Budget 2019: Defence gets Rs 3.18 lakh crore; 7% higher than last year

The government has allocated a sum of Rs 3,18,931.22 crore to Defence out of the total outlay of Rs 27,84,200 crore of the interim Budget 2019-2020 announced on Friday. The Rs 3.18 lakh croredoes not include the Defence Pension which stands at Rs 1,12 lakh crorein Budget estimates for financial year 19-20. The allocation of Rs 3.18 lakh crorerepresents a growth of 7.93 per cent over Budget estimates of FY 2018-19 of Rs 2.95 lakh croreand 6.87 per cent over revised estimates at Rs 2. 98 lakh crore.

While announcing the Budget Interim Finance Minister Piyush Goyal said," Our Defence Budget will be crossing Rs 3,00,000 crore for the first time in 2019-20. For securing our borders and to maintain preparedness of the highest order, if necessary, additional funds would be provided."

According to an Army release, "the total defence allocation including the defence pension accounts for 15.48 per centof the total central government expenditure for the year 2019-20".

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The release explained that out of Rs 3.18 lakh croreallocated for financial year 2019-20, Rs 2.10 lakh croreis for revenue (net) expenditure and Rs 1.08 lakh crorefor capital expenditure for the defence services and the departments under the defence ministry. The Rs 1.08 crore amount allocated for capital expenditure includes the amount for modernisation.

Piyush Goyal while speaking in the parliament on Friday also said that the current government has disbursed over Rs 35000 crore for implementation of One Rank One Pension (OROP).

He added," The Government also announced substantial hike in the Military Service Pay (MSP) of all service personnel and special allowances given to Naval and Air Force personnel deployed in high risk duties"