The Department of Defence Research and Development is responsible for formulating and executing programmes of scientific research and design, development, test and evaluation in fields of relevance to national security (C), apprising, assessing and advising the Raksha Mantri on the influence on National Security of emerging developments in Science and Technology (B), and administering defence research establishments including bodies like the Aeronautical Development Agency (A). Matters related to the general administration and legal procedures under the Patents Act, 1960, including dealing with references or opposition proceedings under Section 25, fall under the purview of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) in the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, which oversees the Patent Office. While DRDO deals with patents related to its own inventions, the statutory function of dealing with references/opposition under the Patents Act is not its responsibility.