Consistent increase in total Capital Budget of Ministry of Defence : Naik

Speed Post News Network

New Delhi : Replacement of ageing and obsolete defence equipment is part of modernisation of Armed Forces which is a continuous process based on threat perception, operational challenges, technological changes and available resources.  The process is based on a 15 year Long Term Integrated Perspective Plan (LTIPP), five year Service Capital Acquisition Plan (SCAP), and Annual Acquisition Plan (AAP).

The Government attaches high priority to ensuring that the Armed Forces are adequately equipped and operationally prepared to deal with the entire spectrum of security challenges facing the country.  In this context, there is a constant endeavour to modernise the Armed Forces through acquisition of contemporary systems, development of new technologies, and upgrading of conventional equipment.

Allocated budget is optimally utilised to avoid gap between the need and the availability of funds. There has been consistent increase in total Capital Budget (BE) of Ministry of Defence.

In 2016-17, the Capital Budget (BE) was Rs 90,209.63 while in 2017-18 it increased to Rs 91,579.70 crore. In 2018-19, the BE was Rs 99,563.86 crore while in 2019-20 (interim) it increased to Rs 1,08,248.80 crore. This information was given by Minister of State for Defence Shripad Naik in a written reply to a question of Jayadev Galla in Lok Sabha on June 26, 2019, according to a PIB release.