Indian forces mired in delays as 14-day army procurement takes 154 days
New Delhi : India’s Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has found that a 14-day Indian Army emergency procurement process stretched to 154 days, reflecting deep systemic inefficiencies in the country’s defence acquisition system.
According to Kashmir Media Service, CAG findings, 72% of examined emergency-procurement contracts missed stipulated delivery timelines during the 2020-2021 buying drive. Delays affected missiles, drones, counter-drone systems, radars, loitering ammunition, secure communications and ballistic helmets.
The audit report notes that procurement delays are not new. During earlier periods, orders for T-72 and BMP spares were delayed by 725 to 2,551 days. In IAF audits, AN-32 spares were delayed by 17 to 810 days, while some critical items remained undelivered for 365 to 870 days.
CAG said IAF supply failures affected fleet serviceability, with more than 50% of a transport-aircraft fleet grounded in one upgrade programme. Indian Navy records from 2009-2011 showed similar problems, with MiG-29K aircraft arriving before armaments and a decade-long delay in submarine-system installation affecting a ₹167.64 crore investment.
From the mid-2000s to 2026, CAG reports across all three services have flagged weak contract management, tender manipulation and corruption cases. Analysts say repeated delays raise serious questions about transparency, oversight and operational readiness in India’s military modernisation drive.
The report adds that despite heavy spending and political claims of professionalism, gaps in timely procurement, personnel welfare and internal discipline continue to undermine combat capability.
