On Thursday, the government slightly increased the defense budget for 2024-25 to Rs 6.21 billion from last year’s allocation of Rs 5.94 billion and announced an ambitious “deep technology” plan in the military sector.

In the interim Union Budget presented to Parliament by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, a total of Rs 172 crore has been set aside for the military for capital expenditure, which mainly includes the purchase of new weapons, aircraft, warships and other military hardware. In 2023-24, the budget allocation for capital expenditure is Rs 162 crore.

The finance minister also announced the launch of a new program to enhance high-tech technology for defense purposes and accelerate ‘atmanirbharta’ or self-reliance in the region. The total revenue expenditure is Rs 4,39,300 crore, of which Rs 1,41,205 crore is defense pension, Rs 2,82,772 crore is defense services and Rs 15,322 crore is defense ministry (civil).

Of the defense services capital expenditure, Rs 40,777 crore was spent on aircraft and aero-engines and Rs 62,343 crore was spent on “other equipment”. The naval fleet expenditure is Rs 23,800 crore and the naval dockyard project expenditure is Rs 6,830 crore.

In the 2023-24 budget, the Indian Air Force has the highest capital expenditure of Rs 57,137.09 crore, which includes Rs 15,721 crore for procurement of aircraft and aero-engines, and Rs 36,223.13 crore for procurement of other equipment. The revenue expenditure of the Army in 2024-25 is expected to be Rs 1,92,680 crore, while the Navy and the Indian Air Force are allocated Rs 32,778 crore and Rs 46,223 crore respectively.

Dr Laxman Kumar Behera, associate professor at the Special Center for National Security Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University, said the overall allocation in the defense budget is modest and reflects the government’s priority for the armed forces. “The funding does not show a lack of commitment to the armed forces,” he told reporters PTI.

Dr Behera also described the Rs 10,000-crore increase in capital expenditure as a “healthy sign”.

(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from associated news agency – PTI)