India and Armenia have taken a significant step toward enhancing their strategic partnership by discussing new areas of collaboration in defence and security. The Joint Working Group Meeting on Defence Cooperation between the two nations, held in Hyderabad on Thursday, focused on strengthening defence industrial ties and exploring opportunities for joint manufacturing and technology sharing.

According to the Ministry of Defence (MoD), the Indian delegation was led by Vishwesh Negi, Joint Secretary (IC), while the Armenian side was headed by Levon Ayvazyan, Head of Policy and International Military Cooperation Department at the Armenian Ministry of Defence. Both sides exchanged views on bilateral defence cooperation, industrial partnerships, and other security issues of mutual interest.

The meeting comes at a time when Armenia has been expanding defence engagements with India, including procurement of Indian-made weapon systems and radar technologies. Strengthening defence industrial collaboration could open new avenues for co-production and research, further deepening the strategic relationship between the two nations.

Earlier in the day, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh launched the Defence Procurement Manual (DPM) 2025 at South Block, New Delhi. The new manual, which will come into effect on November 1, 2025, aims to simplify procurement processes and promote transparency. It will cover revenue procurement worth approximately ₹1 lakh crore for the three Services and other MoD establishments.

The Defence Minister appreciated the collaborative efforts of the MoD and the Integrated Defence Staff, expressing confidence that the new manual will simplify procedures, ensure fairness, and provide greater opportunities for MSMEs and start-ups in the defence manufacturing sector.

Notably, the revised manual introduces key changes to ease business operations. The provisions for Liquidated Damages (LD)—imposed for delays in delivery—have been relaxed, capping maximum LD at 10 per cent only in cases of severe delay. For indigenisation projects, LD has been further reduced to 0.1 per cent per week, compared to the earlier 0.5 per cent.

Additionally, the DPM 2025 provides for assured orders up to five years or beyond for items developed by both public and private players under indigenisation.

The twin developments—India-Armenia’s growing defence partnership and the release of DPM 2025—underline India’s commitment to building a self-reliant and globally connected defence ecosystem.