Defence Minister Rajnath Singh approved the Defence Procurement Manual (DPM) 2025 on September 13, 2025, marking a critical step in streamlining the revenue procurement process for the Indian Armed Forces and accelerating India’s goal of Aatmanirbharta in defence manufacturing. The new manual replaces the 2009 version and introduces reforms tailored for modern warfare, emphasizing faster decision-making, jointness among the Army, Navy, and Air Force, and enabling the timely availability of resources valued at nearly ₹1 lakh crore annually. It boosts participation from private players, MSMEs, start-ups, and Defence Public Sector Undertakings, aiming to harness domestic expertise and capability. Key changes include relaxed penalties during the development phase, assured order guarantees for up to five years, supportive financing to ease working capital concerns, and technical handholding to encourage innovation. The manual also introduces simplified procurement procedures, empowering lower-level financial authorities to expedite approvals and payments. It promotes collaboration with premier institutions like IITs and IISc for defence R&D and levels the playing field by easing bottlenecks in proprietary procurement. These reforms, part of broader defence acquisition overhauls in 2025, reflect India’s commitment to indigenous innovation, operational readiness, and building a robust defence ecosystem. The manual aligns with the Ministry of Finance’s procurement guidelines to ensure transparency, fairness, and accountability while aiming to cut acquisition timelines, enhance speed and efficiency, and reduce reliance on imports in crucial defence segments. This initiative not only strengthens India’s military preparedness but also supports domestic industry growth and technology development under a strategic framework of self-reliance.