PARIKARThe Defence Acquisition Council, DAC which is the top Committee of Defence Ministry has cleared the new Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP).It will focus on India-made products and fast-tracked acquisition process. Under the new DPP, Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured,IDDM will be the first preferred category of preference which will guide how India buys its arms and equipment for its armed forces.

The new DPP also allows the DAC to take a fast-track route to acquire weapons, something which was limited to only the armed forces till now.

Talking to media persons in New Delhi, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said, the new Procurement Procedure will be uploaded on the Ministry’s website by 28th of this month and It will be effective from 2nd of next month. However, the DAC chaired by Mr Parrikar, did not finalise the key chapter on strategic partnership.The Minister said, it will be finalised in another couple of months.

He also said the new blacklisting policy will be issued separately next month. He also made it clear that there will be no relaxation for those who have already been blacklisted and bribe givers will be punished.However, the Minister said that existing blacklisted firms will be allowed to appeal before a vigilance committee of the Defence Ministry for de-listing under the new policy.

In a bid to cut down on the time taken for acquisition process, the new DPP mandates that all Acceptance of Necessity of a particular platform will be valid only for six months as against the 12 months deadline now.