Defence Ministry Sets Up Panel for Overhaul of Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020

The Defence Ministry has established a top-level committee, headed by the Director General (Acquisition), to scrutinize the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020 in detail. The decision is part of the 2025 'Year of Reforms' programme of the government and is intended to bring DAP in line with the country's current policies, expedite armed forces modernization, and enhance self-reliance in defence manufacturing.

 

Key Highlights:

 

•⁠  ⁠The review committee is made up of MoD senior officials, defence industry representatives, and academia and includes former IAS officer Apurva Chandra as Principal Advisor for continuity and expertise.

 

•⁠  ⁠The main objectives are to rationalize the procurement procedures, eliminate bureaucratic delays, and provide timely supply of the operational requirements of the armed forces.

 

•⁠  ⁠Past priority areas have included promoting 'Aatmanirbharta' (self-reliance), enabling 'Make in India' by local design and manufacture, and promoting private sector and startup involvement.

 

•⁠  ⁠The panel is also calling for stakeholder comments on policy updates, procedural streamlining, simplification of language, and adoptability of new technologies such as AI, and comments are due by July 5, 2025.

 

Prospects: This people-centric, technology-driven change is likely to make India's defence procurement more agile, transparent, and responsive to innovation. With indigenous capability and industry partnership, the review is intended to make India a world defence production and modernization hub.

 

Source: Economic Times, India Today, PIB