Rajnath Singh releases DFP-2026 to speed up DRDO defence R&D projects

📌 Summary:

• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh released the Delegation of Financial Powers to DRDO (DFP-2026), a reform to enhance efficiency, accountability and timely execution of strategic defence R&D projects
• It will facilitate faster production and induction of systems, platforms and technologies from the R&D ecosystem into the armed forces, and foster stronger industry-academia collaboration, reinforcing Aatmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliance)
• Key provisions: dedicated funds for trial campaigns, tests and evaluation; authorisation to sanction pre-project R&D; clear segregation of financial powers for grants-in-aid on Extra-Mural Research, Defence Innovation Accelerator–Centres of Excellence (DIA-CoE) and Technology Development Fund (TDF)
• Comes as DRDO pursues Project Kusha, AGNI ICBMs, Netra AEW&C and AMCA; follows DFPDS-2026 for the armed forces (two-fold higher financial ceiling for field commanders; revenue procurements exceeding Rs 1.25 lakh crore)

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS3 Science & Technology — indigenisation of defence, Aatmanirbhar Bharat, defence R&D and procurement reforms

📝 Prelims Facts:

• DFP-2026 = Delegation of Financial Powers to DRDO
• DRDO projects: Project Kusha (long-range air defence), AGNI ICBMs, Netra AEW&C, AMCA
• DIA-CoE and Technology Development Fund (TDF) support defence innovation

🔑 Key Term: Project Kusha — DRDO's indigenous long-range surface-to-air missile (air defence) system under development.