Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has released the Delegation of Financial Powers to DRDO (DFP-2026), a significant reform aimed at enhancing efficiency, accountability, and the timely execution of strategic research and development projects.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday released the Delegation of Financial Powers to DRDO (DFP-2026), a major reform to enhance efficiency, accountability, and timely execution of strategic R&D projects.

According to an official release from the Ministry of Defence, the DFP-2026 will facilitate faster production and induction of systems, platforms & technologies emerging from the R&D ecosystem into the Defence Forces, stated the Defence Minister, adding that the new framework will foster stronger collaboration with the industry and academia, reinforcing the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat. He furthered that the revised framework will contribute to enhanced self-reliance in defence technologies and strengthen the nation's defence preparedness.
Key Aims and Framework Details
The DFP-2026 aims to significantly enhance functional empowerment at various levels within the Department of Defence R&D. The revised framework addresses several critical requirements, including dedicated financial provisions for trial campaigns, tests and evaluation activities, authorisation for sanctioning pre-project R&D initiatives, and clear segregation of financial powers for grants-in-aid pertaining to Extra-Mural Research Projects, Defence Innovation Accelerator-Centres of Excellence, and Technology Development Fund projects under the respective schedules, a release said. Chief of Defence Staff General NS Raja Subramani; Defence Secretary and Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO Rajesh Kumar Singh; Secretary (Defence Production) Sanjeev Kumar; Secretary (Ex-Servicemen Welfare) Sukriti Likhi; Controller General of Defence Accounts Anugraha Narayana Das; DG (Naval Systems & Materials), DRDO RV Hara Prasad; DG (Resources & Management) Ravindra Singh; Director, Directorate of Finance & Material Management Maiya Din and other senior officials were present during the event in New Delhi. (ANI)
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