Guest Column | Maj. Gen. Mrinal Suman (retd)
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Reign of Confusion
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For efficient acquisitions, services should put their own house in order first
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By Maj. Gen. Mrinal Suman (retd)
Three key imperatives characterise a well-evolved defence
acquisition system – equipment procured should meet performance criteria as
specified by the armed forces; it should be delivered within the required
timelines; and it should cost the country the least. Despite periodic reviews
and frequent revisions, India’s Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) has failed
to pass muster on all the three counts.It has not been able to deliver and
continues to suffer from major infirmities. |
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Resultantly, the armed forces are forced to carry critical equipment deficiencies for disconcertingly long periods.
Unfortunately, instead of looking at the problem in a holistic and objective manner, all agencies involved in defence acquisitions are more concerned about guarding their turf. They blame others for all the ills that afflict the system. This mutual blame game has gone on for far too long. Both the major players, the services and the Ministry of Defence (MoD), must rise above detrimental squabbling over petty issues. They must display the sagacity to work together, to equip the armed forces with required equipment, in the specified time frame and with least cost to the exchequer.
Being the principal stake holder, the services must take the necessary initiative. They should analyse all impediments that prevent conclusion of contracts in the required time frame. Thereafter, they should identify areas in which they need to take action of their own. In other words, before expecting MoD and other agencies to take corrective steps, the services must improve their own functioning. There are many crucial areas of concern which are exclusively within their own domain and necessary reforms can be initiated without reference to others. Some key issues have been discussed hereunder. |
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