The Delegation of Financial Powers to DRDO (DFP-2026):
The Ministry of Defence has released the Delegation of Financial Powers to DRDO (DFP-2026) to accelerate defence research and development projects.
- Delegation of Financial Powers to DRDO (DFP-2026) is a revised financial governance framework that grants greater financial autonomy to the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for faster approval and execution of defence R&D projects.
- Aim:
- To speed up research, development, testing, and induction of indigenous defence technologies.
- To improve financial efficiency, accountability, and self-reliance in India’s defence ecosystem.
- Key Features:
- Greater Financial Autonomy: Delegates enhanced financial powers to DRDO for quicker approval and execution of research projects.
- Dedicated Funding for Trials: Provides separate financial provisions for testing, evaluation, and trial campaigns of defence systems.
- Support forEarly-Stage Research: Authorises funding for pre-project R&D activities to encourage innovation before formal project approval.
- Separate Funding Channels: Distinct financial schedules for Extra-Mural Research Projects (EMRPs) and Defence Innovation Accelerator–Centres of Excellence (DIA-CoEs) to strengthen industry-academia collaboration.
