The allocation for defence in the Union budget is always such a trapeze act. It harks back at the classic “butter or guns” dilemma. Should the funds be spent on food to keep the citizens hale, hearty and healthy, or should the country’s military preparedness and security be strengthened more?
While the dilemma is a critical one in view of a globally pessimistic economic outlook and the dismaying pangs of the Covid-induced pandemic, immediate security needs have taken the front seat in budget 2023-24.
“The Armed Forces have to be battle ready to meet any eventuality. Towards that end, Non-Salary revenue outlay has been enhanced significantly from Rs 62,431 crore in Budget Estimates (BE) 2022-23 to Rs 90,000 crore in BE 2023-24, representing a 44% jump,” a government release said.
Arguably, India-China relations are at a definite low point, while a nuclear-capable Pakistan is at its instable-most.
That is not all. With scarce funds being the proverbial elephant in the room, the problem for India’s finance allocators get compounded because of its ongoing ‘Atmanirbharta’ (self-reliance) effort.
Should the focus be on importing cutting-edge military technology or to encourage military innovation and raise military suppliers within the country?
The defence allocation has decided to deal with the clear and present danger by focusing more on operational preparedness.
Therefore, “sustenance of weapon systems, platforms including ships and aircraft, their logistics, boosting fleet serviceability, emergency procurement of critical ammunition and spares, procuring and hiring of niche capabilities to mitigate capability gaps wherever required; progress stocking of military reserves, strengthening forward defences, amongst others” have occupied primacy.
An official release says: “In keeping with the government’s resolve and focus towards maintaining a high level of operational preparedness of the defence services to face current and future challenges, the non-salary revenue/operational allocation gets a boost of Rs 27,570 crore, with the budgetary outlay under this segment augmented from Rs 62,431 crore in BE 2022-23 to Rs 90,000 crore in BE 2023-24.”
“As a precursor to this increase in the non-salary revenue segment, the government during the mid-term review had also enhanced the operational allotments of the current financial year by Rs 26,000 crore, which works out as 42% of the present allocation.”
On the whole, defence was allocated Rs 5.94 lakh crore in budget 2023-24, a jump of 13% over the previous year.
But at the same time, there is primacy on research, development and most importantly, on innovation.
The release adds: “Towards strengthening research and development in defence, the allocation to DRDO has been enhanced by 9%, with a total allocation of Rs 23,264 crore in BE 2023-24.”
“To further foster innovation, encourage technology development and strengthen the defence Industrial eco-system in the country, iDEX and DTIS has been allocated Rs 116 crore and Rs 45 crore respectively representing an enhancement of 93% for iDEX and 95% for DTIS over 2022-23. This will fulfill Ministry of Defence vision to leverage ideas from bright young minds across the country,” the official release adds.
The Union budget for 2023-24 lays down an outlay of Rs 45,03,097 crore, of which, 13.18 per cent (or Rs 5,93,537.64 crore) has been allocated to defence.
