Total allocation for the MoD stands at ₹6.2 lakh crore for 2024-25, which is 13.04% of the total Union Budget presented
In a significant measure to bring jointness in the procurements of the armed forces, the Government has decided to consolidate the demand of the three services in the capital head of the defence budget based on similar items of expenditure such as land, aircraft and aeroengines, heavy and medium vehicles among others. In the interim budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, there was no significant change in the allocation for defence with the total allocation for the Ministry of Defence (MoD) stands at ₹6.2 lakh crore for 2024-25.
“This will bring flexibility in financial management by enabling the MoD to reappropriate the fund among the three services keeping in view the inter services priority. This mechanism will also expedite decision making and ensure better utilisation of the capital budget,” the MoD said in a statement.
This is a significant measure towards bringing in jointness in procurements among the three services and addresses the shortfall often faced between committed liabilities, milestone payments to be made for past deals, versus the allocation for each service which was faced by Navy and Air Force in the past. For major capital procurements, the authority to prioritise is the Chief of Defence Staff and once cleared is sent to Defence Acquisition Council for approval.
The allocation of ₹6.2 lakh crore is 4.72% higher compared to the Budget Estimates (BE) and marginally lower, -0.38%, than the Revised Estimates (RE) for 2023-24 and is 13.04% of the total Union Budget presented. Of this, 27.67% goes to capital, 14.82% for revenue expenditure on sustenance and operational preparedness, 30.68% for pay and allowances, 22.72% for defence pensions and 4.11% for civil organisations under MoD. The capital allocation, which is for new procurements, stood at ₹1.72 lakh crore, 5.78% higher than the BE of last year.
Budget data shows that from BE to RE of 2023-24, Defence Ministry returned ₹5,371.8 Crore from the capital component while it received an additional ₹28,548.61 Crore under revenue expenditure, other than salary, meant for sustenance and operational commitment. For FY 2024-25, the revenue allocation, minus pay and allowances, is ₹92,088 crore which the Ministry said is aimed at providing best maintenance facilities and support system to all platforms, including aircraft and ships. It also facilitates procuring of ammunition, mobility of resources, movement of personnel, catering to day-to-day expenditure of armed forces in strengthening the deployment in forward areas and keeping the forces always ready to take care of any eventuality, it stated.
Ms. Sitharaman in her budget speech announced a new scheme for development of deep tech for defence purposes. On this the MoD stated, “The announcement regarding a ₹1 lakh crore corpus for Deep Tech for long term loan to tech-savvy youth/companies and the tax advantage to the start-ups will give further impetus to innovation in the defence sector.”
On the capital allocation, the Ministry said that this was in line with the Long Term Integrated Perspective Plan (LTIPP) of the three Services aimed to fill the critical capability gaps through modernisation of the armed forces by “materialising some big ticket acquisitions in FY 2024-25.” The enhanced budgetary allocation will facilitate in equipping the armed forces with state-of-the-art, niche technology lethal weapons, fighter aircraft, ships, platforms, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and specialist vehicles, it stated.
https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/t...purposes-finance-minister/article67799745.ece
Planned modernisation of existing Su-30 fleet along with procurement of 12 more aircraft, acquisition of new engines for MiG-29 jets, C-295 transport aircraft under induction and missile systems will be funded out of the budget being allocated, according to the MoD. “Apart from this, to take the initiative of ‘Make in India’ further the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) MK–I IOC/FOC configuration will be additionally funded to ensure state-of-the-art technology in domestic production. The Indian Navy projects such as acquisition of deck-based fighter aircraft, submarines, next generation survey vessels etc. will all materialise through this allocation.”