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Defence Procurement Policy

PYQs

5

Articles

1

Momentum

15

Phase IFoundation

Background

Overview

Understanding defence procurement is vital for analyzing government spending, strategic planning, indigenisation efforts, and the role of the private sector in defence. It impacts national security and economic policy.

Defence Procurement Policy (DPP), now largely subsumed under the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP), outlines the rules and procedures for capital acquisition of defence equipment and systems by the Indian armed forces. Its primary objectives include ensuring timely acquisition, promoting indigenisation, and achieving cost-effectiveness.

Phase IIStatic core

Facts & tables

Key facts

Current Framework

Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020.

Key Stages

AoN (Acceptance of Necessity), RFP (Request for Proposal), Technical Evaluation, Commercial Negotiation, Contract Signing.

Emphasis

'Make in India', 'Buy Indian', 'Buy and Make (Indian)', Strategic Partnership Model.

Objective

Modernize armed forces, promote domestic industry, ensure transparency and accountability.

Reference table

Static syllabus anchors

TypeReference
Conceptual areaIndian Economy
Conceptual areaGeopolitics & International Conflicts

Reference table

Institutions & roles

BodyRole
Ministry of DefenceFormulates and implements dap, grants aon
Defence Acquisition Council (DAC)Apex body for defence procurement decisions
Phase IIIExam lens

Prelims angle

Overview

Prelims angle: Factual recall

Prelims angle: Multi-statement analysis

Quick revision

  • Governs capital acquisition of defence equipment.
  • Aims for timely, cost-effective, and indigenous procurement.
  • DAP 2020 is the current framework.
  • AoN is a critical initial step in the procurement process.
  • Promotes 'Make in India' and private sector participation.

Elimination traps

Body vs treaty — DAP is a procedure/policy document, not a treaty or a constitutional body.

Treaty = agreement between states; body = institution.

High-confidence PYQs

2022Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding

With reference to the expenditure made by an organisation or a company, which of the following statements is/are correct ? 1. Acquiring new technology is ca...

EconomyOpen question
2020Factual recall, Institutional roles and functions

Along with the Budget, the Finance Minister also places other documents before the Parliament which include “The Macro Economic Framework Statement”. The afo...

EconomyOpen question
2019Statement-based questions, Factual recall

With reference to India’s Five-Year Plans, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. From the Second Five-Year Plan, there was a determined thrus...

EconomyOpen question
2018Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis

With reference to the governance of public sector banking in India, consider the following statements 1. Capital infusion into public sector banks by the Go...

EconomyOpen question
2016Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding

Which of the following is/are included in the capital budget of the Government of India? 1. Expenditure on acquisition of assets like roads, buildings, machi...

EconomyOpen question

Topic timeline

Indian EconomyGeopolitics & International Conflicts
Prelims 2016· Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding

Which of the following is/are included in the capital budget of the Government of India? 1. Expenditure on acquisition of assets like roads, buildings, machi...

Open question
Prelims 2018· Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis

With reference to the governance of public sector banking in India, consider the following statements 1. Capital infusion into public sector banks by the Go...

Open question
Prelims 2019· Statement-based questions, Factual recall

With reference to India’s Five-Year Plans, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. From the Second Five-Year Plan, there was a determined thrus...

Open question
Prelims 2020· Factual recall, Institutional roles and functions

Along with the Budget, the Finance Minister also places other documents before the Parliament which include “The Macro Economic Framework Statement”. The afo...

Open question
Prelims 2022· Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding

With reference to the expenditure made by an organisation or a company, which of the following statements is/are correct ? 1. Acquiring new technology is ca...

Open question

HAL cannot do everything alone, private sector crucial to aerospace ecosystem: CMD Ravi K.

18 Sep 2026 · India's Defence Procurement Policy (DAP) governs the acquisition of defence equipment, prioritizing indigenisation, transparency, and timely modernization of the armed forces through various acquisition categories and models.

Read article

Related topics

Current topic

Defence Procurement Policy

Practice writing on this topic

UPSC has asked 5 linked questions on Defence Procurement Policy in Mains. Write an answer to one — and get it evaluated.

See Mains PYQsEvaluate an answer

UPSC Prelims PYQs on Defence Procurement Policy

Practice official previous year questions asked by UPSC related to this concept.

With reference to the governance of public sector banking in India, consider the following statements 1. Capital infusion into public sector banks by the Go...

2018·Economy
Solve

Which of the following is/are included in the capital budget of the Government of India? 1. Expenditure on acquisition of assets like roads, buildings, machi...

2016·Economy
Solve

With reference to India’s Five-Year Plans, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. From the Second Five-Year Plan, there was a determined thrus...

2019·Economy
Solve

Along with the Budget, the Finance Minister also places other documents before the Parliament which include “The Macro Economic Framework Statement”. The afo...

2020·Economy
Solve

With reference to the expenditure made by an organisation or a company, which of the following statements is/are correct ? 1. Acquiring new technology is ca...

2022·Economy
Solve

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