- Why in news
- On October 26, 2026, the Defence Acquisition Council chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh gave Acceptance of Necessity for capital acquisition proposals worth about Rs 2.12 lakh crore for the Army, Navy and Air Force.
- What it is
- The Defence Acquisition Council is the Defence Ministry's highest body for approving capital acquisitions for the armed forces. Acceptance of Necessity is its first, in-principle approval, given before the detailed procurement steps like tendering and contract signing.
- Who chaired
- The DAC meeting on October 26, 2026 was chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
- Indigenous share
- About 82% of the procurements cleared under these AoNs will be from Indian industry.
- LMRH users
- The Light Multi Role Helicopters will be used by both the Army and the Air Force.
- Navy decoy system
- The Active Offboard Decoy System is meant to strengthen defence against modern anti-ship missiles.
- Weather radar
- The Air Force will get a Mobile X-Band Doppler Weather Radar System for high-resolution, localised weather surveillance in forward areas.
- DAC head
- The Defence Minister is the chairman of the DAC, which was set up in 2001 after the Kargil Review Committee recommendations.
Don’t confuse with AoN vs contract signing: AoN is the in-principle approval by the DAC. Contract signing happens later, after tendering and trials, with the Contract Negotiation Committee and the final sanction by the competent financial authority.
Don’t confuse with DAC vs Cabinet Committee on Security: The DAC, headed by the Defence Minister, approves the need for acquisitions. Very large contracts need final sanction from the CCS, chaired by the Prime Minister.
Defence: Prelims tests exercises (with whom), equipment (who makes it) and firsts.
No Mains angle on this one yet.
- 2026Mains GS4 · Q12Ethical dilemma on selling Defence Production weapons abroad amid production constraints
- 2014Mains GS3 · Q9How would liberalised FDI in defence affect Indian defence and economy short and long term?
UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
Prelims practice · Statements
Ours, not from a UPSC paper
Consider the following statements:
- 1.The Defence Acquisition Council is chaired by the Defence Minister.
- 2.Acceptance of Necessity is the final approval after which a contract is signed with the vendor.
- 3.The Light Multi Role Helicopters cleared by the DAC on October 26, 2026 will be used by both the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
True or false?
1 of 5
Statements the way Prelims prints them. Say first, then see the fact.
1.The Defence Acquisition Council is chaired by the Defence Minister.
True. The Defence Minister chairs the DAC, as Rajnath Singh did on October 26, 2026.
2.Acceptance of Necessity is the final approval after which a contract is signed with the vendor.
False. AoN is only the first, in-principle approval; tendering and contract signing come later.
3.The Active Offboard Decoy System is intended to improve defence against anti-ship missiles.
True. AODS enhances anti-missile defence against modern anti-ship missiles.
4.The Mobile X-Band Doppler Weather Radar System was cleared for the Indian Army to track enemy aircraft.
False. It was cleared for the Air Force, for high-resolution localised weather surveillance in forward areas.
5.The Defence Acquisition Council was constituted in 2001 after the Kargil Review Committee's recommendations.
True. The DAC was set up in 2001 following the Kargil Review Committee.
Written by us from the release, not by UPSC; checked by a second model.
Worth revising until Prelims 2028: most news questions come within two years of the event.