Defence Acquisition Council (Defence)
Defence Acquisition Council (Defence)
Why In News:
The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), the highest decision-making body in the Ministry of Defence for capital procurement, has cleared defence acquisition proposals worth approximately Rs 52,000 crore.
Source: The Indian Express, Page 6, 4 July 2026; The Hindu, Page 10, 4 July 2026 - 'DAC gives approval for military purchase worth Rs 52,000 crore'
About the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC)
The DAC was constituted in 2001, following recommendations of the Group of Ministers set up after the Kargil conflict, to bring efficiency and accountability to defence procurement.
It is chaired by the Raksha Mantri (Defence Minister) and includes the Chief of Defence Staff, the three Service Chiefs, the Defence Secretary and other senior officials.
The DAC grants Acceptance of Necessity (AoN), the first formal approval stage, before a proposal moves to the Request for Proposal (RFP) stage.
Categories of Capital Acquisition
Buy (Indian-IDDM): Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured; the category with the highest indigenous content requirement and top procurement priority.
Buy (Indian): procurement from an Indian vendor, though the item may not be fully indigenously designed.
Buy and Make (Indian): initial procurement from a foreign vendor followed by licensed production in India.
Buy (Global): procurement directly from a foreign vendor, used only where domestic capability does not exist.
The Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020 governs the current framework and emphasises the Buy (Indian-IDDM) category to further Atmanirbhar Bharat in defence manufacturing.
Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS)
The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) gives final approval for major high-value defence deals.
Composition
Chaired by the Prime Minister.
Comprises the Ministers of Home Affairs, Defence, Finance, and External Affairs.
The National Security Advisor (NSA) acts as the principal coordinator on national security matters.
Depending on the agenda, senior officials, service chiefs, or other ministers may be invited to attend meetings.
The Cabinet Secretariat maintains the records and proceedings of CCS meetings.
Functions
Serves as the highest decision-making body on matters concerning national security.
Deals with issues related to defence, internal security, foreign affairs with security implications, intelligence, nuclear policy, and strategic space matters.
Approves major defence acquisitions, security-related projects, and expenditure.
Decides on key appointments in national security and intelligence organisations.
Reviews broader economic and political issues affecting national security and coordinates the government’s overall security strategy.