After a delay of over an year, the much-awaited new defence procurement policy was unveiled by the government  with an aim to ensure transparency, fast-track acquisition process and give a push to the “Make in India” initiative.

• The DPP have been loaded online on the Defence Ministry’s website and would be made available in hard copy format after 15 days.
• The new policy has introduced an Indian Designed, Developed and Manufactured (IDDM) category which will benefit the local units.
• Parrikar said defence export clearances are to be granted online. He said the policy will also include ‘Start-up India’ initiative.
• The new DPP would help India reduce its dependency on foreign countries and source defence equipment within the country.
• The new DPP also allows the Defence Acquisition Council to take the “fast-track” route to acquire weapons.
• Parrikar had earlier said the new blacklisting policy will also be issued separately next month and made it clear that there will be “no relaxation” for those who have already been blacklisted and “bribe givers” will be punished.
• However, the existing blacklisted firms will be allowed to appeal before a vigilance committee of the defence ministry for delisting under the new policy.
• Meanwhile, the ninth edition of DefExpo India, a biennial exhibition of land, naval and internal homeland security systems, being organised by the Defence Ministry, kicked-off in Goa.
• More than 1,000 companies from 47 countries are participating in the DefExpo.