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Thursday, August 14, 2025
TopicDefence budget

Topic: Defence budget

‘Lowest ever since 1962’: Congress MP Deepender Hooda flags dip in defence budget under Modi govt

Urging an immediate hike in defence allocation, Rohtak MP bats for the armed forces to be equipped with modern weapons and fighter aircraft.

Pakistan raises defence spending by 20% but slashes overall federal budget 

Islamabad allocates PKR 2.55 trillion (approx Rs 76,500 crore) to defence in FY26 amid IMF pressures, declining growth and rising debt.

Trump factor looms large as Canada pledges 2% of GDP on defence spending by end of fiscal year

With only one seaworthy submarine and less than half its maritime and land vehicles operational, Canada has made this major announcement ahead of the G7 and NATO summits.

Germany needs 60,000 more troops to meet new NATO targets, says defence minister

Defence minister Boris Pistorius’s announcement comes in the wake of Trump’s demand for NATO to increase defence investment from 2% to 5% of the GDP.

Amid Trump’s 5% goal, NATO ministers to discuss defence funding before key summit

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte proposed that alliance members boost defence spending to 3.5% of GDP & commit further 1.5% to broader security-related spending.

China continues military modernisation push with 7.2% defence budget hike for third straight year

Under Xi Jinping’s leadership, the defence budget has more than doubled from 720 billion yuan in 2013 as China has been investing heavily in advanced military capabilities.

Europe’s social welfare economies must now focus on defence. How, is the question

As global diplomacy heads in an uncertain direction, many European leaders see a need to swiftly ramp up defence spending.

India’s long-term growth is in securing its seas. When will the Navy budget reflect this?

As Sardar KM Panikkar explained, India’s land-based invaders ultimately became natives. Its colonisers came by the sea—and they were successful because Indian rulers ignored the waters.

House panel flags low Army budget for modernisation, urges hike for sufficient deterrence capacity

Standing committee has urged focus on procurement of state-of-the-art equipment & keeping Army expenditure ‘in proportion to increase in defence spending of our neighbours’.

Xi wanted to teach India about imbalance of power. We should take a budgetary lesson from it

While we talk much about our military, we don’t put our national wallet where our mouth is. Nobody is saying we should double our defence spending, but current declining trend must be reversed.

On Camera

Asim Munir wants to be guardian of the Middle East. He’s fated to fail at home

Countering insurgency needs the Pakistan Army to demonstrate a political will that ties leaders at the centre with those in the borderlands. But it may not have the imagination.

Slashing GST on waste can unlock Rs 1.8 lakh crore, high tax hurting circular economy goals—CSE

Centre for Science and Environment in new report makes case for rationalising GST on waste material, saying most informal operators can’t afford high tax & it also hinders recycling.

India, US troops to undertake joint military exercise next month, first after Op Sindoor

21st edition of annual joint military exercise will be held from 1 to 16 September, aimed at sharing military tech, operational best practices & disaster relief coordination methods.

Modi’s ready to risk it all for farmers. Farm reform can answer Trump with new Green Revolution

Standing up to America is usually not a personal risk for a leader in India. Any suggestions of foreign pressure unites India behind who they see as leading them in that fight.