HAL reaps a rich harvest - inducts 34 graduates from IITs, BITS Pilani

Bangalore: Hard pressed to attract the best recruits only last year, India's defence R&D establishments now appear to be on a roll with the economic downturn and revised pay scales from the Sixth Pay Commission compelling graduates from the country's elite educational institutions to opt for careers with them. For the first time ever, state-owned aerospace and defence giant, the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), has taken in an exclusive batch of 34 young engineers from the country's IITs, as well as the BITS Pilani, another prestigious educational establishment.

The batch consisting of engineers from electronics, electrical, aeronautics and mechanical streams has joined HAL as design trainees (DTs) and will now be posted at the various R&D centres, including ARDC (Bangalore), SLRDC (Hyderabad) and TAD (Kanpur), after completing mandatory 52-week training.

All the 34 trainees were selected through a rigorous campus recruitment campaign.

Speaking on the occasion N Seshadri, executive director, Rotary Wing Research and Design Centre (RWR&DC), HAL, said with the challenges in aerospace increasing by the day, it's important that youngsters constantly upgrade their skills to stay ahead in the race. ''Knowledge-enhancement is the key and HAL will back all practical solutions that will cut time and cost,'' he said.