DAC Approves Acquisition Proposals Worth ₹1.1 Lakh Crore

Key Highlights & Summary

 • Massive Defense Capital Procurement: The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for procurement proposals worth approximately ₹1,10,000 crore across the Army, Navy, and Air Force. 

• Focus on Indigenization: Approximately 98% of the total approved acquisitions will be sourced directly from the domestic defense industry under the \'Make in India\' initiative. 

• Army Operational Mobility: Cleared critical assets including CBRN Recce Vehicles for hazardous environment monitoring, High Mobility Vehicles (HMVs), Self-Propelled Mechanical Mine Layers (MMLs), Trawl Tanks, and Sarvatra Bridge Systems.

 • Naval Air & Propulsion Upgrades: Granted AoN for indigenous Arudhra 4D radars to replace legacy Air Route Surveillance Radars at naval air stations, along with Marine Gas Turbines (MGTs) for warship propulsion. 

• Air Force Electronic Warfare: Approved Ground-Based Multi-Purpose Jammers (GBMPJs) to counter adversary radars, Advanced Light Helicopters (ALHs), and the RFID-based Defence Forces Secure Access Card (DEFSAC) system.  

• Strategic Autonomy: Indigenous procurement of propulsion systems and advanced sensors drastically reduces operational reliance on foreign OEMs for critical spares and technical upgrades. 

Essential Definitions 

• Acceptance of Necessity (AoN): The formal in-principle administrative approval granted by the DAC that initiates the defense procurement process under the Defense Acquisition Procedure. 

• Arudhra Radar: An indigenous 4D multi-function active phased array radar developed by DRDO and manufactured by BEL, capable of tracking aerial targets with electronic beam steering.

 • CBRN Recce Vehicle: A specialized armored vehicle designed to detect, identify, monitor, and mark areas contaminated by Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear agents. 

Legal and Constitutional Framework 

• Defense Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020: Regulates capital acquisitions for the Indian Armed Forces, prioritizing domestic manufacturing through \'Buy (Indian-IDDM)\' and \'Make\' categories. 

• Seventh Schedule (Union List - Entry 1 & 2): Designates Defense of India and Naval, Military, and Air Forces as exclusive subjects under the legislative domain of the Union Parliament. 

• Transaction of Business Rules, 1961: Provides institutional authority to the DAC, chaired by the Union Defence Minister, to decide capital defense procurements. 

Conclusion The DAC\'s ₹1.1 lakh crore acquisition clearance reinforces India\'s defense modernization while advancing structural self-reliance. Sourcing nearly all equipment domestically strengthens the national defense industrial base, reduces foreign vendor dependence, and enhances joint force readiness across multi-domain battlefields. 

UPSC Relevance 

• GS Paper III (Security): Defense indigenization, Atmanirbhar Bharat in defense, electronic warfare systems, technology transfers, and military force modernization.

 • GS Paper II (Governance): Institutional decision-making frameworks (DAC), defense procurement policies, and national security governance.