New fighter jets, missiles, submarines and…, India gears up for…, with an extra defence budget of Rs…

After the success of Operation Sindoor, which reportedly caused significant damage to Pakistan and showcased India’s military strength, the Indian government is likely to increase its defence budget. This move aims to make the armed forces even stronger. According to various media reports, the Centre may raise the defence budget by Rs. 50,000 crore. The Defence Ministry has already put forward this proposal, and it could be approved during the winter session of Parliament, expected in November or December. Government sources say that the extra funds may be granted through a supplementary budget later this year and if approved, India’s total defence spending could cross Rs. 7 lakh crore for the first time in history.

Earlier, on February 1, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had allocated a record Rs. 6.81 lakh crore for defence in the 2025-26 Union Budget. This was a 9.2 per cent increase from the previous year’s Rs. 6.22 lakh crore.

Extra defence budget to boost weapon purchases and indigenous tech

Sources reveal that the proposed additional Rs. 50,000 crore in defence spending will likely be used to strengthen India’s military capabilities through investment in advanced weaponry, research and development, and increased ammunition stockpiles. India is also expected to spend part of the budget on acquiring new fighter jets and missile systems. This proposal is expected to be tabled in Parliament during the winter session later this year.

Since Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power in 2014, defence spending has seen a steady rise. Back in 2014-15, the defence allocation was Rs. 2.29 lakh crore. In comparison, the current defence budget stands much higher and accounts for about 13 per cent of the total Union Budget.

Operation Sindoor also highlighted India’s growing focus on integrating indigenous defence systems with advanced technologies. A key takeaway from the operation was the effective use of India’s air defence systems, particularly the indigenous Akash missile system, often likened to Israel’s Iron Dome.

India successfully tests new counter-drone weapon

In a related development, India recently tested a new anti-drone system called Bhargavastra. Designed for low-cost deployment, the system works in a “hard kill” mode and uses micro-rockets to neutralize aerial threats. The test was successfully conducted at the Seaward Firing Range in Gopalpur, Odisha earlier this week.

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