India has introduced the draft Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP)-2026 on February 11, 2026, aiming to align its defence procurement strategy with the rapidly changing geo-strategic environment. The draft, available on the Defence Ministry’s website, invites feedback from stakeholders until March 3.
The new DAP emphasizes jointness, self-reliance, and modernization, focusing on accelerating acquisition processes and enhancing the defence ecosystem. It aims to replace the existing DAP-2020, supporting the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative by prioritizing the ‘Buy Indian-IDDM’ category to boost domestic manufacturing and reduce imports.
The document outlines strategies for categorization and procurement based on technological readiness, advocating for quicker acquisition of equipment with short technological cycles. It promotes indigenous content and design, aiming to ease financial criteria for inclusive participation and digitize acquisition procedures.
The DAP-2026 intends to strengthen India’s defence manufacturing and export capabilities, restricting imports to only critical equipment unavailable domestically. The initiative is seen as a step towards integrating national security with technological advancement, paving the way for a developed India by 2047.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, February 12th, 2026
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