India’s Defence Budget will not ape the West, will modernize by both Manpower and technology

India’s defence budget for 2025-26 reflects the Indian thought process and does not follow the Western methodology.
Contrary to Western oriented Analysts thinking, there is no structural imbalance in the Indian defence budget. While 68.5% of the ₹6.81 lakh crore allocation may be getting consumed by manpower-related expenses (salaries, pensions, and operational costs), it is helpful in the long run.
At first look it may appear that only limited funds are available for technological modernization, this not so. Though more than funds what calls for immediate attention to counter China’s military rise and address critical equipment shortages is improved timely decision making and overall synergy.
Funds can always be managed for really critical things The budget breakdown is as under : Manpower Costs: ₹3.11 lakh crore allotted for revenue expenditure (salaries, maintenance) and another ₹1.6 lakh crore for pensions. Both these cover 685% of the defence budget.
However only a shore sighted blind fool will call the pension amount a legacy burden. This in fact is a force multiplier because part of this goes into our personal savings and part is ploughed back into the economy as personal expenditure.
Due to these very things India as a country cannot be manipulated by the likes of IMF, World Bank, multi national cartel or people like Soros and gang.
Fir modernisation: ₹1.8 lakh crore has been allotted as capital outlay (26.4% of total). This represents only a 4.6% increase from 2024-25, which may look insufficient to address operational gaps but it is not so. Capital expenditures are spread over several years and funds get allotted every year.
At 1.9% of GDP, defence spending does remain below the 2.5-3% recommended by experts to address dual threats from China and Pakistan. For comparison, China spends ~1.6x India’s defence budget annually.
So the Parliament must look into it. The Agniveer scheme (aimed at reducing long-term pension liabilities) obligations must be improved and implemented as per the original recommendations …that is seamless movement after 7 years service to pre allotted / selected government civil departments.
Procurement Delays have to be ironed out without further delay.₹12,500 crore from 2024-25’s capital budget remained unspent due to bureaucratic delays, highlighting systemic inefficiencies.
Critical shortages persist in submarines, air defence systems, and night-fighting capabilities because of these decision making delays and not lack of funds.
Along with technological modernisation, priority must be given to defence research, synergy between civil and defence industries and more Indigenous procurement (75% earmarked for domestic suppliers).
The budget underscores the need for deeper reforms in defence planning and expenditure and long-term strategic modernization goals. Manpower wise too we need an airborne division, an amphibious division and one more strike Corps specifically for Ladhak region.
For this manpower we need restructuring of our Central Police Forces, increase the operability of Border Guarding Police forces by making them truly Para military and further improve the Agniveer scheme and improve the Territorial Army too.