Tejas Engine, Rafale, Su-57... No More Delays As Govt Tightens Emergency Procurement Rules

Last Updated:September 05, 2025, 14:33 IST

The Centre has set a 12-month deadlines for emergency defence contracts to speed up Tejas jet engine supply and enhance preparedness and transparency

The government has also set up a special panel, chaired by the Director General (Acquisition), to further streamline the DAP-2020. (PTI/File)

In a strategic move, the Centre has introduced sweeping reforms in defence procurement procedures, aimed at fast-tracking acquisitions and avoiding the delays that have long plagued India’s military modernisation. The most significant move is a change in the provisions governing emergency defence purchases, a mechanism used for urgent acquisitions in times of security crises.

Officials confirmed that under the revised framework, all defence contracts signed through the emergency route must be completed within 12 months. If the timeline is not met, the contract will be cancelled. The government hopes this strict deadline will eliminate years of delay and speed up critical projects such as the supply of engines for the Tejas fighter jet and the purchase of other arms and ammunition.

The Defence Secretary, speaking at a program, revealed that the overall procurement cycle has already been shortened by 69 weeks, marking a “significant improvement in the timely completion of defence deals". The traditional process is notoriously lengthy, involving multiple layers such as issuing a Request for Information (RFI) from vendors, setting service quality requirements (SQRs), approval by the Defence Acquisition Council, issuing tenders (RFPs), technical and field trials, and contract negotiations.

Analysts say the new emergency procurement window, along with the tightened timelines, will provide the armed forces with the agility to respond to emerging security challenges. India is also working on building its own air defence systems modeled on advanced platforms like Russia’s S-500 and Israel’s Iron Dome. The reforms are expected to provide greater support for such strategic programs.

The government has also set up a special panel, chaired by the Director General (Acquisition), to further streamline the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP)-2020. The panel is reviewing aspects including categorisation of procurement, ease of doing business, trial processes, post-contract management, fast-track procedures, and the integration of new technologies like artificial intelligence.

Experts argue that these reforms will not only reduce red tape but also enhance transparency in defence deals. “The simplification in the defence procurement process will not only save time, but will also strengthen the country’s defence preparedness," one senior official observed.

India’s use of emergency procurement powers is not new. Following the Galwan Valley clash in June 2020, the Defence Ministry granted the Army capital procurement powers of up to Rs 300 crore for the first time. Similar emergency powers for revenue procurement were granted after the Balakot airstrikes in February 2019 and the Uri surgical strike in 2016.

Capital procurement powers allow for the acquisition of weapons, weapon systems, and other critical assets, leading to a permanent enhancement of operational capability. Revenue procurement powers, on the other hand, are used for purchasing critical spares and ammunition to sustain existing assets.

The Modi government’s latest reforms, however, mark a decisive step toward institutionalising speed and efficiency in the acquisition process, moving beyond crisis-driven decisions. With the global security environment growing more volatile, India’s renewed focus is on ensuring that modern technologies and weapon systems are inducted without bureaucratic delays.

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