Modi govt gives ₹1 lakh crore less to the military forces in year 2019-2020

India Army, Air Force and Navy were forced to prioritise their requirements again after Modi government failed to provide more than Rs one lakh crore to the three services in 2019-20, reported The Deccan Herald.

According to a report by team of lawmakers who scrutinised defence budget for the current financial years, reveals that the slash in budget was ₹53,035 crore for Indian Air Force, followed by Indian Army of ₹30,687 crore and Navy of ₹23,048 crore.

As Army sources are hopeful of receiving additional support from Modi govt in the supplementary budget but the data shared with the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence shows that in last two financial years, defence ministry had not not receive any additional allocation at the supplementary stage.

According to the report, during current financial year, Indian Army had projected a requirement of ₹1,98,964 crore but has got only ₹1,68,277 crore.

Indian Air Force had asked for ₹1,22,984 crore and received ₹69,949 crore. This is the maximum shortfall among the three services.Whereas Indian Navy projected demand of ₹64,307 crore but got only ₹41,259 crore.

Navy Chief Admiral Karambir Singh during annual press conference earlier in December, raised his concerns on declining budget, “Navy's share in defence budget has declined in the last few years. From 18%, it has come down to 13% in the recent years.”

Indian Air Force received too less from Modi government. IAF spent far more to maintain an ageing fleet in the absence of any new induction.

In 2019, IAF had asked for ₹81,302 crore in capital segment, but received only ₹39,347 crore, a shortfall of ₹41,955 crore.

According to the report, Standing Committee wrote in its report submitted to the Speaker in this week, “The Committee are baffled to find out that the IAF modernisation budget in the last year of 11th plan in 2011-12 (₹26,640 crore) grew negligibly to ₹26,895 crore in 2016-17, which was the last year of the 12th plan period.”