Finish Projects On Time, World Is Not Waiting For You: PM Modi To DRDO

"That is why the challenge before India is that how do we complete work before time. If the world is coming up with some products in 2020, can we come in the field prepared with products in 2018," he said.

Modi said the, "DRDO has to decide whether it has to respond to the situation or it has to be proactive and set agenda for the world and we have to set agenda for the global committee... We can be the world leader by not following but by showing the way."

He said it was not that India lacked the talent pool but "I think there is this 'chalta hai' (lackadaisical) attitude".

Several DRDO projects such as the Light Combat Aircraft Tejas, Nag missile, Long-range Surface-to-Air missile project and the Airborne Early Warning and Control System projects have been delayed by many years and seen several cost overruns.

Drawing parallels between his government and the DRDO, the Prime Minister said, "People say that Modiji, we have lot of hopes and expectations from your government. People will have hopes from people who work as nobody would have hopes from people who don't do anything. I have hopes from DRDO because I know that DRDO has the capability to perform."

Seeking to give more responsibilities to the youth, the Prime Minister urged the DRDO to make provisions that in five out of its 52 labs people with only less than 35 years of age are employed and the power of ultimate decision-making is also vested in them.

Read More: The IPO Story Of Indian Companies! And Do You Trust Celebrity Endorsement Products?