CAG’s Rafale Report Finds Issue With UPA Era Deal; Calls It Non-Compliant With Key Requirements 

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report on the Rafale deal has found fault with the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) era deal for the aircraft, report ANI.

As per the report, a Defence Ministry team had concluded in 2015 that the proposal by Dassault Aviation for 126 aircraft should have been rejected during the technical evaluation stage. The team contended that it was non-compliant with the RFP requirements.

The report claimed that Dassault Aviation was not the lowest bidder in the deal and that EADS (European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company) was not fully compliant with the tender requirements.

The report has also found that India has managed to save 17.06 per cent in country specific enhancements for the current Rafale deal as compared to the previous one for 126 aircraft, says the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report currently tabled in the Parliament.

The report also states that the delivery scheduled for the first 18 aircraft is better than the one proposed for the 126 aircraft deal.

The CAG had earlier submitted the report to the Central Government, following which it was tabled in the Parliament.

This report has audited 11 deals signed by the Indian Air Force and is broadly classified in two sections with the latter being dedicated to Rafale.