Maarg Manthan · Topic 21.6

Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) and Defence Procurement Reforms

Current Affairs & Government Schemes › Defence and Security Current Affairs · Topic 21.6

The Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) is the rulebook of the Ministry of Defence for buying capital equipment such as aircraft, ships, tanks and weapons for the armed forces. DAP 2020, in force from 1 October 2020, replaced the Defence Procurement Procedure 2016 and ranks purchase categories with Buy (Indian-IDDM) at the top. The Defence Acquisition Council, chaired by the Defence Minister, gives the first approval, called Acceptance of Necessity. A draft DAP 2026 was released for public comment in February 2026 to cut timelines and raise indigenous content, and as reported its final approval had not been confirmed by the date of this page.

5 min read · UPSC Prelims · Current Affairs & Government Schemes · Defence and Security Current Affairs

At a Glance

Rulebook Defence Acquisition Procedure, DAP 2020 in force from 1 October 2020
Apex body Defence Acquisition Council
Top category Buy (Indian-IDDM)
First approval Acceptance of Necessity
Next version Draft DAP 2026 released February 2026
Exam link UPSC Prelims, Current Affairs and Government Schemes: Defence and Security Current Affairs

Where Does It Fit?

This topic describes how the armed forces actually buy what the earlier topics describe. The indigenisation lists and start-up routes depend on procurement rules that favour Indian firms. Previous topic: Agnipath Scheme and Agniveer Recruitment Reforms. Next topic: Semiconductor Fabrication Plants and India’s Chip Manufacturing Push (Dholera, Sanand).

What Are the Categories and Stages of Defence Procurement?

Category or stage	Key point
Buy (Indian-IDDM)	Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured. First priority, with a minimum indigenous content of 50 percent in the original rules
Buy (Indian)	Product made in India by an Indian vendor with a minimum indigenous content
Buy and Make (Indian)	Purchase from an Indian vendor with a tie-up with a foreign partner, with part of the work done in India
Buy (Global – Manufacture in India)	Foreign vendor sets up manufacturing in India
Buy (Global)	Direct import, the last choice, used when no other route is possible
Acceptance of Necessity	The Defence Acquisition Council clears the need and the category of buying
Request for Proposal and trials	Industry is asked for bids, the equipment is tested, then price talks and contract signing follow

Which Bodies and Reforms Matter?

Defence Acquisition Council: the apex body of the Ministry of Defence for procurement, set up after the Kargil Review, chaired by the Defence Minister
Defence Procurement Board: led by the Defence Secretary, it handles the process from need to contract
Defence Procurement Procedure: the first version came in 2002, and later versions in 2006, 2011, 2013, 2016 and the renamed DAP 2020
DAP 2020 features: indigenous content raised in some categories, a leasing option, a faster route for urgent needs and simplified trials
Strategic Partnership model: selected Indian private firms partner with foreign makers to build platforms such as submarines and fighters in India

What Else Should You Remember?

Offsets: offset rules once required foreign sellers to invest in India, and DAP 2020 relaxed them in some deals, which drew debate on their value
Draft DAP 2026: released in February 2026 with comments due in March, it proposes fewer categories, faster timelines, higher indigenous content near 60 percent in some routes, and new routes for long-term bulk and low-cost purchases, as reported
Approval status: the final notification of DAP 2026 was not confirmed in the sources checked, so it should be treated as pending
DAC approvals in 2026: the DAC cleared large packages, reported at Rs 2.38 lakh crore in March 2026 and Rs 52,000 crore in July 2026, under the existing rules
Year of Reforms: the Ministry named 2025 the Year of Reforms and set out steps to speed up procurement and testing
Link with indigenisation: the lists in Defence Indigenization and Atmanirbhar Bharat in Defence Production ban imports of listed items and so shape what DAP allows
Link with start-ups: the innovation route in Innovation for Defence Excellence (iDEX) Scheme needs a quick path to purchase
Criticism: procurement takes years, trials are slow, and big contracts are often challenged or revised
Concerns: transparency, the role of agents, single-vendor deals and the need to keep stocks for war readiness

Why Does It Matter for the Exam?

