Defence budget must match strategic expectations

Commander (Retd.) Neil Gadihoke Figures also reveal that the defence ministry suffered a budget cut of over `140 billion last year, a majority of which -- over A Rs100 billion -- had been marked for procurement of new defence hardware India's defence budget has been hardest hit, as the government scrambled to cut costs given the bleak economic growth of five percent -- the lowest in a decade. The cut came also against the backdrop of a history of under-utilisation of allocation by the defence ministry and the political hesitancy to conclude deals. Unveiling the national budget for the next fiscal last Thursday, Finance Minister P. Chidambaram proposed a defence spending of Rs.2.03 trillion ($37.45 billion). This is a 5.2-percent increase from 2012-13, when the budget stood at Rs.1.93 trillion. Since the allocation and utilisation may change in the course of the fiscal year, the revised estimates accord a more realistic estimate of funds outflow. Accordingly, the budget hike, in real terms, amounts to Rs.251.68 billion ($4.57 billion) over the revised estimates of Rs.1.78 trillion for the fiscal ending March 31, which amounts to a 14-percent increase. In 2012-13, the increase had been 17 percent. Figures also reveal that the defence ministry suffered a budget cut of over Rs.140 billion last year, a majority of which -- over Rs.100 billion -- had been marked for procurement of new defence hardware. India's annualised inflation rate of around 6 percent implies that the military has actually gained little from this year's increase. The U.S. defence expenditure amounted to $500 billion last year and China's was $110 billion. In comparison, India's defence budget of $38 billion is humble and barely 1.79 percent of the country's gross domestic product (GDP). This is a record low for India in at least three decades, with the figure dropping considerably from 3.16 percent of the GDP in 1987. This year's allocation is also the lowest in terms of percentage of the total annual government expenditure. This year's defence budget is 12.23 percent of the estimated spending of the government in the upcoming fiscal year, considerably down from the 15.79 percent in 1999 -- and lower from last year's 12.97 percent. Despite this dismal allocation, Defence Minister A.K. Antony put up a brave front by saying taking into account the "difficult economic situation both at home and abroad" this was the best possible outlay. "Factoring the current economic scenario, he (the finance minister) has been fair to the defence sector also by increasing the budget and assuring that should there be any urgent need in future the same would be provided." The allocated budget of Rs.2.03 trillion will be bifurcated into two broad sections, capital and revenue. The capital budget is earmarked and utilised for the force build-up, which includes procurement of new weapons and systems and toward meeting committed liabilities in the form of payments for contracts signed in previous years. The other part of the budget, termed as revenue budget, is meant for salaries, pension, recurring expenditure, maintenance of arms and equipment and expenditures of a repetitive nature. Out of the Rs.1.169 trillion allocated for revenue expenditure, the army has been allocated Rs.818.33 billion, the navy has got Rs.121.94 billion while the air force has got Rs.182.95 billion. Out of the Rs.867.41-billion capital expenditure, the air force has the largest share of over Rs.380 billion followed by the navy and the army. The major portion of these funds would be used to procure aircraft and aero-engines. India is also in the process of finalising a contract for 126 Rafale medium multi-role combat aircraft, valued at approximately $20 billion . But all such number crunching and analysis obscures two key shortcomings in India's quest for getting greater bang for the buck. The first entails a history of under-utilisation. Due to the long-winded, complicated and extremely bureaucratic defence procurement procedures, delays in procurement are endemic. Hence, a host of defence procurement funds allotted for a given financial year commencing April 1, are surrendered by the following March 31 due under-spending. The Indian Navy being an exception, utilising its full budget year after year, owing to proactive monitoring and automated funds utilisation system. Second, in spite of checks and balances incorporated into the defence acquisition process, allegations of scams are embarrassingly regular. The latest news headlines relate to alleged kickbacks for the Agusta Westland helicopters bought from Italy for use by key dignitaries, for which a former air force chief is alleged to have been involved. The investigations are yet inconclusive. Consequently, political hesitancy to conclude defence deals is substantial, especially in a juncture like the present one, where general elections are only a year away. This is certainly not a welcome scenario. Indian defence spending will require a massive boost both in terms of allocation and utilisation if the rhetoric of the country being a rising economic and military power is to be accomplished. - IANS