India Eyes ₹50,000 Crore Defence Budget Hike Post-Operation Sindoor

India Eyes ₹50,000 Crore Defence Budget Hike Post-Operation Sindoor

Last Updated May - 16 - 2025, 04:53 PM | Source : Fela News

Operation Sindoor and rising tensions with Pakistan, India plans to increase its defence budget by ₹50,000 crore, pushing the total allocation beyond ₹7 lakh cr

India’s defence budget may rise by ₹50,000 crore following Operation Sindoor, government sources told NDTV. This supplementary allocation would push total defence spending beyond ₹7 lakh crore for 2025–26, up from the record ₹6.81 lakh crore announced in February.

The funds, pending parliamentary approval during the Winter Session, are expected to boost research and development, as well as acquisitions of weapons, ammunition, and key defence systems. Since the Modi government took office in 2014, defence has remained a top priority, with allocations rising steadily from ₹2.29 lakh crore in 2014–15. The current figure represents 13% of the total budget.

The move comes amid escalating tensions with Pakistan after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 dead. In response, India launched Operation Sindoor, conducting air strikes on nine terror camps in Pakistan and PoK. The Indian military's swift and precise execution—backed by systems like the Akash missile defence and new tech like Bhargavastra—drew global attention.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh emphasized the need for domestic production, warning against overreliance on foreign equipment. Former DRDO scientist Dr. Prahlada Ramarao, who developed the Akash system, declared, “Sara akash hamara” ("the whole sky is ours")—a sentiment echoed by India’s assertive new defence posture.

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