRDO article (October 2021 revision) lists the same motto in Sanskrit, बलस्य मूलं विज्ञानम्, translated as "Strength's Origin is in Science".
So DRDO's motto is Balasya Mulam Vigyanam.
The idea to remember: DRDO, a science organisation, has a motto saying strength comes from science (vigyanam).
Why the others are wrong
- (1)Jagratam Aharnisham — This phrase is linked to India's Intelligence Bureau (IB). Wikipedia's IB article (October 2021 revision) lists जागृतं अहर्निशं, in English "Always Alert", as its motto.
The same article describes the IB as India's domestic intelligence, internal security and counter-intelligence agency, under the Ministry of Home Affairs, not a research body.
- (2)Tejasvinavdhitamastu — This is tejasvi nāvadhītamastu, a line from the Shanti Mantra that opens the Ananda Valli of the Taittiriya Upanishad. Wikipedia translates it as "May our study be brilliant!"
It is a prayer about learning. Wikipedia's IIM Bangalore article gives it as that institute's motto, translated "Let our study be enlightening".
- (4)Vayam Rakshamah — This is the motto of the Indian Coast Guard. Its website's Mission & Motto page (archived January 2021) reads: "VAYAM RAKSHAMAH" - WE PROTECT.
The Coast Guard's listed missions are maritime, such as enforcing maritime laws and preserving the marine environment; DRDO is the Ministry of Defence's research and development wing.
Concept
DRDO describes itself as the R&D wing of the Ministry of Defence. Its vision is "Empowering the nation with state-of-the-art indigenous Defence technologies and systems."
It was formed in 1958 by amalgamating the Indian Army's Technical Development Establishments and the Directorate of Technical Development & Production with the Defence Science Organisation. It began with 10 establishments or laboratories.
By its own account it is now a network of more than 50 laboratories.
RPSC's 2021 syllabus lists "Defence Technology, Space Technology and Satellites." under Science & Technology.
DRDO's About page credits it with strategic systems and platforms such as the Agni and Prithvi series of missiles, the light combat aircraft Tejas, the Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher and the Akash air defence system, besides radars and electronic warfare systems.
Its laboratories cover aeronautics, armaments, electronics, combat vehicles, missiles, naval systems, life sciences and agriculture, among other disciplines.
Key facts
- DRDO's About page quotes "Balasya Mulam Vigyanam" and explains it as: the source of strength is science.
- DRDO was formed in 1958 from the Army's Technical Development Establishments, the DTDP and the Defence Science Organisation.
- DRDO began with 10 establishments or laboratories; its page (January 2021) calls it a network of more than 50 laboratories.
- The Indian Coast Guard's motto is "Vayam Rakshamah" — We Protect (Coast Guard website).
- "Tejasvi nāvadhītamastu" (may our study be brilliant) is from the Shanti Mantra in the Taittiriya Upanishad; IIM Bangalore uses it as its motto (Wikipedia).
From DRDO's About page and the Indian Coast Guard's Mission & Motto page (both archived January 2021), and Wikipedia (October 2021 revisions).
Study next
Common traps
- Protection is not research: 'Vayam Rakshamah' (We Protect) belongs to the Indian Coast Guard, not DRDO.
- Read the key word: 'Vigyanam' in Balasya Mulam Vigyanam carries the idea of science, which fits a research organisation.
- A prayer about study: 'Tejasvi nāvadhītamastu' is a line from the Shanti Mantra, which Wikipedia gives as IIM Bangalore's motto.
A question can give a motto and ask which organisation uses it, or name an organisation and ask for its motto.
A question can also ask what a Sanskrit motto means, or which text it comes from.
Related PYQs
UnlockIAS will link similar questions from RAS Pre 2018 and 2016 here once those papers are published on this site.
Practice
- practice — not a real PYQ
"Vayam Rakshamah", meaning "We Protect", is the motto of –
- (a)Indian Coast Guard
- (b)Defence Research and Development Organisation
- (c)Intelligence Bureau
- (d)Indian Space Research Organisation
Answer(1) — the Indian Coast Guard's Mission & Motto page gives "VAYAM RAKSHAMAH" - WE PROTECT. Option (2) quotes Balasya Mulam Vigyanam, option (3) is listed by Wikipedia with Jagratam Aharnisham, and option (4) is not the organisation the Coast Guard page names. - practice — not a real PYQ
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) was formed in –
- (a)1947
- (b)1958
- (c)1969
- (d)1980
Answer(2) — DRDO's About page says it was formed in 1958 by amalgamating existing defence technical and science organisations. Option (4) is the year Wikipedia gives for the formation of a separate Department of Defence Research and Development; options (1) and (3) are not DRDO's year.