New Delhi: In the wake of Operation Sindoor and heightened security measures along its western border, the Union government is planning to boost defence spending by Rs 50,000 crore, top government sources told NDTV. This will push the country’s total defence allocation past Rs 7 lakh crore for the first time.
The current defence budget, presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in February, already stood at a record Rs 6.81 lakh crore—an increase of 9.2 per cent over the previous year’s Rs 6.22 lakh crore. With the proposed increase, defence expenditure would make up approximately 13 per cent of the Budget.
Bolstering research and development
The additional funds is most likely to be directed towards bolstering research and development, acquiring advanced weaponry, ammunition, and upgrading key military infrastructure. Approval for the allocation is expected to be sought during the upcoming winter session of Parliament.
The development comes after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir and India’s attack on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. At least 26 people were killed when terrorists opened fire on unsuspecting tourists in the Baisaran meadows of Pahalgam. Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba’s proxy The Resistance Force tool responsibility for the attack. In response, India launched Operation Sindoor.
Emphasis on self-reliance in defence manufacturing
Op Sindoor has also brought attention to the country’s growing indigenous defence infrastructure. Speaking after the operation, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh reinforced the government’s emphasis on self-reliance in defence manufacturing. “If we buy defence equipment from other countries, it means we are outsourcing it and leaving our security in the hands of someone else. This cannot be a long-term solution,” he said.
The sharp hike in defence spending also comes amid India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, one of the key diplomatic responses following the Pahalgam attack.
