https://sputniknews.in/20260205/india-to-step-up-defence-spending-says-modi-advisor-10446119.html
India to Step Up Defence Spending, says Modi Advisor
India to Step Up Defence Spending, says Modi Advisor
Sputnik India
With its triad of services — the army, navy and air force — undergoing a massive modernisation programme, India is spending billions of dollars on modern... 05.02.2026, Sputnik India
2026-02-05T16:00+0530
2026-02-05T16:00+0530
2026-02-05T16:00+0530
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India's focus on bolstering its defences will lead to increased spending in the sector for the next few years, says an advisor to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.S. Mahendra Dev, chairman of the Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council (PM-EAC), spoke to Indian media on Thursday.He added that the 2026 budget deficit had been kept down to 4.4% of gross domestic product, meeting the government's target, and was projected at 4.3% for 2027."Defence preparedness is a clear priority given the geopolitical situation, and resources have been mobilised for that in the budget," Dev stressed.The Indian defence budget announced earlier this month saw a significant 15% increase from $74 billion in 2025 to $85 billion for 2026.The 2026 Indian defence budget totals 2.2 percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) — but pundits say it should rise to 5% to face security challenges from India's regional neighbours.Earlier this week defence expert and a former high-ranking Ministry of Defence (MoD) official Dr Thomas Mathew said India should keep raising military spending.
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India to Step Up Defence Spending, says Modi Advisor
With its triad of services — the army, navy and air force — undergoing a massive modernisation programme, India is spending billions of dollars on modern fighters, stealth submarines, advanced warships and long-range weapons.
India's focus on bolstering its defences will lead to increased spending in the sector for the next few years, says an advisor to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
S. Mahendra Dev, chairman of the Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council (PM-EAC), spoke to Indian media on Thursday.
"Apart from the manufacturing push, everybody wants to produce their own. Defence is also becoming important," Dev said. "The focus India is giving to defence expenditure and indigenous production of defence arms and equipment is understandable."
He added that the 2026 budget deficit had been kept down to 4.4% of gross domestic product, meeting the government's target, and was projected at 4.3% for 2027.
"Defence preparedness is a clear priority given the geopolitical situation, and resources have been mobilised for that in the budget," Dev stressed.
The Indian defence budget announced earlier this month saw a significant 15% increase from $74 billion in 2025 to $85 billion for 2026.
"This kind of expenditure, and even the step-up, will be visible in the coming budgets as well," the PM's adviser explained. It will be driven by geopolitical concerns. We need to expand for our own security."
The 2026 Indian defence budget totals 2.2 percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) — but pundits say it should rise to 5% to face
security challenges from India's regional neighbours.
Earlier this week defence expert and a former high-ranking Ministry of Defence (MoD) official
Dr Thomas Mathew said India should keep raising military spending.
"India should have a budget that should be at least about 5% of the country's GDP," Mathew told Sputnik India. "India needs to prepare itself to counter its declared enemies. One must not forget that India wants good neighbourly relations with all its neighbours, but some of its neighbours are inimical to its security and sovereignty."
