What is emergency defense purchase power? India approved Rs 40,000 crore for fast-track military procurement among Operation Sindoor
Indian defense forces have been scheduled to make emergency purchases of Rs 40,000 crore to increase fighter readiness during Operation Sindoor. The Defense Acquisition Council headed by senior defense and military officers has approved the expenditure to ensure timely purchase of important equipment.Prominent systems being preferred under emergency powers include monitoring drones, Kamikes drones, littering mons and various types of missiles and ammunition. Some of these, such as BrahMos and Scalp cruise missiles, have already been deployed against Pakistani goals. The rampage missiles used in the strike were also initially purchased under similar emergency provisions.These emergency powers ensure that the equipment is obtained within a strict timeline, which helps to meet immediate operating requirements. This is the fifth such installment of emergency procurement since 2019. The procurement teams of the three services will coordinate with the Defense Finance Advisers for efficiently shopping.Indian public and private defense firms, including India electronics and solar defense, are expected to receive orders for low-level radar and other high-technical systems. Forces have also planned to achieve more Heron Mark 2 DroneThose who play an important role in monitoring during operation vermilion.Given the current conflict and its developed demands, the Indian government can consider additional funds for defense needs in the future budget.What is Emergency defense purchase power,
- Emergency procurement power allows the armed forces to bypass standard purchase timelines for immediate military needs.
- Under this, the equipment should be distributed quickly – often within 3 to 6 months.
- The powers are active during conflict, stress or natural disasters.
- Financial limitations are determined for each procurement cycle, allowing the army to interact directly.
- This mechanism was used in the previous boundary clashes and now during operation vermilion.
- According to the Ministry of Defense, for the first defense PSU or ordnance factories supplied, the government may issue an introduction (LOI) letter to speed up the purchase before signing a full contract.
- To ensure the oversight, a high-level Defense Ministry Committee ensures that the rules are followed and there is no irregularity in large contracts.
