Review of DAP 2020 : Primer


The Year of Defence Reforms, as announced by the Raksha Mantri on 01 Jan 2025, laid out nine pillars of focused reforms. The fourth pillar highlighted that “acquisition procedures need to be made simpler and time-sensitive to facilitate swifter and robust capability development.”  

The essence is to speed up capability development of the forces by having an agile acquisition process. Recent global wars and closer home Operation Sindoor and the aftermath have only made the reform more urgent. The character of warfare has undergone a rapid change or near total transformation. Conflicts over the past three years have tested the most advanced systems, forcing legacy platforms—many in service since World War II—to either reinvent themselves or risk irrelevance. The traditional method of enhancing military capability by upgrading standard platforms like tanks, artillery, ICVs, and rockets is being overtaken by the need to rethink platforms, tactics, and structures from the ground up.

Post Operation Galwan, and more recently after Operation Sindoor, it is clear that India faces elevated national security risks and a heightened likelihood of conflict/war. While the armed forces have thus far responded effectively, it is increasingly apparent that distinctive and high-impact capabilities are needed to deter adversaries from challenging India's interests or crossing its red lines. Our current capabilities fall short of desired levels. As India's economic capacity grows, it must be used to galvanise faster defence spending and accelerated force modernisation in line with national security needs. 

Military organisations must now evolve to remain relevant and effective in an era defined by AI-enabled, autonomous ground and aerial systems. Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and Counter-UAS (CUAS) technologies have developed such a diverse array of kinetic and non-kinetic capabilities that they no longer fit into conventional platform categories. Their use cases are dynamic and continuously evolving. They need a customised capability development process. 

The central challenge for modern militaries is how can they adapt rapidly enough to meet the demands of future wars, without disrupting what has long appeared effective and battle-proven. The changes will be in equipping, procurements methods, organisation profiles, TTPs and organisations.  

Aim of DAP Review

The MoD directive of 25 May 25 lays two point aim. 

(a) To meet operational requirement & modernization of the Armed Forces in timely manner. 

(b) To align DAP to govt policies & initiatives

• Self reliance

• Enable ‘Make in India’ through JV, ToT & FDI policy

• Promote design & development by public & private industry

(c) Comment. The DAP 2020 review must focus on the element of timely capability acquisition process and in the process support the effort of Make in India as core of long term defence needs. The speed of capability development must remain at the core of the DAP. 

Defining Acquisition

Acquisition is a broader concept than procurement. It encompasses:

(a) Strategic planning

(b) Evolving warfighting philosophies and doctrines

(c) Budgeting and lifecycle planning

(d) Requirement definition

(e) Contracting and supplier management

(f) Lifecycle support including overhauls, upgrades, and disposal

In military terms, acquisition involves deciding what to induct based on operational doctrine, procuring to a plan, and ensuring optimal availability and sustenance throughout the equipment’s life—up to obsolescence. While procurement is transactional, it focuses on purchasing identified platforms and munitions. 

Essence of Review

Defence Procurement Procedure 2016 changed to Defence Acquisition Procedure in 2020, though in essence it continues to deal with the procurement process. The process must now align with the broader “ease of doing business” philosophy that the Government of India has driven across sectors. Reforms in ISRO, MoRTH, Power, and Digital India have clearly shown how streamlined frameworks can accelerate project execution. The Ministry of Defence must draw upon these models to evolve DAP 2025 into a forward-looking framework for expedited capability development in line with India's emerging security needs.

Post Script

The US proposed Speed Act for defence procurement shows that the change desired probably needs a legislative action to drive the change that the leadership seeks. Policy makers must explore that option. 


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Random thoughts to clarify ideas and seek comments. Nothing official about it





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