DEFENCE ACQUISITION COUNCIL

 Why in news: DAC initiated the acquisition of TEJAS jets for the Indian army

• What is it? The DAC is the highest decision-making body of the defence Ministry on procurement.
• Chairman: The defence minister is the chairman of DAC. Its members include Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and chiefs of Army, Navy and Air Force.
• Objective: The main objective of the DAC is to ensure expeditious procurement of the approved requirements of the armed forces.
• Formation: It was formed, after the Group of Ministers recommendations on ‘Reforming the National Security System’, in 2001, post Kargil War (1999).

Functions of DAC includes

• Give in principle approval of a 15 years Long Term Integrated Perspective Plan (LTIPP) for defence forces.
• Accord of acceptance of necessity to acquisition proposals.
• Categorisation of the acquisition proposals relating to ‘Buy’, ‘Buy & Make’ and ‘Make’.
• Look into issues relating to single vendor clearance.
• Take decisions regarding ‘offset’ provisions in respect of acquisition proposals above Rs 300 crore.
• Take decisions regarding Transfer of Technology under the ‘Buy & Make’ category of acquisition proposals.
• Field trial evaluation