Editorial: Step up defence research spending

Despite the growing threat perception on two fronts—Pakistan and China—the spending on defence research has remained stagnant in India for several years, accounting for less than one per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP). This is a matter of serious concern that needs to engage the attention of the policy makers. India is far […]

Despite the growing threat perception on two fronts—Pakistan and China—the spending on defence research has remained stagnant in India for several years, accounting for less than one per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP). This is a matter of serious concern that needs to engage the attention of the policy makers. India is far behind countries like China and the United States in this aspect. In fact, the defence research spending, which stood at 0.088% of the GDP in 2016-17, came down to 0.083% in 2020-21. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence has flagged the issue and recommended adequate funding so that strategic projects are taken up with full vigour. This is particularly important in view of the current international scenario, where threat perception is increasing due to on-going conflicts the world over. The budgetary allocations for the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the apex defence research body in the country, have been far from satisfactory. In the current 2022-23 budget, there is a shortfall of Rs 1,659.8 crore in budgetary allocation for the DRDO. Over the years, the budget for DRDO has been 5% to 6% of the Defence Budget, hardly enough to deliver on the strategically important projects. Moreover, the organisation has a shortfall of nearly 800 scientists. In the Budget Estimate for 2022-23, DRDO had sought Rs 22,990 crore, whereas the actual allocation was Rs 21,330.2 crore. Overall, the gap between the projected and allocated budget for Army, Navy and Air Force is Rs 14,729.11 crore, Rs 20,031.97 crore and Rs 28,471.05 crore respectively in the 2022-23 Budget.

The gap between the demand of the three services for capital outlay and the actual allocation suggests that the government and the defence top brass are not on the same page on the financial front. There is a danger that the curtailment of funds could end up compromising the operational preparedness of the forces. It is high time the Ministry of Defence fast-tracked the establishment of the non-lapsable defence modernisation fund that could be used exclusively for the procurement of critical defence assets in crunch situations. India has been essentially known globally to be among the top five arms importers. Of late, however, the government is looking to reduce arms imports by boosting domestic production. New Delhi is seeking to boost defence exports to strengthen defence manufacturing and production. Even as India’s arms imports have fallen 21%, the country was the world’s largest importer of major arms during 2017-21, accounting for 11% of the total imports during this five-year period, according to a report released by Sweden-based think-tank Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. Cutting down on defence imports should go hand in hand with greater efforts to secure export orders for indigenously developed military platforms.

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