ThePrint’s analysis of all budgets from 1999-2026 shows that the capex as total share of defence budget was the highest under UPA I & II. Multifold jump in pension outlays.
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.
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.
In tactical terms, the shirtless protest was worse than a self-goal. Suddenly, the fiascos of the AI Summit were forgotten, and the Youth Congress’s disruption became the issue.
IAF is fine with accepting the aircraft with 'must-haves', even if some other steps remain pending, which may take at least another year, it is learnt.
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