With the goal of expediting acquisition timelines and creating a more business-friendly atmosphere for the private sector, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has begun a thorough assessment of its procurement practices.
Under the leadership of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, this strategic effort demonstrates the government’s dedication to bolstering India’s defence industrial sector and improving military operational preparedness.
To conduct thorough talks with all stakeholders, including senior MoD officials, industry representatives, and academics, a special committee headed by the Director General (Acquisition) has been established.
In order to guarantee timely and effective acquisitions, the committee’s mandate is to suggest radical modifications to the current Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP). Apurva Chandra, a former DG (Acquisition), has been named the committee’s senior advisor and will contribute invaluable experience to the process. The committee’s inclusive and participatory approach is reflected in its request for suggestions from stakeholders by July 5, 2025.
The lengthy procurement procedure, which usually takes two to three years to finish because of stringent inspections, intensive testing, and drawn-out commercial discussions, is one of the main issues the armed services have encountered. On the other hand, the recently implemented Emergency Procurement (EP) process has shown the advantages of accelerated purchases, allowing equipment to be acquired in a matter of weeks and delivered in a year, which is a major improvement over earlier schedules.
A fast-track procurement mechanism is anticipated to be introduced under the proposed reform, which might shorten the ordering and selection procedure to less than six months. The defense sector, which relies on prompt orders and deliveries to keep up commercial pace, would benefit greatly from this.
Additionally, the updated procurement structure will promote foreign direct investment (FDI) by international defense manufacturers, support the Make in India campaign through joint ventures and knowledge transfers, and give priority to the integration of indigenous technologies.
Positioning India as a global center for defense manufacture and Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) services is another aspect of the committee’s mandate. The MoD wants to raise India’s profile in the international defense industry by encouraging innovation, fostering public-private partnerships, and drawing in foreign investment.
An important step toward modernizing India’s defense purchase process, empowering the private sector, and furthering the country’s objective of self-reliance in defense production is the defense ministry’s proactive study and planned revamp of procurement regulations.
