The Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020 (DAP 2020) represents the most significant overhaul of India's defence procurement framework in two decades. By prioritising "Buy Indian — IDDM" (Indigenously Designed, Developed, and Manufactured) categories and simplifying offset obligations, DAP 2020 has created a dramatically different competitive landscape for both domestic and global defence OEMs. The Bharat Defence Tech Show has become the premier forum where OEMs navigate, decode, and capitalise on these transformational changes.
At BDTS, procurement specialists from the Defence Acquisition Council and the Ministry of Defence have provided authoritative interpretations of DAP 2020's nuanced categories. These sessions are invaluable because the practical implications of choosing a Buy Global vs. Buy Indian-IDDM vs. Make India category can determine whether a company wins or loses a billion-dollar contract. Direct access to procurement officials in an informal colloquium setting enables OEMs to ask questions that cannot be addressed in formal Request for Proposal processes.
A central theme in BDTS discussions has been the Acceptance of Necessity process — the critical first step in any major defence acquisition. Companies that understand how to influence this upstream phase, by contributing to capability gap analyses and requirement formulation, gain a significant competitive advantage. BDTS panels have provided a masterclass in this "shaping" strategy that is well-understood by global defence primes but often opaque to newer Indian entrants.
For global OEMs, BDTS provides the fastest pathway to identifying credible Indian partners for joint venture formation under the 49% FDI automatic route or the 74% government approval route. The summit's matchmaking services have facilitated joint ventures involving technology transfer in domains including armoured vehicle manufacturing, maritime surveillance systems, and military training simulators.
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