Defence moves

The move to reduce procurement timelines is welcome, but there is still a long way to go

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The Defence Ministry appears to be walking the talk on celebrating 2025 as the Year of Reforms. A day after the Cabinet Committee on Security gave its final nod for the purchase of 307 indigenously designed and developed artillery guns at a cost of ₹7,000 crore, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) also approved the guidelines for reducing the procurement timelines at various stages of the capital acquisition process to make it faster, more effective, and efficient. The new guidelines are expected to reduce the timelines of the procurement process by 10-15%. The DAC, chaired by defence minister Rajnath Singh, also accorded Acceptance of Necessity, the first step of the procurement process, for eight proposals worth over ₹54,000 crore. These include procurement of 1,350 horsepower engines to upgrade the Army's T-90 tanks to enhance their battlefield mobility, especially in high-altitude areas.