Topic: defence expenditure

On 21 April 1975, Godhra MP and founding member of Swatantra Party spoke in the Lok Sabha during a debate on defence expenditure and purchase of arms. 'We have been, especially since the last war with Pakistan, shopping round the world.'

Govt procedures that masquerade as safety nets for minimising financial loss can only stifle innovation. Modi govt's well-intentioned iDEX scheme seems headed that way.

Modi govt's capital budget allocation for 2021-22 is lower than the amount armed forces had sought in 2014-15. But spending more is not the answer, spending right is.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence can bring much needed clarity on India's national security that Nirmala Sitharaman’s Budget didn’t answer.

The armed forces community refused to grasp the consequences of a slowing economy. OROP was made into an emotive issue.

Modi govt needs to come out with a new National Pension Scheme for India's armed forces to give them extra in comparison to the civilian workforce.

A consolidated list of items for possible exports, both from the government and private sector, is being worked upon.

PM Modi targets $5 billion in defence exports in next 5 years. If 'Make in India’ reaches its full potential, $10-15 billion is achievable in a decade.

Politicians must be made to understand that defence expenditure is like an insurance premium on national security, so defence budget needs to be boosted.