Defence Acquisition Council clears ₹52,000 crore military procurements under Rajnath Singh
The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, granted Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) on July 3, 2026 for various procurement proposals worth approximately ₹52,000 crore, per a Ministry of Defence press release. For the Indian Army, approvals covered the anti-UAV electronic warfare system 'AKASH TARANG', Man Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM) systems, the Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MRSAM) system, Very Short Range Air Defence System (V-SHORADS), an Active Protection System for tanks, and a Jet-Based Kamikaze Drone System. For the Indian Navy, approvals included the Multi Influence Ground Mine (MIGM) and the Naval Shipborne Unmanned Aerial System. For the Indian Air Force, the Fixed-Wing Based High Altitude Pseudo Satellite (FW-HAPS) was cleared for surveillance and reconnaissance.
Key Facts & Details
9 points- 1The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) granted Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for proposals worth about ₹52,000 crore.
- 2The DAC is chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and the clearance came on July 3, 2026.
- 3For the Indian Army, the anti-UAV EW system 'AKASH TARANG' and MPATGM systems were approved.
- 4The MRSAM and V-SHORADS air defence systems were cleared for the Indian Army.
- 5For the Indian Navy, the Multi Influence Ground Mine (MIGM) and Naval Shipborne Unmanned Aerial System were approved.
- 6For the Indian Air Force, the Fixed-Wing Based High Altitude Pseudo Satellite (FW-HAPS) was cleared for surveillance functions.
Deep Dive
- +'AKASH TARANG' will provide anti-UAV protection to Army formations, while the MPATGM enhances the infantry's ability to counter mechanised threats.
- +The Navy's LBTF (Land Based Testing Facility) for Electric Propulsion Systems was approved to meet testing requirements for motors and propulsion systems of naval assets.
- +The FW-HAPS will undertake persistent Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, telecommunication and remote sensing for the Air Force.
Exam Focus
Examiners may ask the total value of the DAC clearance, who chairs the DAC, what 'AoN' stands for, or which platforms (AKASH TARANG, MRSAM, V-SHORADS, MIGM, FW-HAPS) were approved.
Related Topics
Exam Relevance & Angle
Defence procurement clearances are high-yield general-awareness items. Aspirants should note the ₹52,000 crore value, that the DAC is chaired by Rajnath Singh, the meaning of Acceptance of Necessity (AoN), and key named systems like AKASH TARANG, MRSAM and V-SHORADS, which recur in banking, SSC and UPSC papers.
Target Exams
Background & Context
The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) is the highest decision-making body in India's Ministry of Defence for capital procurement, chaired by the Defence Minister. It grants Acceptance of Necessity (AoN), the first formal approval step in the defence acquisition cycle, before proposals proceed to tendering and contracting. The DAC operates under the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) and prioritises indigenous design and manufacturing in line with the Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliance) initiative. Its clearances span the Army, Navy and Air Force and shape the modernisation of India's armed forces.
Test Yourself
1 / 3What was the approximate total value of procurement proposals cleared by the DAC on July 3, 2026?
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