In a significant move aligned with the Government of India’s declaration of 2025 as the ‘Year of Reforms,’ the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has launched a thorough review of the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020. The primary goal of this initiative is to enhance and streamline defence procurement processes, ensuring they are more coherent with overarching national objectives, including Aatmanirbharta (self-reliance), the ‘Make in India’ campaign, and bolstered defence manufacturing capabilities.
To spearhead this review, a high-level committee has been established, headed by the Director General (Acquisition). This panel comprises senior officials from the MoD, representatives from the defence industry, and esteemed members of academia. Notably, the committee has appointed former IAS officer Shri Apurva Chandra, a 1980 batch officer and ex-DG (Acquisition), to serve as Principal Advisor.
The committee has commenced consultation processes, actively inviting detailed suggestions from all relevant stakeholders until July 5, 2025. Interested parties can submit their inputs via the designated email address.
The review’s objectives center around not only addressing the operational and modernisation requirements of the armed forces but also incorporating emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced surveillance systems into procurement methodologies.
A significant focus of the review is to simplify existing acquisition procedures, improve the ease of doing business in the defence sector, and promote systems that have been indigenously designed. The MoD seeks to create an enabling environment that facilitates joint ventures, encourages foreign direct investment (FDI), and boosts private sector engagement, positioning India as a global hub for defence manufacturing and Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) services.
Key areas identified for stakeholder input include potential changes in procedural categorizations, trial methodologies, post-contract management, Fast Track acquisition strategies, and the need for a clearer articulation of the DAP to remove ambiguities and intricacies that can hinder the process.
This initiative signifies a strategic shift towards establishing a defence ecosystem that is not only agile and transparent but also innovation-driven, fostering the growth of startups, micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), as well as larger private enterprises within India’s defence landscape.
