FM Sitharaman rebuts Deepender Singh Hooda, highlights rise in education, R&D, and defence spending since 2014

New Delhi: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman delivered a detailed and data-backed rebuttal to Congress MP Deepender Singh Hooda’s remarks in the Lok Sabha, countering claims that the government was not investing enough in education, research, and defence. Speaking during the Discussion on the Supplementary Demands for Grants, First Batch for 2025-26, FM Sitharaman said that such statements were “baseless” and that the government’s spending record clearly showed otherwise.

Opening her response, the Finance Minister highlighted the massive expansion in India’s higher education institutions since 2014. “Can all this expansion happen without money?” she asked, listing that the number of IITs has increased from 16 to 23, IIMs from 13 to 21, IIITs from 9 to 25 (with 16 new ones established), Central Universities from 40 to 48, and AIIMS from 7 to 12, with 16 approved. She said this progress was made possible through consistent government investment.

Since 2014:

✅IITs have increased from 16 to 23
✅IIMs have increased from 13 to 21
✅IIITs have increased from 9 to 25, 16 new IIITs.
✅Central Universities have increased from 40 to 48.
✅AIIMS have increased from 7 to 12, of which 16 approved are 12 established.

This would… pic.twitter.com/VJ9AekKfxH

— Nirmala Sitharaman Office (@nsitharamanoffc) December 15, 2025

Turning to Research and Development (R&D), Sitharaman stated that India’s Gross Expenditure on R&D (GERD) has more than doubled in a decade from Rs 60,200 crore in 2010-11 to Rs 1.27 lakh crore in 2021. “Without money being spent, can this growth happen?” she asked, responding directly to Hooda’s charge that the government had not been allocating sufficient funds.

The Finance Minister further revealed that a Rs 1 lakh crore Research and Development Grant has been launched to encourage private-led innovation. She explained that a special anchor body would manage this fund, raise additional capital from the market, and boost India’s R&D ecosystem. “The government contributes 64 per cent of the country’s total R&D expenditure, while the private sector contributes 36 per cent. This is not my statement, it’s from published documents,” she added, stressing that claims of underfunding were not supported by facts.

Moving to defence spending, Sitharaman continued her point-by-point rebuttal. “Since 2014-15, a total of Rs 53.83 lakh crore has been allocated for defence. Is that not money?” she questioned. She highlighted that indigenous defence production reached a record Rs 1.27 lakh crore in 2023-24, a 174 per cent surge from Rs 46,400 crore in 2014-15.

She further noted that over 16,000 MSMEs are now engaged in defence manufacturing, calling them “game changers” that are strengthening India’s self-reliance. The government has also issued 788 industrial licences to 462 companies to manufacture defence equipment domestically.

Backing her argument with export data, the Finance Minister said that India’s defence exports have jumped from Rs 1,000 crore in 2014 to Rs 23,622 crore in 2024. “Is this possible without sound policy and investment?” she asked, highlighting that India’s defence ecosystem is now stronger, more innovative, and more self-sufficient than ever before.

Taking a pointed jibe at Hooda, Sitharaman remarked, “If at any point the Defence Minister had stood in this Parliament and said he had no money, that is when you should have raised your voice. But today, when India is progressing in education, R&D, and defence, this kind of rhetoric is misplaced. Such political drama should stop.”

In a spirited and data-driven reply, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman turned the Opposition’s criticism into an opportunity to spotlight India’s remarkable progress over the past decade under Modi’s leadership.