Question: Will the Minister of DEFENCE be pleased to satate :-

(a) the total expenditure on defence by the major neighbouring countries in the last three years including the percentage of defence expenditure of total expenditure;

(b) whether the defence expenditure of the country has lagged behind other countries of South and East Asia in the recent years;

(c) if so, the reasons therefor;

(d) whether the Government proposes to increase the defence expenditure in the coming years with a view to modernise our forces; and

(e) if so, the details thereof?

Answer: Minister of Defence (Shri A.K. Antony)

(a) Defence expenditure by major neighbouring countries as published by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) is as under:-

(b) & (c) A like to like comparison of the data on defence spending of other countries is difficult due to lack of uniformity in treatment of different components of the expenditure and non availability of reliable figures.

(d) & (e) Requirements of the Services for modernisation have been chalked out in the Long Term Integrated Perspective Plan (LTIPP) and the Defence Five Year Plan. Budgetary projections are made on this basis. However, allocation of funds depends on various factors including the overall state of the economy, and availability of fiscal resources.

Miscellaneous

Defence Economics & Industry