**Executive Summary**
The Department of Defence has released the draft Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP)-2026 to propel defence ecosystem growth. DAP-2026, once approved, will replace DAP-2020 and focuses on ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative in defence. Stakeholders are invited to submit comments and suggestions on the draft by March 3, 2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Purpose and Scope:**
* DAP-2026 aims to propel Jointness, Atmanirbharta & Integration, Force Modernisation, and Speed of acquisition with scaling of production.
* It aligns India's defense acquisition with the geo-strategic landscape, economic growth, skilling, private defense industry growth, and technological imperatives.
* DAP-2026 deals with capital procurement of equipment/platforms/systems. The Defence Procurement Manual (DPM) 2025 deals with maintenance & sustenance of defence equipment/platforms/systems.
* DAP-2026 intends to weave the security of the nation and technological growth in a single thread and create the canvas for Viksit Bharat-2047.
* **Focus on Indigenization:**
* Institutionalised preference for ‘Buy (Indian-IDDM)' category for procurement to boost domestic manufacturing and reduce imports.
* **Procurement and Processes:**
* Categorisation and procurement strategy based on technological availability and manufacturing readiness.
* Faster acquisition procedures for equipment with short technological cycle.
* Spiral designing & procurement of major platforms.
* Exploitation of modern technology before bulk procurement.
* Pragmatic Indigenous Content (IC) and Indigenous Design (ID) content evaluation.
* Utilisation of indigenous military material.
* Easing of financial and experience criteria for inclusive participation.
* Delegation of decision making for quicker acquisition.
* Revamping of trials and quality assurance processes.
* Aggressive infusion of digitisation & automation in acquisition procedures and processes.
* Atmanirbharta with focus on indigenous designing & retention of IPR, along with incentives for innovations.
* **Defence Manufacturing and Exports:**
* Boost to defence manufacturing and exports with restriction on import to domestically non-available and critical equipment only.
* **Public Availability and Feedback:**
* The draft DAP-2026 document, including the Handbook on Guidelines & Annexures, is available on the MoD website (https://mod.gov.in).
* Comments and suggestions are sought from stakeholders via email (secy-dap2025[at]gov[dot]in or tmls-mod[at]nic[dot]in) in PDF or MS Word format.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholders: Ministry of Defence**
*Impact:* Streamlined acquisition processes, focus on indigenization, enhanced transparency and efficiency.
*Action Required:* Review and implement the DAP-2026 after incorporating feedback.
**Stakeholders: Defence Manufacturers (Public and Private)**
*Impact:* Increased opportunities for domestic production, incentives for innovation, potential for increased exports.
*Action Required:* Understand the new procedures, align with the 'Buy (Indian-IDDM)' category, focus on innovation and quality.
**Stakeholders: General Public**
*Impact:* Increased security through modernised defence capabilities, economic benefits from a thriving domestic defence industry.
*Action Required:* No direct action required, but can stay informed about defence policies and developments.
**Stakeholders: Defence Forces**
*Impact:* Access to modern equipment and technology, improved acquisition processes, increased operational readiness.
*Action Required:* Familiarize themselves with the new procedures and provide feedback on their effectiveness.
Key Entities Referenced
Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP)-2026: Draft policy document outlining the procedures for defense acquisition, aiming for Jointness, Atmanirbharta, and Force Modernisation.
Ministry of Defence: The primary governmental body responsible for overseeing the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP)-2026.
Atmanirbhar Bharat: Government of India's initiative focused on promoting indigenous manufacturing and reducing imports in the defence sector, strongly linked with DAP.
Defence Acquisition Procedure-2020: The policy that DAP-2026 will replace.
Defence Procurement Manual (DPM) 2025: Manual dealing with maintenance and sustenance of defence equipment, platforms, and systems under the Revenue head of expenditure; complementary to DAP.
Ministry of Defence
Inviting Comments on the Draft Defence
Acquisition Procedure (DAP) - 2026 uploaded on
the Website of Ministry of Defence
Posted On: 10 FEB 2026 8:50PM by PIB Delhi
Department of Defence has prepared the draft ‘Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP)-2026’ to propel
Jointness, Atmanirbharta & Integration, Force Modernisation, and Speed of acquisition with scaling of
production, leading to the growth and development of defence ecosystem in the country. The proposed
draft aims to align India’s defence acquisition with the rapidly evolving geo-strategic landscape, growth of
Indian economy, skilling of human capital, growth of private defence industry in the country and the
technological imperatives of modern warfare.
Once approved, it will replace the Defence Acquisition Procedure-2020 in vogue now. DAP, the
cornerstone for the 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' initiative in defence, focuses on institutionalised preference for
‘Buy (Indian-IDDM)’ (Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured) category for procurement,
thereby boosting domestic manufacturing and effective reduction of imports.
The proposed draft will ensure categorisation and procurement strategy based on technological availability
and manufacturing readiness, exclusive procedures for faster acquisition of equipment with short
technological cycle, spiral designing & procurement of major platforms, exploitation of modern
technology before bulk procurement, pragmatic Indigenous Content (IC) and Indigenous Design (ID)
content evaluation, and utilisation of indigenous military material, among others.
The new DAP proposes to ease financial and experience criteria for inclusive participation, delegation of
decision making for quicker acquisition, revamping of trials and quality assurance processes, aggressive
infusion of digitisation & automation in acquisition procedures and processes, Atmanirbharta with focus
on indigenous designing & retention of IPR, along with incentives for innovations. The DAP would boost
defence manufacturing and exports along with restriction on import to domestically non-available and
critical equipment only.
The draft DAP-2026 document including the Handbook on Guidelines & Annexures has been uploaded on
the website of MoD (https://mod.gov.in).
Ministry of Defence seeks comments / suggestions on the draft DAP-2026 from stake-holders through
email at secy-dap2025[at]gov[dot]in or tmls-mod[at]nic[dot]in, in pdf or MS Word format within a period
of three weeks ie latest by 03.03.2026, as per the prescribed format hosted at the website.
While the Defence Procurement Manual (DPM) 2025 deals with maintenance & sustenance of defence
equipment / platforms / systems etc. under the Revenue head of expenditure, the Defence Acquisition
Procedure (DAP) deals with the capital procurement of equipment / platforms / systems etc. under the
Capital head of expenditure.
The DAP-2026 intends to weave the security of the nation and technological growth in a single thread and
create the canvas for Viksit Bharat-2047.****
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