Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP)

Definition

The framework of rules and categories that governs how the Ministry of Defence buys capital equipment for the armed forces, designed to balance speed, transparency and the promotion of indigenous (Indian) defence manufacturing.

Key points

• The current framework is the Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020, which replaced the earlier Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP), and is revised periodically; for any specific clause, verify the latest version.
• It ranks acquisition categories by indigenous content, with the highest priority to "Buy (Indian, Indigenously Designed Developed and Manufactured)", that is Buy (Indian-IDDM), followed by Buy (Indian), Buy and Make (Indian), Buy and Make, and Buy (Global) with the lowest priority.
• It introduced and strengthened a leasing category and higher minimum indigenous-content thresholds to push self-reliance under the broader "Atmanirbhar Bharat" and Make in India in defence drives.
• Major capital purchases are cleared by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by the Defence Minister, which is the apex decision-making body for procurement.
• It works alongside positive indigenisation lists (items barred from import after set dates) and a defined defence budget share for domestic procurement.

Why it matters for CAPF

Defence procurement reform is a recurring current-affairs theme; the DAP 2020 name, the priority to Buy (Indian-IDDM), and the role of the Defence Acquisition Council are commonly tested facts.

Common confusion

The Defence Acquisition Procedure is the rulebook; the Defence Acquisition Council is the apex committee that approves big buys under that rulebook. "Buy and Make (Indian)" (Indian-led) differs from plain "Buy and Make" (foreign vendor with transfer of technology).

Related concepts

concept make in india defence, concept chief of defence staff, concept tri service theatre commands, concept blue water navy

Parent note

indian defence forces and modernisation