'DPP nearly finalised, DAC may meet again in March'

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) on Friday "almost finalised" the new Defence Procurement Policy (DPP), and may meet again later this month to put a final stamp of approval, defence ministry officials said.

The DPP, which lays down procedure for procurement for the forces, is being revised by the government, and the new document has higher focus on indigenisation.

The DAC meet was chaired by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar.

"The DPP was discussed and most issues have been finalised. There may be another meeting later this month," an official said.

Parts of the DPP were finalised in January but these did not include the chapter on "strategic partners", which will lay guidelines on identifying partners from private sector for key strategic manufacturing, or the policy on blacklisting.

The revised DPP envisages providing a boost to the Make in India initiative, enhanced role for private sector, and promoting medium and small scale industries.

It also has a new category of Buy Indian - Indigenous Design Development and Manufacturing (IDDM) under which indigenously designed equipment with 40 percent content will be procured.

The DAC also cleared a issuance of AON for acquiring 244 air defence guns, point-defence weapons for detecting and destroying short-range incoming missiles and enemy aircraft, at a cost of Rs. 7,000 crore.