DAP'S SYNC WITH ATMANIRBHARTA

There must be zero tolerance for delays and subsequent retraction of RFPs. As such the MOD will have to figure out a fine balance between "Haste Makes Waste" and "Procurement delayed is Procurement denied", writes Col. (Retd.) MAHESH RAMACHANDRAN

- Col. (Retd.) MAHESH RAMACHANDRAN

With much fanfare, the MoD, through DAP2020, announced three Make categorisations of procurements to give a boost to ‘Atmanirbharta’ in defence sector. The underlying thought process was that Make programmes, coupled with the socalled, positive indigenisation lists’ (three released and fourth one in the pipeline) will result in indigenous development of core defence technologies. While the intent is noble, the procedures have not factored ground realities. Defence indigenisation has to be a national effort, involving both public and private players under level playing field conditions, with significant budget allocations by the government. Other than the Make-1 categorisation, where the MoD funds 70 percent of the development cost (albeit with onerous conditions), the other two Make categorisations involve 100 percent funding by the vendor, without any assurance of production orders. As a result, indigenisation and self-reliance in defence industry continue to be a distant dream.

In addition to the Make and Innovation programmes detailed in Chapter-III of the DAP-2020, the MoD has also come up with Fast Track Procurements (FTP) in Chapter-V.