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Finance Minister Ms Nirmala Sitaraman will table her Seventh Union Budget in Parliament on Monday, 23 July,24.During this Third Term, Modi Government will work hard to fulfill his promise of making India a Third Economic Power in the World by 2029. India would then, definitely need a plethora of strong Defence Forces to safeguard the Economic Bloom.That entails India achieving Robust Defence Posture to become a Military Superpower.
According to Global Firepower, a Data Website for Global Defence Information, India is the Fourth Powerful Military behind America,China and Russia, in the Group of 10 Strongest Militaries. These 10 have a Strong Military Heritage and are continuously enhancing their Military Might. This evaluation covers 60 Factors, main being Number of troop, Military equipment, Financial stability, Geographic location and Available resources.It takes into account the potential War Making Capability across Land, Sea, and Air, fought by Conventional Means. How to achieve that, requires analytical comparison of Defence Spending by Reining Superpowers vis-a-vis India.
America
American Defence Budget for 23-24 was 858 Billion Dollars required for meeting her needs of Advanced Technology, Research and Development, maintaining a Global Military Presence, Maintaining and upgrading her Nuclear arsenal, Cyber capabilities, and Space Defence Initiatives. American Global Presence is crucial for maintenance of Regional Stability by averting threats from China and Russia. American commitment to NATO and SQUAD, as well as, her Alliances and Partnerships in Asia Pacific Region, South China Sea and Middle East including India, aims to counter China and Islamic/Jehadi Threats. Research and development (R&D) is a critical area where America has lead over others. Her Defence Budget caters for allocation of a substantial amount to Research and Development in Artificial Intelligence, Cyber Defence, and Advanced Weaponry to remain at the forefront of Technological Advancements.
China
China had a Defence Budget of 230 Billion American Dollars for 2023-24 to fulfil her ambition to modernise People’s Liberation Army (PLA), extend her influence in Asia-Pacific Region,Technological advancements, including Artificial Intelligence, Missile Technology, and Naval Capabilities to become a dominant Regional and Global Military Power. Chinese Defence Spending for Modernization is really big with an emphasis on developing Indigenous Technology and reducing dependency on Foreign Arms. Rapid expansion of the PLA (Navy) and advancements in Missile Technology underline Strategic Goals of China. China invests heavily in R&D to achieve her goals of Technological Superiority and self-sufficiency in Defence Capabilities. Rapid Military Modernisation of Chinese PLA,her Expansionist Policies in South China Sea are bound to spill over in Indian Context as per her Regional/Global Operational Planing given out in 2022 Plannery Congress of Chinese Communist Party. As per that document,China is to Annex Arunachal Pradesh and Ladakh by 2047 which demands a Sense of Urgency for India to enhance her Defence Capabilities. It is a Key Factor in determining/formulating our Defence Budget from now onwards.
Russia
Russian Defence Budget for 2023-24 was to a tune of 184 Billion American Dollars. Regardless of Economic Challenges arising due to severe International Sanctions put on her by the West, Russia had allocated enough funds to achieve Strategic Deterrence, modernise her Nuclear Forces, developing Advanced Missile Systems, Cyber Warfare Capabilities, and to maintain her Military Presence in Arctic and Eastern Europe. Russia prioritises modernising her Strategic Forces and developing sixth Generation Weaponry to maintain her Military Edge. At present, the constrained Russian Economy restricts heavy investment in R&D. But she has allocated enough funds to develop Strategic Systems to achieve and maintain her Nuclear Deterrence. She also goes in for Strategic Priority. Russian Defence Spending is catering for a focused Strategy in Eastern Europe and Arctic Region to Influence and effectively counter and Face Geopolitical Tensions with NATO and Western countries.
