Even if the Fifteenth Finance Commission manages to make a specific recommendation about the funds to be allocated for defence and internal security and the government accepts the recommendation, there can be no guarantee that the actual allocation will not fall short of the accepted level.

It would be nice to see the defence ministry setting up a task force and submitting actionable recommendations which could be considered by the finance minister while deciding the defence outlay next year.

There is a need to make it clear in the text of Paragraph 72 of DPP 2016 that no vendor other than the Development-cum-Production partner or the nominated Production Agency will be permitted to enter the tendering process at the post prototype development stage.

While the purpose of the Fall Clause, a price safety mechanism in rate contracts, is indubitable, some issues concerning its applicability and implications, both for the buyer and the seller, merit a review.

A dynamic offset policy has to include a mechanism for identifying the causes for likely delay or default on the part of vendors in discharging their obligation and removing the impediments faced by them

Shortage of funds even to service the committed liabilities raises questions about the financial affordability of the defence modernisation programme and viability of the push for ‘Make-in-India’ in defence.

It is important to pay greater attention to the system of costing followed by the MoD given that costing errors could result in the sanctioning of an unaffordable procurement programme, contract being awarded at a higher price, cost and time overruns, and default on contractual commitments.

Mutual and shared interests between India and the US must form the basis of an enduring solution to the quandary presented by the provisions of the Countering America’s Adversaries through Sanctions Act.

The Cell will remain hamstrung if its powers are not clearly defined, especially in regard to securing budgetary support which is to be provided by the Director General of Quality Assurance.

Objectives and resources have to be in sync with each other and if adequate resources cannot be provided objectives have to be suitably recalibrated and alternative ways found to achieve them.