Order of categories: the descending order of preference from Buy (Indian-IDDM) to Buy (Global)
Full forms: IDDM, DAP, DAC and AoN
Bodies: who chairs the DAC and what it does
Version: DAP 2020 replaced the 2016 procedure and a draft DAP 2026 is pending
Common errors: confusing Acceptance of Necessity with the final contract, or thinking the Cabinet Committee on Security clears every purchase

As an analytical point, speed and transparency pull in different directions in procurement. Fixed timelines, clear categories and early trials reduce delay without lowering scrutiny, and the final test is how quickly a cleared need becomes delivered equipment.

Why Is This Topic Important?

Categories Priority order of buying
Bodies DAC and its role
Reform DAP 2020 and draft 2026

What Came Next?

The next topic moves to the chip manufacturing push that supports defence electronics. Next topic: Semiconductor Fabrication Plants and India’s Chip Manufacturing Push (Dholera, Sanand).

Key People and Terms

DAP Defence Acquisition Procedure
DAC Defence Acquisition Council
AoN Acceptance of Necessity
IDDM Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured
RFP Request for Proposal
Offset Investment condition for foreign sellers

Exam Corner

Points to Remember

DAP 2020 effective: 1 October 2020.
Top category: Buy (Indian-IDDM).
Apex body: Defence Acquisition Council, chaired by the Defence Minister.
First approval: Acceptance of Necessity.
Draft DAP 2026: February 2026, pending.

Do Not Confuse With

DAP and DPP DAP 2020 is the renamed and revised version of the 2016 procedure
AoN and contract Need approval versus final purchase agreement
DAC and CCS Council clears categories, the Cabinet Committee on Security clears large contracts

Memory Hook

Need cleared, bids called, trials run, contract signed.

Mains Angle

Questions ask about delays and indigenisation in procurement. These points give a frame.

Aims Speed, indigenisation, transparency
Gaps Delays and trials
Way ahead Timelines, testing, accountability

A Question You May Face

An original practice question, not a past paper question.

“Why do defence procurement timelines remain long in India, and how can acquisition reforms address the problem?”

How to Answer

Process Describe stages and bodies.
Delays Trials, approvals, disputes.
Reforms DAP 2020 and draft 2026.
Way Fixed timelines and testing.

GS Relevance

Prelims: DAP categories, DAC, Acceptance of Necessity, IDDM. GS Paper 3: defence procurement, indigenisation, transparency. GS Paper 2: governance and policy design.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Defence Acquisition Procedure?

The Defence Acquisition Procedure is the Ministry of Defence rulebook for buying capital equipment for the armed forces. DAP 2020 came into force on 1 October 2020 and replaced the Defence Procurement Procedure 2016, with a stronger preference for Indian-made equipment and faster steps from need approval to contract.

What is Buy (Indian-IDDM)?

Buy (Indian-IDDM) means Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured. It is the first priority category in the Defence Acquisition Procedure, and it needs a stated minimum of indigenous content. It ranks above Buy (Indian), Buy and Make (Indian), Buy (Global - Manufacture in India) and Buy (Global).

What is the Defence Acquisition Council?

The Defence Acquisition Council is the highest body in the Ministry of Defence for procurement decisions, chaired by the Defence Minister. It was set up after the Kargil Review Committee and gives the Acceptance of Necessity, which approves a purchase proposal in principle and fixes its category.

What is Acceptance of Necessity?

Acceptance of Necessity, or AoN, is the first approval for a capital purchase, given by the Defence Acquisition Council after studying the need of the armed forces. It does not sign a contract. Request for proposals, trials, price talks and a final contract approval follow before payment begins.

What is the status of DAP 2026?

A draft Defence Acquisition Procedure 2026 was released in February 2026 for comments, with changes such as fewer categories, faster timelines and more domestic content. As reported, final approval had not been confirmed in the sources checked, so DAP 2020 should be treated as the notified version until an announcement.

PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis

1 Buy (Global) is the first priority category under DAP 2020.

False

Buy (Indian-IDDM) is the first priority.

2 The Defence Acquisition Council is chaired by the Defence Minister.

True

It is the apex procurement body.

3 DAP 2020 replaced the DPP 2016.