India will be self-sufficient in defense, Defense budget focused on Make in India

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the budget for the financial year 2022-23 on Tuesday. He made many important announcements in this budget. But, all eyes were on the defense budget. This time the budget was focused on Make in India. Special attention was paid to reduce imports in the defense sector and to make the country self-reliant in the defense sector. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that development and research will be promoted in the defense sector.

The Defense Ministry has been allocated Rs 1.52 lakh crore this year for capital acquisition for modernization of the armed forces. Of this, 68 per cent has been earmarked for procurement from domestic sources. The allocation is about 13% higher than the last year’s allocation of Rs 1.35 lakh crore. The budget expressed the government’s commitment to promote India’s self-reliance in equipment for the armed forces. Capital procurement budget for domestic industry increased to 68% in 2022-23 as compared to 58% in 2021-22.

The government’s plan is to make drones a necessity like mobile, computer and internet. According to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, drones will be promoted as a mission. Just like the goal of delivering water from door to door under Jal Shakti Mission, similarly Drone Shakti Mission will be made. The Defense Ministry has been allocated Rs 2.39 lakh crore as against Rs 2.33 lakh crore allocated last year. The defense pension budget of the ministry is Rs 1.19 lakh crore.

A total of Rs 5.25 lakh crore has been allocated to the defense ministry and services this year which is Rs 47,000 crore more than last year. Last year, Rs 4.78 lakh crore was allocated to the defense ministry and services. The allocation has increased by about 10% from the previous year. Special emphasis has been given on development and research to strengthen the defense sector in the budget. Other options will also be explored in the defense sector through Make in India. More than 25 percent of the funds will be given to DRDO, which will be used towards research and development.