New Delhi, Feb. 13 -- The Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2026, the draft of which was released recently by the Ministry of Defence to replace the existing 2020 version, is designed to bolster self-reliance, accelerate acquisition timelines, and strengthen the Indian defence industrial ecosystem.

It aims to build a stronger indigenous defence manufacturing base, reduce import dependence, and position India as a global leader in defence technology by streamlining processes, enhancing indigenous content mandates & introducing innovative procurement categories, the Ministry of Defence statement added.

Among the key changes, procurement categories have been reduced from five to four. Indigenous design has been clearly defined to promote...