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🔆 Defence Acquisition Council Clears Capital Acquisition Proposals Worth ₹1.10 Lakh Crore 📍 Why in News? 🟢 The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by the Raksha Mantri, granted Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for defence acquisitions worth about ₹1.10 lakh crore. 🟢 Around 98% of the procurement value is planned to be sourced from Indian industry. 📍 Key Acquisitions 🟢 Army: CBRN Reconnaissance Vehicles, High Mobility Vehicles, Self-Propelled Mechanical Mine Layers, Advanced Light Helicopters, Trawl Tanks and Sarvatra Bridge System. 🟢 Navy: Arudhra Radars and design & development of indigenous Marine Gas Turbines (MGTs) for warship propulsion. 🟢 Air Force: Upgrades for fighters, transport aircraft and helicopters; Ground-Based Multi-Purpose Jammers (GBMPJ) and RFID-based DEFSAC smart-card access system. 📍 Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) 🟢 AoN is the first, in-principle stage of the capital acquisition process under Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020. 🟢 It is not a signed contract; subsequent stages include Request for Proposal → Trials & Evaluation → Contract Negotiation → Contract Signing → Delivery/Induction. 📍 Significance 🟢 Strengthens Atmanirbhar Bharat in defence procurement. 🟢 Promotes domestic defence industry and reduces dependence on foreign suppliers. 🟢 Enhances capabilities across all three armed forces. 🟢 Indigenous development of Marine Gas Turbines can reduce dependence on foreign vendors for critical propulsion technology. 📍 Key Challenges 🟢 AoN value does not automatically translate into contracts or timely induction; procurement can take years. 🟢 The 98% indigenous figure refers to procurement value, while critical subsystems and technologies may still involve import dependence. 🟢 Indigenous MGTs are still at the design-and-development stage, indicating continuing near-term dependence on imports. 📌 UPSC Mains Model Question Q. “Acceptance of Necessity is only the first step in India’s defence capital acquisition process.” Discuss the stages that follow and the challenges in translating AoN clearances into actual capability induction. (15 marks, 250 words) 🟢 Introduction: AoN is the first, in-principle administrative approval under DAP 2020 and does not constitute a procurement contract. 🟢 Stages: RFP → trials & evaluation → contract negotiation → contract signing → delivery and induction. 🟢 Challenges: Prolonged procurement timelines, delays in trials and negotiations, technology/import dependence, limited indigenous critical-subsystem capability and the gap between sanctioned AoN value and actual contracts. 🟢 Conclusion: Faster procurement while deepening indigenous R&D, critical technologies and domestic manufacturing is essential to convert AoN clearances into effective military capability. #Defence