The adequacy of India’s defense research budget has come under scrutiny, signaling potential obstacles to its ambition of global leadership. A parliamentary panel addressing defense matters has underscored the insufficiency of the current allocation in the Union budget, proposing a doubling of funds over the upcoming years, as per an ET report.
Within a comprehensive report evaluating the Defense Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the committee has stressed the urgency to augment the research allocation from the existing 5.38% to a range of 8-10% of the budget. In juxtaposition with research and development spending in developed nations, the committee has highlighted that India’s current funding suffices solely for achieving self-reliance and ensuring national defense. However, to fulfill aspirations of global prominence, the existing percentage falls short, the committee contends.
Additionally, the panel has raised concerns about the utilization of research and development funds within DRDO, citing a decrease in the percentage from 6.59% (2010-11) to 5.38% in the current budget, without specifying the detailed utilization.
Emphasizing the pivotal role of research and development in fortifying a modern defense mechanism, the committee asserts that adequate government funding is imperative for both internal DRDO projects and outsourcing defense research and development.
Conclusively, the report advocates for an augmented budgetary grant for DRDO to propel India towards global leadership in armaments and cutting-edge weapon systems. The suggestion also extends to enable DRDO to pioneer groundbreaking products, positioning India as a substantial exporter of arms and ammunition.
