Indian MoD weighs options to balance procurements

摘要

The Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) is looking at options for an efficient, agile, and technologically competitive military to counter threats, following a modest 5.6% increase in the fiscal year 2017 defence budget. The MoD is planning to optimise revenue head for increased capital allocations and has been advised by the Shekatkar Committee to rationalise its 1.3 million-strong armed forces. The 11-member committee, constituted in May 2016 and headed by Lt Gen DB Shekatkar (retd), has recently submitted its recommendations, which if implemented over the next five years could free up to INR250 billion (USD3.7 billion) for capital procurement projects. The committee has advised the MoD to increase defence expenditure to over 2.5% of GDP to enable the modernisation of all three forces. Current expenditure remains at the historic trend of just under 2% of GDP.