MPs’ Panel Warns Against Military Funding Cut, Cites Border Tension
New Delhi:
Adequate budgetary allocations must be made available to the armed forces in view of the present scenario of heightened tensions with certain neighbouring countries, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence said on Wednesday.
Referring to the gap between the demand of the three defence services for capital outlay and the budgetary allocation, the panel recommended that the defence ministry should not make any reduction in the outlay in the coming years.
In a report tabled in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, the committee noted that a demand of ₹ 2,15,995 crore was projected under the capital head for 2022-23, but the allocation made was ₹ 1,52,369.61 crore.
It said such curtailment of funds could end up compromising the operational preparedness of the defence services.
“The committee further note that at BE (budget estimate) stage in 2022-23, the gap between the projected and allocated budget for Army, Navy and Air Force is ₹ 14,729.11 crore, ₹ 20,031.97 crore and ₹ 28,471.05 crore respectively, which are remarkably high,” it said.
