NDA Rafale deal 2.86 per cent cheaper than one negotiated by UPA: CAG  

The Rafale deal negotiated by the NDA government was cheaper than the UPA offer, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has observed in its much-awaited report on Capital Acquisition on Indian Air Force which was tabled by the government in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday..

The NDA deal was 2.86 per cent cheaper than the one negotiated the UPA government, according to the report.

The report does not disclose the actual price of the 36 Rafale fighter jets contracted by the NDA government. However, it includes an examination of the pricing. 

According to the report, a  Defence Ministry team in March 2015 recommended the scrapping of the 126 Rafale deal saying that Dassault Aviation was not the lowest bidder and EADS (European Aeronautic Defence & Space Company) was not fully compliant with the tender requirements.

The government's decision to buy 36 Rafale fighter jets from French company Dassault has become a controversial political issue, with the main opposition party Congress levelling allegations of corruption and impropriety, and the ruling dispensation defending the move.

The Rafale issue was also even raised before the Supreme Court, which did not find any substance in the allegations.

However, the issue has continued to rock Parliament with Congress President Rahul Gandhi directly accusing the Prime Minister of benefiting industrialist Anil Ambani.

Meanwhile, Opposition Congress staged a protest outside the Parliament premises over Rafale deal.

(With inputs from PTI)