DRDO technology-transfer licences — CIC 2024
Quick Reply: ToT licensee names and royalty aggregates disclosable; underlying technology specifications remain §8[1][a]. ToT governance is transparent; weapon specifications.
Central Information Commission · 2024-07-25 · CIC/DRDO/A/2024/34567
ToT licensee names and royalty aggregates disclosable; underlying technology specifications remain §8[1][a]. ToT governance is transparent; weapon specifications.
ToT governance is transparent; weapon specifications are sovereignty-exempt.
Case details
| Court | Central Information Commission |
|---|---|
| Decided | 2024-07-25 |
| Citation | CIC/DRDO/A/2024/34567 |
| Bench | Saroj Punhani IC |
| Petitioner | Defence Industries Assoc |
| Respondent | DRDO |
| RTI Act sections | §8(1)(a), §24 |
| Outcome | partly allowed |
Outcome
ToT licensee names and royalty aggregates disclosable; underlying technology specifications remain §8(1)(a).
Ratio decidendi
DRDO is not in the §24 Second Schedule. Transfer of Technology agreements with private Indian industry are disclosable at the metadata level — licensee, date, royalty structure, performance milestones. Technical specifications of strategic systems attract §8(1)(a). The Commission directed DRDO to publish a quarterly ToT-licensee register.
Keywords
DRDO, ToT, section 8(1)(a), section 24, defence industry
Similar cases in the corpus
- Mining leases & royalty records — Goa SIC (SIC-GA 2021)
- Space-sector exports/clearances — CIC (CIC 2023)
- Public servant posting/transfer orders — Delhi HC (HC-DEL 2019)
- ISRO non-operational records — CIC (CIC 2019)
Related
Editorial summary, not a certified report. The ratio here is an editorial compression. Before citing this ruling in a PIO order, FAA speaking order, or any appellate filing, verify against the full reported decision. RTI Wiki is not a legal service.
Editorial summary · last reviewed 21 April 2026.