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Should military spending be increased?
Context
India risks its national security withlow allocations to defence spending
What has happened?
For a developing country that is committed to enhancing the quality of life of its citizens, defence is usually the last thing on the nation’s mind. Yet, no government that is committed to such a cause can ignore the existing physical and psychological security threats.
Resource allotment
The defence budget is increasingly looked at as a means to provide incremental resources to other sectors, since procedural delays prevent its optimum and timely expenditure.
Vintage equipment
In February, the Army transparently deposed before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence and stated two pertinent things
- 68% of its equipment was in the vintage category, and
- With the new budget allocation of 1.47% of GDP, the sustenance of at least 24 capital projects is in jeopardy.
Exhausted entire budget
- Army received Rs. 268.2 billion for modernisation as against its demand for Rs. 445.7 billion
- With the Doklam crisis and the necessity of mobilising the Siliguri-based Corps, along with other priority resources from many other sectors to make up existing deficiencies and optimise the Corps’ capability, the Army expended almost its entire allocation of the transportation budget
- In January, it had no money to even hire vehicles.
Problems
- Understanding of national security at the bureaucratic and decision-making levels remains low
- With huge bureaucratic controls, and a Defence Ministry with no military presence, the comprehension of priorities itself remains suspect
Solutions
- If decisions are timely and procedures for acquisition are fast-tracked
- The financial support should be sufficient with systems which do not call for a lapse of financial resources, once allotted
- Without higher allocation, the armed forces may be unable to reach even the first level of transformation they seek
- Not just higher allocation, management of expenditure also needs a complete revamp
