Editorial Simplified – Should Military Spending be Increased ?

SHOULD MILITARY SPENDING BE INCREASED ?

Why has this issue cropped up ?

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 can ignore the existing security threats.

Threats to India

• Threats are more than just ordinary in India, a country located in a dangerous neighborhood and facing both internal and external threats.

• India has a robust military machine. However, the lack of a national security strategy, a national strategic culture and a transformational approach towards its military capability prevent it from obtaining optimum benefit from its defence expenditure.

Is India’s Defence budget optimal ?

• In February, the Army transparently deposed before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence and stated two pertinent things: one, 68% of its equipment was in the vintage category, and two, with the new budget allocation of 1.47% of GDP, the sustenance of at least 24 capital projects is in jeopardy.

• The 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.

Factors responsible for inadequate Modernization :

• The revenue budget amounts to a little over 80%, leaving little for capital expenditure through which modernisation is to be executed.

• Army is manpower-intensive that consumes huge amounts of the revenue. This also leads to languishing of modernisation.

• Since understanding of national security at the bureaucratic and decision-making levels remains abysmal, the focus on modernisation has suffered.

• With huge bureaucratic controls, and a Defence Ministry with no military presence, the comprehension of priorities itself remains suspect.

• Amid the focus on prevention of potential corruption, the larger picture of timely and optimum capability development has been ignored.

Way forward for Modernization :

• Decisions must be taken timely and procedures for acquisition should be fast-tracked.

• 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.

• Limited leakages could still be acceptable if timeliness of delivery is achieved even as more efficient procedures are implemented.

Relevance : GS 3

Try this probable Mains question :

What external security threats face most in recent times ? Should defence expenditure be made at the the cost of development in India ?

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