India
Indian Defence Budget of is generally very rational in its Strategic Allocations and Priorities in meeting Personnel costs,Equipment Modernization and Research and Development to enhance National Security. By comparing Indian Defence Budget with that of China, America and Russia, one can get an insight into her Budgetary Constraints which are affecting Security Dynamics that shape her Military Strategies. Indian Defence budget for 2023-24, fixed at 72.48 American Dollars (Rs 5.94 crores) signified a continued steady increase in Defence Spending so direly required for Modernisation of her Defence Forces required to meet Geographical and Security Challenges posed by her neighbours, Address Evolving Security Challenges and ensure that Defence Forces are well-equipped to handle any threat. Anticipated Defence Budget break-up percentage of allocated amount was; Salaries 34.86%, Pension 34.98 per cent, Modernisation 9%, Maintenance 10per cent, Supporting Forces 4%, Agnipath Scheme 1%, Miscellaneous- 6 per cent. Her Revenue Expenditure Allotment was Rs 4,39,300 crore that included Rs 1,41,205 crore for Defence pensions, Rs 2,82,772 crore for Defence services and Rs 15,322 crore for Ministry of Defence (Civil). In terms of figures; anticipated Revenue Expenditure for Army was Rs 1,92,680 crore, Navy Rs 32,778 crores and Air Force Rs 46,223 crore. In Capital Outlay; Rs 40,777 crore was for Aircraft and Aero Engines, Rs 62,343 crore for Other Defence Equipment, Rs 23,800 crore for Naval Fleet and Rs 6,830 crore for Naval Dockyard Projects. In the case of Three Super Powers, Capital Outlay has always been more than Revenue Expenditure. It is totally otherway in India which is of great concern and requires Speedy and Brutal Solution. In any case the allotment was very negligible compared to other Three Super Powers.
Points To Ponder
Indian Defence Budget caters for New Acquisitions, Personnel Costs, Salaries, Pensions, and Welfare of Troops which is integral for maintaining a Large Standing Army commensurate to/with her Strategic Position and Border Disputes with both neighbours. America also bears substantial Personnel Costs but Invests very very heavily in Technology and Innovation which is essential for maintaining her Global Military Dominance. China; apart from catering for Personal Costs, accords Top Priority to Modernization and Technological Advancements. She has embarked on downsizing her Defence Forces to save and invest that for Advancement of her Defence Forces, opting for Quality over/ instead of Quantity. Similarly Russia also invests in Personal Costs albeit at a Lower Scale compared to China and America but puts greater emphasis on Strategic Nuclear Force Assets.
India, of late, has gone in for modernization of her Military Equipment and has started procuring advanced Fighter Jets, Submarines, and Attack and Defensive Missile Systems.She is also contemplating building a Third Aircraft Carrier and upgrade her Entire Arsenal to counter Regional Threats by maintaining Credible Deterrence. For that; she will have to follow the American Pattern of investment in Cutting edge Technologies to make/ procure Stealth Aircraft, Hypersonic Weapons, and Space based Defence System. On the other hand; though Indian investment in R&D is significant, she is way behind America,China and Russia in this field.She, perforce,has to focus on Indigenization and Self Reliance in Defence Production with an aim to reduce dependence on Foreign Arms and Technological Imports. Total Military Expenditure of the World was approximately 2.8 percent of Global Gross Domestic Product (GGDP) in 2023-24. Five biggest Military Spenders in 2024 were; America, China, Russia, India and Saudi Arabia, which together accounted for 61 percent of World Military Spending. As on date; Indian Defence Budget Allotment is a mere 1.91 percent of her GDP, whereas, same for America 2.8,China 3.1 and Russia 5.7 percent of their GDPs are an eye opener. India will have to attain a figure close to minimum of 3 percent in near future if we wish to become a real Super Power.
Defence Spending Patterns of these Three Major Powers directly affect Regional Security Dynamics. There is an urgent requirement for India to substantially increase her Defence Budget and focus on Modernization if she wants a place in the Super Power League. Security Challenges and ongoing Border Disputes from China and Pakistan as well Complex Security Situations in Indian Ocean Region demands a Robust Defence Posture. Hopefully, Finance Minister Ms Nirmala Sitaraman would start working towards attaining that magic figure of 3 percent of GDP by doing needful Defence Allocations starting from the forthcoming Union Budget 2024-25.
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