DAP 2026: How new acquisition rules boost India’s bid to become global leader in defence tech

NEW DELHI: The defence ministry led by Rajnath Singh has released the draft Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2026, proposing "transformative leap" in India’s military procurement framework. The new policy, set to replace DAP 2020, aims to boost self-reliance, speed up acquisitions, and strengthen the domestic defence industrial ecosystem.

According to the ministry, DAP 2026 is designed to promote indigenous manufacturing, reduce import dependence, and position India as a "global leader" in defence technology. The draft also simplifies procedures, raises indigenous content requirements, and introduces new procurement models to make acquisitions faster and more efficient.




A key structural change is the reduction of procurement categories from five to four, making the system less complex. The draft also clearly defines “indigenous design” to promote "Aatmanirbharta" and ensure greater participation of Indian companies.

The required indigenous content in the “Buy (Indian–Indigenous Design, Development and Manufacture)” category has been increased from 50% to 60%, along with incentives to encourage higher domestic value addition.

To improve quality and transparency, subject experts will now be involved in finalising Service Qualitative Requirements (SQRs) and overseeing trials. A two-stage trial process has also been introduced to strengthen evaluation mechanisms.

New procurement methods include 'long-term bulk acquisition' to provide better industry visibility and 'low-cost capital acquisition' for fast-evolving, affordable technologies. A Technology Readiness Level (TRL)-based classification system has been proposed to assess equipment maturity and streamline decision-making.

In a notable reform, single vendors will be allowed from the outset in certain indigenous categories for equipment with TRL levels between 6 and 9. Vendors who successfully clear trial evaluations will receive compensation, encouraging broader participation.

The 'fast track procedure' has been refined, with greater delegation of powers to enable quicker procurement of emerging technologies with shorter development cycles. Make and iDEX projects have also been strengthened through spiral development and five years of assured orders to support innovation.

The selection process for Development-cum-Production Partners (DcPP) in DRDO projects has been reviewed to ensure a level playing field. The armed forces will have flexibility in choosing quality assurance modes to reduce delays.

Timelines will now be monitored from the Request for Information (RFI) stage, with concurrent planning of acquisition steps to shorten overall procurement cycles.

The draft DAP 2026 has been uploaded on the ministry of defence website, and stakeholders have been invited to submit suggestions and comments before it is finalised.