India’s new defence procurement policy came into force on Saturday against the backdrop of scams like the 3,700-core VVIP chopper deal. It aims at enhancing transparency and probity in military purchases and gives first right of refusal to Indian vendors to promote indigenous industry.
“The Defence Procu rement Procedure 2013 which takes effect from today, aims to balance the competing requirements of expediting capital procurement, developing a robust indigenous defence sector and conforming to the highest standards of transparency, probity and public accountability,” Defence Ministry said in a release.
While laying a strong emphasis on promoting indigenisation, the new policy aims at creating a level playing field for the Indian Industry, it said.
In the new policy, the Defence Ministry has accorded a “higher preference explicitly to the Buy (Indian), Buy and Make (Indian) and Make categorisation, besides bringing further clarity in the definition of the ‘Indigenous Content’ and simplifying the Buy and Make (Indian) process.”