Army modernisation takes a bad hit

Since 2009-10, the Army’s capital budget is on a continuous decline hitting the lowest point in 2013-14 when the capital budget was only 18 per cent of the total allocation. This was spent mostly on the “committed liabilities” or existing purchases. It may be noted that as per Pentagon’s annual report to the US Congress, India’s annual defence budget is just one-third of that of China despite the tensions that remain along their shared border. The official annual defence budget of China in 2013 was $119.5 billion as against India's $39.2 billion

Modernisation of the Indian defence forces is a continuous process based on threat perception, operational challenges, technological changes and available sources. The process is based on a 15-year Long Term Integrated Perspective Plan (LTIPP), Five Year Services Capital Acquisition Plan (SCAP) and an Annual Acquisition Plan (AAP). Procurement of equipment and weapon systems is carried out as per the AAP in accordance with the Defence procurement procedure. The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) cleared a total of 41 proposals since June last year. This was stated by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar in a written statement in Rajya Sabha, during the winter session of Parliament.

Unfortunately, the Army’s plan to modernise its arsenal with the latest weaponry took a beating as the Finance Ministry recently cut the budget by almost about Rs 5,000 crore, leaving that much less money to make fresh purchases.

Army Chief Gen Dalbir Singh had on 13 January stated that the Army identified seven critical projects, which would be pursued for equipping the soldiers with advanced firepower and mobility. These critical projects which the Army Chief outlined are 814 artillery guns, 8000 third generation antitank missiles (from Israel), acquiring 197 helicopters for the Army, upgrading of tanks and BMP armoured vehicles, procurement of assault rifles, bullet proof jackets and helmets for the infantry soldiers and night vision devices for the infantry mechanised forces.

Out of these two projects, 814 artillery guns at a cost of Rs 15,750 crore and more than 8,000 third generation anti-tank missiles (from Israel) at a cost of Rs 3,700 crore were approved by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) headed by Defence Minister Parrikar. However, other five crucial projects are still under consideration of the Ministry of Defence (MoD). Both would have to be cleared by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) before the procurement process starts because any project with more than Rs 1,000 crore budget needs CCS approval.
Since 2009-10, the Army’s capital budget is on a continuous decline hitting the lowest point in 2013-14 when the capital budget was only 18 per cent of the total allocation. This was spent mostly on the “committed liabilities” or existing purchases.

For 2014-15, the Army's additional demand (for grants) was not met but capital budget, meant for acquisition was reduced by about Rs 5,000 crore apparently because the money was transferred to revenue heads used for paying salary, pension and fuel bill. Other two services are also likely to have suffered from the budget cut and the modernization is likely to be delayed further, which will have adverse effect for the defence forces as well as for national security.

One of the reasons behind enhancement of revenue budget is the BJP-ruled NDA government’s plan to implement one-rank-one-pension (OROP) plan for ex-servicemen which is pending for the past three decades. The government accepted the OROP in principle and modalities of implementation are being worked out.

India cleared a bulk of defence projects worth $13 billion in a bid to boost the country's national defence preparedness, the Indian DAC said on 25 October 2014. The council finalised purchase of 12 upgraded Dornier surveillance aircraft with improved sensors from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) at a cost of Rs 1,850 crore.

The DAC also decided to buy 362 infantry mechanised vehicles at a cost of Rs 662 crore. The decision to manufacture the submarines in the country is in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ‘Make in India’ pitch.

The Indian defence budget stood at $11.8 billion in 2001. On February 17, 2014, the then Finance Minister P Chidambaram announced a 10 per cent increase in India's defence budget, taking it to $36.3 billion. In March 2014 China announced a 12.2 per cent increase in its defence budget, raising military spending to $132 billion.

It may be noted that as per Pentagon’s annual report to the US Congress, India’s annual defence budget is just one-third of that of China despite the tensions that remain along their shared border. The official annual defence budget of China in 2013 was $119.5 billion against India's $39.2 billion.

India announced plans to boost defence spending in 2014-15 by 12 per cent over the previous year, and further opened the domestic weapons industry to foreign investment. The Modi government had long called for a militarily strong India to counter potential threats from both its neighbours – China and Pakistan. In July 2014 the new Indian military budget was set at Rs 2.29 trillion ($38.35 billion) for 2014-15, and the foreign investment limit in the domestic defence industry was raised from 26 per cent to 49 per cent.

Defence expenditure, which was 2.24 per cent of the GDP in 1997-98, has come down to 1.79 per cent of GDP in 2014-15 and this gradual decline is against the modernization of defence forces. Hopefully, the next budget will be around 3 per cent of the GDP keeping in view the long-pending demand of defence modernization and threat perception from adversaries China and Pakistan.

By: P K Vasudeva