Op-Sindoor triggers hike in military budget

In an apparent post Operation Sindoor, reaction India has an increase its military spending by 15 percent, one the biggest annual hike. It is backed by a significant hike in Capital spending -- needed for new weapons, systems, arsenal including jets, ships, submarines and guns. Focusing on self-reliance, modernisation, technology infusion and infrastructure building in border areas, the Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman proposed a sum of Rs 7, 84, 678 Cr for the fiscal commencing April 1. This is 15 percent more than the allocation for the present fiscal . In dollar terms the budget for the next fiscal is $ 85.3 Billion dollars. The allocation for capital spending is Rs 2,19, 306 Crore and that is 21.8 percent jump over the Rs 1,80,000 Crore for this year and is clearly aimed at ramming up capabilities. The money is intended to address ‘committed liabilities’ and high-tech procurements like the 114 Rafale fighter jets or the contract signing of the next generation submarines being offered by ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) of Germany in partnership with Mazagon Docks Shipbuilders Limited (MDL). Also at present, around 60 warships are under-construction and domestic assembly lines are producing fighters jets, helicopters, artillery guns, rifles, all funded from Capital budget. Also the Capital allocation has a sum of Rs 63,733 crore for aircraft and aero-engines. A sum of Rs 25.023 crore is earmarked for Naval fleet